Is it possible that people in recovery lead happier, more fulfilling lives than those who’ve never wrestled with an addiction?

It’s quite possible, according to David Sack, M.D., who outlined his reasons in a recent article, “Are Recovering Addicts Happier?” Surviving addiction, like any near-death experience, changes one’s perspective on life. Many recovering addicts are defined by their enormous gratitude for simply being alive. That gratitude makes them more apt to embrace the process of recovery that teaches them to live in the moment, to take good care of themselves, to ask for help when they need it, and to find meaning and purpose in everything they do.

Do we have to become addicts to appreciate the lessons of recovery? No, but most of us will need to experience some degree of adversity before learning what’s really important in life. “In a dark time, the eye begins to see,” said the poet.  Read Dr. Sack’s article here.