Why It Is Important To Write A Goodbye Addiction Letter

Several benefits come with being sober and if you are in early recovery, you may already be experiencing some of them. In your addiction break up letter you can discuss these as well as your goals for the future now that you are sober. This can keep you motivated in your recovery as well as help you feel power over your addiction as you recognize that you have a brighter future ahead of you. I am a father to two daughters, and a husband. I have been a sober man for over 10 years now and worked in the field of drug and alcohol treatment for the past 8 years. I have also worked as a firefighter/EMT. Writing is always something I have been passionate about although sharing it with the world is new. Both letters are a great example of how to write your goodbye letter to alcohol. But, if you are in therapy for alcoholism, it’s a useful tool to share with your counselor or group.

goodbye letter to drug of choice

I picked you up and carried you to the bedroom so we could be in peace. I undressed you slowly and methodically. I wanted to remember every part of you as you unveiled yourself to me. Then, when all the tales of fun and harm are related, the writer turns on alcohol. The writer describes how he or she no longer wants to live on the roller coaster of alcoholism.

Tips on how to write a goodbye letter to addiction

I started a new job, got a girlfriend, and started to forget you. You threatened me with illness, depression, anxiety. I reached a point where I wouldn’t go anywhere without you. The other people I was with were bothered by that, and they began to avoid me because they didn’t like you — and they no longer liked the “me” I had become. You seduced me with the idea that I was free of all prejudices and that “society” was trying to brainwash me. Abandoning my career goals, I turned to petty crimes.

I say goodbye to all your momentary pleasures and enticing charms. All your deceit over me has come to an end. I make a commitment to deliver as many as I can from your false grip. A new dawn awaits me as I bid you goodbye today. My breeze will blow you as I begin a new era today. I was just a little naive boy when I encountered you. You first walked into my life as a substance and bottle. You enticed me with an elevation of mood, highness, and glamour, enriching my life with blind and ignorant surprises. I saw you sweep those I look up to off their feet; I felt you could transport me to that place of power, happiness, relevance, influence, and acceptance. So I innocently followed you with every fiber of my being.

Writing Your Goodbye Letter to Alcohol

You need to keep reminding yourself of these words through positive affirmations. I’m an alcoholic and drug addict and I physically and emotionally damage those I care about while under the influence. 101 Tips for Recovering from Addictions can help transform the life of any recovering addict from bleak to bright. These practical suggestions give hope, from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, to realizing this light holds a promising future to reclaim. This book helps to make addiction recovery possible. Butch worked for one of the state’s goodbye letter to drug of choice first intensive outpatient programs in Jackson, TN and the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism. During this time, he developed two pilot addiction programs in the Greater West Tennessee area. Butch also maintained a private practice, specializing in family of origin work and addiction populations. Since 2016 Jay has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers . As past chair of NAATP’s Ethics Committee, Jay was instrumental in important changes made to the organization’s code of ethics.

Friends who talked down about you, I let them go. You took me to death and back a handful of times. I forgave you, invited you back in like an old friend. You took the air from my lungs and turned my skin blue, but I caught my breath and carried on with you by my side. Writing a goodbye letter to alcohol is like writing in a journal, no one needs to see it unless you want to share. It is a private letter meant to encourage and strengthen your resolve to stay sober. The letter may relay humor and the lighter side of drinking before alcoholism took ahold. Many people enjoyed drinking in the beginning.

Slowly I’ve been following the faint light I see in the distance. It gets a little brighter every step I take away from your darkness. Sometimes I run and sometimes I have to crawl but I’m not giving up. For if not for you, I wouldn’t know my strong ability to succeed because I would have never failed. Learning from my mistakes I have gained wisdom in self love, self worth, and most importantly my faith.

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That is why I’m writing this goodbye letter to addiction today. After a while, you started to tell me that I didn’t need anyone else. I should abandon my friends, shut out my family. You advised me that I was too smart for school.

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Whenever I felt like you were the key to getting through life, it was nothing more than a lie. For this and many more reasons, it is now time to bid you “goodbye” forever. The journey to recovery is a long process. As you make progress, keep updating your letter or write new ones. What do you hope to gain by becoming sober? Goals can help you change your behavior and maintain momentum in life. They let you focus your attention on positive things and promote a sense of self-mastery.

  • I willingly gave you my home, my car, and all of my valuables.
  • Having problems with the law, strained personal relationships, damaged reputation, and damaged self-esteem are some effects we don’t want to acknowledge.
  • You convinced me it was all good and fun, until it wasn’t.
  • I realized that the only way I could be able to leave you would be if I hit rock bottom first.

Do not be limited by grammatical correctness or spelling. What can you say on paper that you’ve never said to anyone? All these should be captured in your goodbye letter to addiction. Create an action planThe truth is that you will not just say goodbye to addiction just by mere wishes; you will need to work it out. You need to be deliberate about the whole process.

Relationships

Sarah Crow from MSN Bestlife Online discusses things that grandparents should never say to their grandchildren. This article discusses how to deal with emotional pain according to 24 experts in the field of psychological healing. Addiction is more prevalent in our society than ever Sober House before. It is important to understand addiction and know if you are at risk or have an addictive disorder. The recovery community has a problem with silence and suicides. Mastin is affiliated with the United Methodist Church where she serves many roles and sits on the board.

There is a saying that the hardest thing to do in life is to say goodbye. This includes all relationships, including my relationship with you. This started off with plenty of happy moments, like the first time I experienced getting high or drunk. There came a point where I thought I would never have to part with you. Part of Step 4 involves making a list of persons one has harmed by their drinking. In the letter, one may write about people harmed and how ashamed one feels for causing pain and suffering to others. Few people manage to change their drinking habits on the first try successfully. In most cases, this is a long learning process accompanied by breakdowns.

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