There is a lot of stigma about addiction. Many people feel like a failure, weak, or feel regrets about the past. Even though you may have done things that you are not proud of, you as a person are not bad. Quite the opposite actually, you may be creative, smart, and compassionate. You are definitely resilient because choosing sobriety is an empowering decision. The challenge is believing that you are not a bad person and moving forward.

The human body has a flight or fight syndrome. If you have ever been surprised or scared, you may remember your palms getting sweaty, heart racing, and a sense of numbness. This is your body’s natural response to danger, fear, and pain.

Addiction is a way to escape. A lot of people have anxiety, depression, or traumatic pasts and drugs and alcohol aided in escaping those feelings. When someone is in emotional pain, it is a normal human reaction to relieve the pain.

The problem with drug and alcohol use is that the relief is short lived. Many substances can cause physical addiction after only one or two uses. Before you know it, you are in a cycle of addiction. Drugs and alcohol use become a necessity to get rid of withdrawals. The problems that you used about are still there. The problems may be worse because now you have an addiction on top it.

Once you recognize that you have an addiction you have to get help. Addiction does not go away on its own. There are treatment programs that treat both addiction and emotional pain. When you are in treatment, you will learn about addiction and how to recover. You will work with counselors and meet other recovering people. No one that you meet in treatment will tell you that you are a bad person. You will be able to see that you are not alone.

Addiction does not make you a bad person, but it prevents you from becoming the person you were meant to be. Addiction hinders your potential. If you are struggling with drugs or alcohol, you can’t accomplish goals, and you can’t be present for your loved ones. You may even lose sense of your identity. This is not living!

Don’t believe the lie that you are a bad person because you have an addiction. Instead, recognize that you have a bad struggle. Seek treatment, heal, and start living life.

The Kimberly Center offers the best in partial care programming for the treatment of addictions and co-occurring disorders. Providing a variety of treatment services with love and compassion, our clinical team serves to help clients heal mind, body, and spirit. Call us today for information: 855-4-KCENTER