3 Important Life Lessons on Addiction
(From Someone who has never experienced Addiction)
Life has a funny way of dragging you along and taking you to places you never thought you’d go. Although I’ve always loved writing about anything and everything, writing articles for people seeking addiction help is one thing I never thought I’d be doing. Yet, here I am, doing just that.
The interesting thing is I’ve been surrounded by addiction my whole life, but I never really gave it a second thought. My maternal grandfather abused drugs and alcohol and died very young, so I never had the chance to meet him. My paternal grandparents also struggle with alcohol abuse, but I wasn’t always aware of it. As a kid, I always thought those family get-togethers saturated by the strong smell of wine were just fun, but in reality, they were tainted by the blatant abuse of alcohol and the emotional and physical hold it had on my family members.
As I’ve gotten older I’ve steered clear of alcohol and drugs, mostly because I’m haunted by the effects they’ve had on the people I love. Although I do enjoy a glass of red wine or a frozen margarita occasionally, I tend to keep my distance.
Despite my personal feelings on drug and alcohol abuse, I’ve ended up in an industry where these things are very relevant. Every word I type and every sentence I string together will most likely be read by someone whose life has been ravaged by drugs and alcohol or who is suffering from the secondhand effects of a loved one’s addiction.
As a result, I’ve talked to many people who are in recovery and who have personally experienced the struggle of a lifestyle that’s bound by addiction. Through these conversations, I’ve learned three very important life lessons about addiction that I’d like to share.
Lesson #1: Drug and alcohol addiction is a complicated thing.
Confession time: I used to believe a person’s addiction was their own fault and that the whole “disease” thing was just an excuse. After all, at one point, an addicted person chose to use drugs or alcohol, knowing full well that the decision came with a host of consequences, right?
Ultimately, I’ve learned it’s just not that simple. I’ve done the research and I know now that consistent drug and alcohol abuse physically changes the brain and body in a way that can’t be resolved with pure willpower or motivation. Addiction is a complex disease that affects many different aspects of a person’s health, including their physical health, psychological health, and spiritual health.
At some point, an addicted person did make the choice to use drugs or alcohol and keep using them in a way that was harmful, but we need to look beyond those choices and consider the big picture.
And just in case you’re wondering what the big picture is, it’s this:
Addiction is much more than the set of symptoms it causes—it’s a result of contributing issues that people from all walks of life and backgrounds face.
Choosing to look down on the people who made a different set of choices and ended up addicted is a misguided way to live that is not only destructive, but also dangerous.
Lesson #2: Addiction recovery looks different for everyone.
As I mentioned before, my job entails talking to people of all ages, backgrounds, and lifestyles who are currently recovering from addiction. If you take the time to listen to these people’s life stories, you’ll quickly realize two things:
- No two stories are exactly the same.
- Addiction recovery is an individualized process.
In listening to various people recount their life experiences, I’ve learned that each road to addiction and recovery is vastly different. Although the effects of the drugs and the alcohol remain the same, the journey to recovery is an individualized process that can’t be forced into a predetermined mold.
That’s why individualized addiction treatment programs at drug rehab centers are so important. Although research shows long-term addiction treatment is an effective way to overcome addiction,1 there isn’t a cookie-cutter solution that works for everyone. Addiction treatment should be holistic, and it should adjust to meet the person’s individual needs, not the other way around.
Addiction recovery is a complex process that looks different for everyone, and the most important thing is finding what works for you.
Lesson #3: It’s never safe to assume anything.
This last lesson is a simple one: never assume that you know where someone’s been, who they are, or where they’re going. Just because someone is a recovering addict doesn’t mean they will live a life that is defined or limited by that.
Although the recovery experience definitely affects the way a person lives their life and views the world around them, many people in recovery are just as driven, successful, and hard-working as anyone else. In fact, sometimes they are even more so, due to their life experiences and the challenges they’ve overcome.
Just as we can’t assume things about people who haven’t experienced addiction, I also don’t believe it’s fair to assume anything about someone who has.
Whether you or a loved one is suffering from addiction, consider taking these three life lessons into account and see how they change your own perspective on addiction and recovery. They’ve certainly changed mine.
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Kelsey Brown is a native of Chicago, IL and has always had a passion for writing. She received a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Missouri State University and went on to write articles, website content, marketing materials, and more for a variety of different industries. Kelsey finds fulfillment in creating educational and meaningful content for those seeking addiction treatment. She regularly writes about a variety of topics related to substance abuse, including the science of addiction, drug and alcohol detox, long-term drug and alcohol rehab, intensive outpatient care, and sober living for individuals in recovery. When she’s not writing about addiction and substance abuse treatment, Kelsey prefers to spend her free time outdoors, hiking, camping, or kayaking.