It takes someone going through something very difficult to succumb to addiction, and I know this from personal experience. People don't pick up the bottle, the pipe, the bowl because they're super happy; they just don't. People who are seriously depressed are the ones who are falling to this terrible thing called addiction. I don't want you to listen to anyone who tells you addiction isn't a disease, because it is.

I used to have my own fair share of issues and addiction because I, too, was going through a hard time in my life, and it was easy to fall into the things that had the ability to take my mind off everything else. People said horrible things to put me down because they don't understand what it's like to feel so weak and empty that there's nothing left to do but drugs or alcohol, but I made it out and I'm currently thriving.

You can too.

It really takes courage to try and overcome such a strong monster as addiction, and if you're currently in the stage of recovery, then you're already a stronger person than most people are. Being in recovery even makes you stronger than the person who never fell to addiction. Why? Because addiction is one of the hardest things any person has to go through. Hundreds and thousands of people are dying from addiction every single day.

But you're choosing to get out despite the voice in your head that's screaming at you to continue with whatever your drug of choice is. The reason why people never get clean from drugs is because they can't. Because they're too weak and they don't have a reason. But if you're recovering then you have a reason, you have a future, and you have such powerful strength.

And, if you relapse a couple times, please don't let it get you down because every one of us in recovery is going to relapse a time or two. It is all a part of the process. Relapse shows us that while we may fall down, we will not stay down. Don't listen to that voice that tells you that you're nothing, you're useless, you are better off on drugs. You're amazing, you're strong, and you're better off without it.

Take it from me, because I know what it's like. I made it out and you can too.

Finally, if you can't do it on your own there are several hotlines out there that you can call. I recommend the Drug Addiction Hotline which you can reach at (888) 537-4948. This is such a helpful line for anyone suffering from addiction, and you can talk to them anonymously if you need to. Please, just do whatever you can to get help. I don't want to see anyone suffering like my friends still do, or like millions of people do every day.