addictions.

does anyone really understand addictions? do doctors? do parents? do psychiatrists? do psychotherapists? it is such a volatile word and a volatile affliction. i have struggled over the years with my own bad habits. my own over-indulgence. my own blackouts. my own arrests. my own shame. my own discipline issues. my own manic behaviour and my own dangerous and reckless activities. but am I addicted? one would say “yes” and another would say “no”. the struggles are still real but I feel that I have some control over my behaviour and some coping skills. but what about those who suffer without understanding their problems nor understanding their pain? how do we help those who refuse to see the pain that they cause loved ones. loved ones including themselves? do we sit back and wait? sit back and hope? do we give them tough love? do we seek to understand them? do we let them go? do we forcibly stop them from ever taking drugs or alcohol ever again? and how could we possibly do that? do we have a full on intervention? can we ever save them? can they ever save themselves? expensive rehab facilities with, seemingly, the top of the line doctors and therapists cannot guarantee results. many go back to using within a year of leaving. the pain and hardships that these people cause is staggering and yet the addicted refuse to stop. and I am NOT blaming them. i have dabbled in my own addictive behaviours but, luckily for me and my friends/family, I have managed to survive. I have managed to live. I have managed to pull through…somewhat. But my issues pale in comparison to others. I have seen the insides of long term rehabilitation facilities and I have seen inside the dark and musky walls of the Don Jail and a few others during my rough patch of my earlier years but I survived and I “got better”. somewhat. sure I had some support from family and friends and sure I had love from family and friends and sure I had some tough love and rough times but I know that those who struggle with addictions also get love and never ending support from their family and friends. the extreme pain. the utter frustration. the fears. the shame. the doubts. lost youth and lost lives. the uncertainty. do those who are not addicted nor have addictive personalities truly understand the struggle? the struggle? the struggle?

what to do?

love?

help?

seek help?

seek advice?

get treatment?

what if you got treatment and then relapsed?

family?

friends?

what a terrifying illness.

who to blame?

why blame?

sitting in silence.

“just this one last time”.

“I can control it”.

wow.

sad.

who has survived?

who has survived to tell their story?

how did you survive?

how did you succeed?

what is the secret formula?

what is the secret to success?

love.

unconditional love.

but even with unconditional love the demons arrive.

ticking time bomb?

life.

life is beautiful.

but life is also challenging.

screaming.

crying.

yelling.

we were all little babies at one time.

little babies filled with smiles and laughter.

hugs and kisses.

hope.

hope.

hope.

human heart.

human humanity.

human beings.

open the heart.

open the heart.

open the heart.

unblock the baggage.

tune out the noise.

focus.

love.

compassion.

ADDICTIONS.

IS THERE A WAY TO A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL?

listen.

heart.

DO NOT GIVE UP!!!

ASK FOR HELP!!!

ALWAYS ASK FOR HELP!!!

YOU ARE LOVED!!!