Whether family members take advantage of Al-Anon Family meetings or not, they still must learn the principles Al-Anon members practice to stay healthy. Many of these principles initially strike families as callous, but failing to follow them only increases the negative impact of a family member’s addiction. There are many hard realities about addiction that need to be faced by families, including that no one can force a person with substance abuse disorder to think differently.

They think the problem is that they don’t have enough willpower. In reality, the problem isn’t a lack of willpower, but a lack of understanding of the issue. When writing your own letter, keep the goal in mind and remember that treatment can break the cycle of addiction.

Editing and Finalizing Your Impact Letter

It’s about releasing yourself from their control over your emotional wellbeing. Acknowledge the pain or discomfort you may have caused, and express your sincere empathy. This can help to mend any bridges that might have been burned and pave the way for forgiveness or reconciliation. This is my sobriety letter, a pledge to myself and others that I will remain steadfast in my recovery. I didn’t even look at you the whole time I was there. I knew it wouldn’t be good to talk to you.

letter to addiction

This guide will provide you with valuable insights on what an impact letter is and how to write one effectively. Using cigarettes as an example, through writing the goodbye letter to addiction, the patient realizes cigarettes helped with a problem, but the net effect was negative. Now they know they need treatment to get off nicotine and also need to treat their ADHD with one of the more effective drugs available — drugs that also aren’t addictive. First, a group of concerned individuals will plan an intervention. The person who is abusing drugs does not know about this plan.

A Letter To The Person Struggling With Addiction

When I was not quite 18, he wrote to me and shared that the fun of writing had left him. He explained he was trying to remember the simple joy of getting words down on the page. But, my dear addiction, I see you for what you are. They say that when we are sitting in meetings (12-step programs), you are outside in the parking lot doing push ups. Waiting to pounce at any given moment…waiting to take hold of our sanity and our serenity, down to a visceral level, when we turn our backs for just one second. We can help you or your loved one through the admissions process and begin recovering from addiction.

  • Without you, I am returning to the life and people I once loved because I know they still love me.
  • Resurgence Behavioral Health knows that your goodbye letter to drugs isn’t an easy letter to write.
  • Without you, I am accomplishing more than I ever have.
  • I liked the way you made me feel, but I didn’t like how I was around you.

You made me into the person I said I would never become. You made me do things I never thought I would be capable of doing. What you do with your completed letter is up to you. Many people choose to keep the letter in a safe place where they can revisit it occasionally goodbye letter to alcohol for inspiration or to see how far they’ve come since writing it. Others choose to destroy their letters as a sign of being done with their addiction once and for all. I will also apologize to those whom I have hurt because of how you influenced me.

How to Write An Impact Letter: A Step Toward Recovery

A goodbye letter to addiction is similar to journaling because you are still writing down your emotions, and you will likely feel some of the same effects. It serves as a personal outlet for any feelings you may be struggling to come to terms with. A goodbye letter to alcohol or drugs can also help you in the future as a physical symbol of your commitment to changing for the better. Typically read aloud during an intervention, its purpose is to help the addict understand the impact their addiction has had on their loved ones and themselves. An impact letter serves as a catalyst for change, encouraging the person to seek treatment and embark on their recovery journey. Feel free to update your letter or write new ones as your life changes.

  • And I’m able to watch my daughters grow older.
  • In that sense, you quickly became my worst nightmare.
  • Take a look at our state of the art treatment center.
  • For me, the most impactful part of treatment was writing a Dear John letter (aka a goodbye letter) to my drug addiction.

Not only because I feared the worst for your health, but because you had become the very thing that had driven you to addiction in the first place. Ever since, I stay awake at night, dreading a call telling me you’ve hurt https://ecosoberhouse.com/ yourself or someone else. Be sure that if you’re going to promise these things, you actually do them. If you say you will be a part of a user’s support system and fail to do so, your whole letter will be seen as a lie.