I’m not ashamed to admit I was once a drug addict. That experience taught me countless lessons, including the one I’m about to share. It’s no surprise that a drug addict often surrounds themselves with others facing the same struggles, and I was no exception. Having many friends who were also addicts added layers to my understanding of this journey.
One thing became very clear to me: addicts rarely commit to recovery until they hit rock bottom. It’s only when they start losing everything they value—when the pain outweighs the pleasure—that recovery becomes an option. When life itself begins to crumble, the idea of change finally becomes real.
This principle doesn’t just apply to addiction; it’s universal. An overweight person, for instance, might not truly consider weight loss until the discomfort becomes unbearable—when even finding clothes that fit feels impossible and day-to-day existence becomes exhausting.
Everyone has a different "rock bottom." For me, it might take gaining forty kilograms to see it, while for you, it might only take ten. But that’s why I believe hitting rock bottom often marks the beginning of real growth. I’ve been there multiple times, and each time, what followed was a period of transformation. Our minds tend to pull us toward comfort, and we may resist change until we realize that the easy path can also become the path to suffering.
Bouncing back from rock bottom isn’t easy, of course, but it gives you a renewed purpose. Your motivation becomes stronger, your path clearer, and the rewards of change are undeniable.
At the end of the day, transformation isn’t just about what you know—it’s about what you feel. When you’re at your lowest, taking a new approach feels not just possible, but necessary. So, if you find yourself at rock bottom, congratulations. You’re in a powerful place to grow, evolve, and succeed. With nothing left to lose, you’re free to act without fear, now that the pain of staying the same is greater than the comfort it once brought.
However, I’ve also learned that it’s beneficial to develop an awareness—a kind of “crisis sensor”—to recognize when habits and choices are leading you toward disaster before you actually get there. Instead of relying on my own rock-bottom experiences, I began learning from others, like speakers from Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Hearing their stories helped me realize: if I didn’t change, their path could become mine, bringing untold damage into my life.
Most people only change when forced by circumstances, but there’s great wisdom in acting before you hit that low. Understanding the consequences of your actions can help you avoid the fall altogether.
I hope this message resonates with you, and I’d love to hear any feedback you have.
Glad to hear you been able to make it work for yourself!
What resonates most of this story is that you are able to talk about your history as a thing of the past. Most addicts will always feel/be addicted or vulnerable towards it. It takes a lot of strength to get there. In my case (alcohol), I have been in a program and after finishing that I was sober for over a year. That one year is the deal you make with the staff, but after that it is on you to decide. When trying if I could do any normal form of alcohol consumption - I realized that I will probably never be able to do so.
Not being at rock bottom makes it difficult to change back again - but small steps!
What I loved most of that time was to fi d out that these patients are just people like everyone else making a few wrong turns in their lives. The band that develops when you open up and support eachother is a beautiful and powerful thing.
Have a great day
Well, I can't really give credit to myself. Someone taught me that the worst thing I can do is to define myself by my unchangeable history. As you sad, it's a few wrong turns.
You'll always be tempted to take some few drinks here or there, your inner voice might tell you that a single drink can't harm you. But, I want you to always remember it can take a single drink to get you where you were at. Keep it up man one year is absolutely heroic, you gotta continue this journey.
Have a wonderful day brother