Addiction Fans the Flame of Depression:
Two Recovering Addicts Talk About Their Struggle to Find Themselves
By Constance Ray
“I haven’t been this happy since I don’t know when. I care about who I am, and I want to enjoy life now. It’s good to feel again.” – Shawn, Treehouse graduate
When we are feeling down or depressed, we turn to a source of comfort. We all have that one thing that makes us feel better, but what if that thing is actually harmful? We spoke with two recovering addicts about their battles with depression, and how they finally put out the flame.
Vernon’s Story
Like most college students, after graduation, Vernon started the mundane task of finding a job. Interview after interview, resume after resume — Vernon had a lot of empty time on his hands, so he began drinking.
“The more I drank, the more depressed I became, so I started drinking all the time,” Vernon said. “I had a few instances where I was out of control while I was drinking. I was drinking at inappropriate times — at work and when I was home by myself. My attitude and mood just became darker and darker.”
A close friend noticed the darkness, and with the help of Vernon’s parents, booked him a flight to a rehab center in Tennessee. Vernon was at such a low point that he conceded without a fight.
“It wasn’t until the day before my flight that my friend came to me and told me that I was going to rehab. At first, I thought he was joking and I tried to laugh it off. But of course, he wasn’t kidding,” Vernon said. “Even though I was surprised, I wasn’t angry or resistant at all. I was in a place in my life where everything was going wrong and I had nothing to lose.”
In recovery, Vernon learned the importance of honesty.
“Be honest with yourself; don’t make excuses for addiction. Seek someone and let them know,” Vernon said. “It’s so much worse living with it on your own and in the dark than it is getting help. When you talk to someone and bring it into the light, it’s freeing.”
Dave’s Story
Like many families, Dave’s moved to another state when he was a child, but that’s where the trouble started. His dad’s personality changed — he was an alcoholic. Dave felt isolated, depressed, and alone.
“When I was in middle school, a friend of mine introduced me to marijuana for the first time. I remember that when I smoked it for that first time, I felt like I finally found the answers I’d been looking for for my emotional problems. It was a euphoria, and I felt I was able to escape those feelings of isolation,” Dave said.
Dave continued smoking marijuana in high school and college, adding drinking and cocaine to the mix too. As an adult, he used his job in the pharmaceutical business to fuel his addiction.
“Eventually, I started drinking on a daily basis again, and I started using prescription pills. Because of my job, I knew exactly what to say to doctors to get prescriptions for opiates, benzos, and really anything I wanted,” Dave said.
Things started looking up for Dave when he married and had children, but his habits led to divorce and a tense relationship with his family. There came a point where Dave couldn’t go a day without using.
“I crawled back to the meetings, and I conceded to my innermost self that I could no longer use drugs or alcohol successfully,” Dave said. “I admitted I couldn’t drink like others. I realized that it changed my brain chemistry — I became compulsive and obsessive.”
Recovery is the water to douse the fire of addiction, and Dave sums it up best.
“There’s hope in recovery. You know, when you’re using, there’s such a sense of hopelessness and despair. But recovery is possible,” Dave said. “Our disease is what it is, but if you surrender and ask for help, help is out there. There’s another way. There is a solution. Call, get help, and transform your life. It’s a miracle to live in recovery.”
Depression is a dark place, and while the fire of addiction seems to bring light, if you get too close, you get burned. If you let it go on for too long, the fire spreads out of control. Let recovery be the soothing water to put out the flame. Help is out there; you just have to be ready to ask for it.
Photo By: Pixabay
Addiction Resources
"How to Pay for Addiction Treatment"
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
Two Recovering Addicts Talk About Their Struggle to Find Themselves
By Constance Ray
“I haven’t been this happy since I don’t know when. I care about who I am, and I want to enjoy life now. It’s good to feel again.” – Shawn, Treehouse graduate
When we are feeling down or depressed, we turn to a source of comfort. We all have that one thing that makes us feel better, but what if that thing is actually harmful? We spoke with two recovering addicts about their battles with depression, and how they finally put out the flame.
Vernon’s Story
Like most college students, after graduation, Vernon started the mundane task of finding a job. Interview after interview, resume after resume — Vernon had a lot of empty time on his hands, so he began drinking.
“The more I drank, the more depressed I became, so I started drinking all the time,” Vernon said. “I had a few instances where I was out of control while I was drinking. I was drinking at inappropriate times — at work and when I was home by myself. My attitude and mood just became darker and darker.”
A close friend noticed the darkness, and with the help of Vernon’s parents, booked him a flight to a rehab center in Tennessee. Vernon was at such a low point that he conceded without a fight.
“It wasn’t until the day before my flight that my friend came to me and told me that I was going to rehab. At first, I thought he was joking and I tried to laugh it off. But of course, he wasn’t kidding,” Vernon said. “Even though I was surprised, I wasn’t angry or resistant at all. I was in a place in my life where everything was going wrong and I had nothing to lose.”
In recovery, Vernon learned the importance of honesty.
“Be honest with yourself; don’t make excuses for addiction. Seek someone and let them know,” Vernon said. “It’s so much worse living with it on your own and in the dark than it is getting help. When you talk to someone and bring it into the light, it’s freeing.”
Dave’s Story
Like many families, Dave’s moved to another state when he was a child, but that’s where the trouble started. His dad’s personality changed — he was an alcoholic. Dave felt isolated, depressed, and alone.
“When I was in middle school, a friend of mine introduced me to marijuana for the first time. I remember that when I smoked it for that first time, I felt like I finally found the answers I’d been looking for for my emotional problems. It was a euphoria, and I felt I was able to escape those feelings of isolation,” Dave said.
Dave continued smoking marijuana in high school and college, adding drinking and cocaine to the mix too. As an adult, he used his job in the pharmaceutical business to fuel his addiction.
“Eventually, I started drinking on a daily basis again, and I started using prescription pills. Because of my job, I knew exactly what to say to doctors to get prescriptions for opiates, benzos, and really anything I wanted,” Dave said.
Things started looking up for Dave when he married and had children, but his habits led to divorce and a tense relationship with his family. There came a point where Dave couldn’t go a day without using.
“I crawled back to the meetings, and I conceded to my innermost self that I could no longer use drugs or alcohol successfully,” Dave said. “I admitted I couldn’t drink like others. I realized that it changed my brain chemistry — I became compulsive and obsessive.”
Recovery is the water to douse the fire of addiction, and Dave sums it up best.
“There’s hope in recovery. You know, when you’re using, there’s such a sense of hopelessness and despair. But recovery is possible,” Dave said. “Our disease is what it is, but if you surrender and ask for help, help is out there. There’s another way. There is a solution. Call, get help, and transform your life. It’s a miracle to live in recovery.”
Depression is a dark place, and while the fire of addiction seems to bring light, if you get too close, you get burned. If you let it go on for too long, the fire spreads out of control. Let recovery be the soothing water to put out the flame. Help is out there; you just have to be ready to ask for it.
Photo By: Pixabay
Addiction Resources
"How to Pay for Addiction Treatment"
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
