Addiction - Part 2

I think the topic of addiction is so deeply important that it deserves multiple blog posts. It touches so many lives, hurts so many people.

There are a multitude of forms of addiction. People can be addicted to all different unhealthy practices. Alcohol, drugs, porn, these are the heavy hitters, the major offenders. But there are others, the ones that seem small, that can quietly destroy us. Money, entertainment, food. If we give things the power to control us, even if they are perfectly innocent in small doses, they can tear us apart from the inside.

Addiction is selfish. It stems from our need to put ourselves first. Porn and food addicts put their mental cravings above that of their mental and physical health. They seek pleasure over stability. Alcoholics and druggies are simply searching for escape. They don't think they can handle their lives, so they do everything they can to forget them. They're selfishly ignoring the world around them, the people out there that need them, so that they can forget reality. They don't take into account that their actions could hurt the people who care about them.

I have someone I love dearly who is currently doing what he can to overcome an addiction to heroin. I've known him since he was little. He was so innocent. So happy. I remember the joyful light in his eyes when he was 7, and had been at an event with face painting. When he came to see me, his face was painted like a zebra. He was the cutest thing. We spent the day hiding in a closet, pretending to be secret agents. He was so full of life. He was so beautiful.

It's been 14 years since that day. He's been hospitalized on multiple occasions for overdosing, he's been homeless more times than I can count, not a soul in this world trusts him. He's bitter. He's hard. He's lost himself. He's paranoid. He thinks everyone is out to get him. Even me. It kills me. I love this kid. I want nothing more than to help him. To be there for him. But I can't. He thinks I'm the enemy. The years of drug use have rewired his brain, he has a long road to recovery.

His need to escape into drugs was a rebellious response to losing his own mother and brother to their addictions. Their selfish actions started a domino effect. Every choice you make can have an impact on the world around you.

You're not alone. There are people out there that care about you. Even if you've lost your family and friends and feel alone. This world is filled with compassionate hearts that bleed for those lost in addiction. We care. We love you. We want you back.

Always,

Jackelyn Stange