You thought that you would be able to get rid of me. I will not let it because I am stronger than you and I am saying goodbye. Writing a goodbye letter to addiction might assist your therapist as well as make you feel better. Some people find it difficult to open up, especially in the early phases of residential addiction treatment.
Step 3: Write from the heart
You’ve been here for a long time, and I assumed you’d never go. Life today is a dream compared to life with you. I have more clarity than I’ve had in twenty years. You weren’t a coping strategy at all — you were a crutch I leaned on. And in the end, you were a negative force in my life set on a path of destruction.
Look to a Joyful Future With Your Friends and Family Members
- I had to admit my complete powerlessness over you in order to release your grip on my existence.
- Recognizing these challenges is crucial for individuals and their loved ones.
- We’re here to provide guidance and support for anyone on their sober living journey.
- You told me that as long as I let you control everything in my life, everything would be okay.
- For too long, I let you control me and even hated myself at times.
At this point, I will make it my number one priority to keep you away. You are no longer welcome goodbye letter to my addiction in my life. No longer will you trample through my peaceful mind.
What is a Goodbye Letter to Addiction?
I realize when I first left you, I never properly said goodbye. I guess back then, when I first got sober, I wasn’t confident that I would stay that way. I’m taking enormous strides in my life. I stopped frequenting the liquor store you always hung around in. I cleaned my apartment and redecorated to remove all traces of you from my life. I started a new job, got a girlfriend, and started to forget you.
All you ever did was take and take, but you never gave. Actually, I take that back and you did give. You gave me heartaches and burned bridges. You gave me sorrow and torn apart relationships. Hannah Rose, LCPC, is a therapist, writer, public speaker, and lover of all things caffeinated.
- You’ve been the best thief, robbing me of my peace.
- One of the major barriers to treatment is stigma.
- Fortunately for me, my world crumbled when I lost a close family member.
- I should abandon my friends, shut out my family.
I had to admit my complete powerlessness over you in order to release your grip on my existence. But as I bear witness to you ripping through the lives of my friends, my family members, and my patients, I find it nearly impossible to surrender again. You would think I would have accepted this by now—that you want us dead—after battling with you my entire life. You would think I would stop being surprised as I hear about overdose after overdose… countless lives that you’ve taken hostage and pursued until the gates of death. At a medical detox center, I missed you every second of the day. I was sick with what is alcoholism withdrawal from you, but I felt your hold weakening.