Drug addiction and alcohol abuse are fueled by holidays, anniversaries and other days of emotional value.  Many addicts are driven by feelings of loneliness or lack of love.  I’ve usually had a girlfriend on Valentines Day.  Maybe one year I didn’t, but mostly I have had girlfriends.  On the year that I didn’t it was pretty damn depressing and I remember drowning my sorrows by treating myself to 6 extra painkillers that day.  After that, I pretty much didn’t care anymore about whether or not I was alone on Valentine’s Day.  Drugs had become my significant other.

I’m writing because my time at a drug and alcohol treatment center really helped me to become human again, feel the human emotions that I had avoided feeling.  At first, I wasn’t happy about feeling guilty and ashamed for hurting everyone for so long.  Its kind of like when your foot falls asleep and it starts to tingle.  You begin to wake up and feel this pain you aren’t used to anymore.  Eventually though as you work your way through drug counseling you begin to feel those pleasurable and happy sensations again–only this time without drugs or alcohol.

Now, I’m experiencing all of the trauma of Valentine’s Day with  a girlfriend.  I have the worry of getting the right thing, the nervousness that she’ll hate it and I’ll be in the doghouse, but I gotta tell you…its one thousand times better than not caring.

So I understand that many of you are where I am now and still others are figuring out how to take those first steps.  Here’s how: just do it. Call someone at a alcohol or drug treatment center today: 877.403.3381