Addiction and Recovery: You Are Not Alone

January 26, 2021

Addiction and Recovery: You Are Not Alone

Following National Addictions Awareness week in November, I have been spending a lot of time thinking about how we can raise awareness and provide support to those who may be struggling with addiction. After reading and viewing many articles and personal stories, I noticed addiction affects more people than I may have realized. I was surprised to learn that over 240 million people around the world have experienced problems with alcohol consumption and 5% of people have used an illicit substance. Furthermore, as much as 21% of the Canadian population will meet the criteria for addiction at some point in their life. To gain a better understanding of this somewhat grey area for me, I spoke to a very important person in my life who has experienced struggles with addiction herself. For purposes of anonymity I will refer to her as Esther. Esther is a good friend who is very important to me and was able to offer some helpful insight regarding her story with addiction.

Cause of Addiction

Esther strongly believes that mental illness and addiction go hand in hand. She says that “you don’t have to experience mental illness to be an addict, but you are definitely suffering from mental illness when you are an addict”. It is important to recognize that addiction can affect anyone, especially those who may already be struggling with mental illness. Addiction and mental health are similar in that they are very misunderstood, and often very challenging to overcome. If recovery was an easy process, 7 770 000 people in Canada would not be suffering from addiction. Esther also explains that addiction can be a result of hereditary genes as well as certain environmental factors. For example, Esther’s biological family suffered from addiction as well as her adoptive family who she spent her childhood and adolescent years surrounded by. Therefore, possessing addictive genes or qualities as well as being surrounded by it could increase the chances of becoming an addict.

Coping with Addiction

Esther also offered some information regarding how to cope with addiction. Esther explained that addiction is fuelled by a lack of understanding of how to cope with difficult feelings and emotions or an inability to consistently utilize healthy coping mechanisms. When addicts are feeling low, they often crave their substance of choice as it is their most familiar way to cope with challenging times or situations. After struggling for quite some time with addiction, Esther made the decision to join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). Esther shared that she will never forget the feeling of validation and hope she felt the first day she walked into an AA meeting and saw the sign ‘you are not alone’. The impact of that sign at that moment in her addiction journey was profound and life changing. It was through the support of AA that she learned not just how to live a life of sobriety, but how to live a fulfilled and happy life. She also noted that she began to realize the importance of rebuilding and maintaining her connections with others, many of which had been broken throughout her addiction.

Addiction and COVID

In my previous blog, I discussed loneliness in general as well as the ways COVID-19 has intensified the impact on those already suffering. I was surprised to learn that as many as 1 in 5 Canadians reported that their consumption of alcohol has increased during the pandemic. There are many reasons COVID-19 can lead to poorer outcomes for people struggling with addiction. For example, dealing with the uncertainty and the negative feelings that arise as a result of the pandemic may lead some people to crave their addictive substance in order to cope. On top of that, imagine you are on the road to recovery attending three AA meetings a day and making great progress. Due to COVID-19 these three meetings a day have diminished to none or are hosted virtually. Although virtual meetings are better than cancelling completely, the lack of physical contact can trigger feelings of isolation, which as mentioned previously, may result in substance use. It is crucial that people who are suffering from addiction feel important, loved and most of all not alone, especially during times like these. Reach out to the people in your life and make sure they know that there are people who support them, regardless of the situation.

Gratitude and Positivity

Finally, I want to extend my gratitude to Esther for all of her helpful insight on this sensitive topic and to conclude with a little bit more about her. She is someone I have always admired for her constant positivity. Regardless of her struggles, she loves the life that she lives and everything that comes with it. She finds a purpose every day, even as simple as walking the dog and saying hello to every person she sees in order to make others happy while also feeling fulfilled herself. By doing so, she is able to celebrate the kind and beautiful person that she is. People with addiction may struggle to see the greatness inside of them, but it is always there. Whether you are struggling with addiction, know someone who is or neither, I hope this blog has inspired you to seek support or offer it to someone who needs it. A good friend of Esther once told her “you are one of the strongest people I know, if only you would use that energy for good”. This thought crosses her mind every day, and she uses it to keep pushing herself forward. Please, let that be a message to all.

For information on identifying addictions and learning about treatment options, check out the Canadian Mental Health Association website and the Government of Canada website. For information about staying connected throughout COVID-19 and always, check out the Genwell project.

Here’s to staying positive and testing negative!

Until next time,

Hayley