Confidently Coping with Addiction
Justin was recently featured in True Stories, where he told us about his first time getting drunk, and his experience with addiction. For him, it all began in Starkville, Mississippi, where he grew up. Following up, Justin had some interesting things to say about his life now versus his life back then.
“Using for me has always been a coping mechanism, because I don’t know how to react very well to life… I never really liked the person who I was…” Any adult can tell you that stress is a part of life, and sadly some turn towards alcohol and drugs in order to cope with it. For Justin, much of this stress came from the person he saw in the mirror. When his reflection stared back at him, he saw someone he didn’t want to be. In order to cope with who he was, Justin turned to drugs. Even clean, however, life still tends to be stressful.
“The difference today is how I choose to react to those things… I’ve always acted the part of somebody who was confident, but I never was never truly confident. I was just overcompensating for how I truly felt about myself… Now I definitely have a more pure sense of confidence.” Sometimes the ones who smile a lot are the ones hurting the most inside. For Justin, acting confident gave him a façade to mask the issues of self-esteem and self-worth. Even, as he says, “hating the person I saw in the mirror,” were hidden whenever he used.
Moving Forward
The last time we spoke to Justin he was working as a content writer. Since then, he was able to move into an intake job.
“I get on the phone and I talk to people… I try to point them in the right direction, as far as getting help and getting treatment.” With Justin’s own experience with active addiction, treatment, and even relapse, he has a lot to offer those in need.
“Being able to have empathy for these people, and being able to help them.” Being able to help others has helped Justin with his own life. His own program is aided by helping others. Knowing many of the emotions they are going through, and being able to console them. Because of his experience, he describes how he is able to help others by giving them an ear to open up to.
Taking Responsibility
“Something that helps me, keeps me motivated, is not making excuses for anything. Taking personal responsibility for my actions.” Justin looks at himself in the mirror and recognizes that he is now in control.
“Don’t make excuses, I press forward.” Utilizing work and physical exercise, Justin describes how he is now feels the same pull to things like a bag of heroin. Instead of blaming others, Justin owns his mistakes and works towards a better life every single day. He believes his life is worth living, which is something everyone should be able to believe.
“Nobody ever told me life was going to stop happening just because I got clean.” Sadly, not everything is easy just because he now lives a clean life. There are always problems to be had; obstacles to overcome; trials to be tested. What matters is how you handle it. For Justin, those stresses used to be combatted by drugs and alcohol, but now he has a different tactic.
“I put one foot in front of the other and I deal with it. What changes is how I deal with it.”
66 comments
right on Justin — you’re real, thanks for sharing and continued success on your sober path
This is where mental fortitude/ Responsibility kicks in. Support systems are vital too. Recovery is possible but it must start from within. No excuses no fakes just put your mind into it.
It good for one to always take responsibility for his or her actions. But most importantly help others to rise above addiction
That’s an inspiring story. He found a way to cope up with the deadly addiction and that mindset is great.
True to the words of Justin, taking responsibility for ones choices and decisions marks the beginning of a change and positive life.
Not because you leave a clean life will will now be kind to you, younface same changes and bully that make u started using drugs before. How you stay clean is the main deal .
It is important to know that healing starts from your own self, how much you love yourself. No one, I repeat no one loves you more than you love yourself. Think about this
Recovering from personal addiction is taking responsibility. Know your bad habit and refrain from indulging any longer
This is the most important part of the recovery stage. This is owning yourself again.
Justin has a very has a wise and humble attitude that is not common to see in people, I´m glad that his perspective gave him a more clear picture of his reality to face his problems, stress, and to keep clean himself with better tools. He has a winner attitude.
Your personal responsibilities should be number focus having recovered from any form of addiction. Thereafter you will see a great change in your life. Thanks for this inspiring post.
Being sober requires self discipline. You can not succeed if you do not take care all by yourself.
Life will still be life after getting clean, the difference is that you now care more about others and not just you. And you live for a purpose and not just drugs and substance
Nice seeing the people interested in sober and understanding their own responsibility in achieving them. you way forward to it is really nice and motivating.
Take responsibility of your action, move towards perfection everyday. Do say everyone isn’t perfect, that’s a lie, you can keep being clean
Explicit and inspiring life experience this is. Definitely an eye opener. Thanks for this Detoxtorehab.
He dealt with a lot of problems due to addiction. Glad that he got the true knowledge of himself and recovered.
It is important to take responsibility of ones life at any point in time. Thanks for sharing this story.
It is only when you take responsibility of your actions that you can allow help come in. The first step to every recovery I acceptance that you need help
If an addict can take responsibility for his or jwe misdeed, his recovery will be faster. From the story, Justin was able to move on with his life after he has done the needful.
Personal responsibility in recovery is for the person to take responsibility of his actions and allow help come. Acknowledge you have a problem and walk up to people that could help
Your responsability to the requirements for recovery is a prerequisite for quick recovery. It is very important for the addict who is at the point of recovery to respond adequately.
So glad Justin understood the process and he’s doing well now. I’m so happy for him.
I’m so glad that Justin had a pure sense of confidence after it all. Thanks for sharing with the world.
Your responsability to the requirements for recovery is a determinant to your coming back to the society. Therefore, it is essential for every addict to be responsible.
Personal ability in recovery is needed. This is because carrying out the activity from the practitioners also call for this.
This attribute must be possessed by everyone who desires recovery from one thing or the other. Thanks for sharing this story.
I find it sad to read that he resorted to addictive substances to deal with his stress. Drugs and other addictive substances are not the answer when you suffer from stress. It would have been much better if Justin would have sought medical treatment and talked to his doctor instead of using drugs. I just hope that he recovers.
Knowing how to react to situations of life matters a lot. Justin felt overwhelmed by the way life was treating him, but he thought wrong by thinking substance abuse would make him feel any better or accepted. It was a good thing he took responsibility of his life and actions, and I pray for continuous strength to live a clean life.
I like the bit about owning up and not blaming others for your mistakes. That’s a big part of taking responsibility.
The jot of this story is that Justin has turned a new leaf. He is now a responsible member of the society.
Getting recovery from addiction takes and require responsibility. Thanks for sharing his wonderful experience.
Recovery required respond ability because it goes a long way. The joy of the story is that Justine discovered himself.
I couldn’t agree more with Justin on what it means to own up to your mistakes and take responsibility. I think this is an important step for everyone’s journey in reaching a higher level of maturity and gaining better consciousness. Really glad he is able to use his experience to proactively inspire others.
A truly insightful article. Every addict on the path to recovery needs to read this
So happy for Justin on his recovery. Taking responsibility helped him understand his personal goal of recovery.
Understanding personal responsibility is a way to move forward. it is the part required to make way in recovery from addiction.
Even after recovery, one will still face challenges. The smart thing is to face them with a level head.
Recovery is possible but it must start from within. I think this is an important step for everyone’s journey in reaching a higher level of maturity. It was a good thing he took responsibility of his life and actions.
It was quite strange for Justin’s alcohol addictive lifestyle earlier on. At times being lonely can make one think weird, that’s just what led this young man into alcohol addition.
We’ve got many different ways on how to cope up on things. It is good to know that Justin has decided to take a change on how to cope up with things. I hope the he will recover well and sustainably.
Every step and information here are all relevant, they will go a long way in helping all victims of addiction or the society itself and thank justin for sharing and making this possible.
Self responsibility is very crucial in rising above addiction.
Kindly take note of this.
I am so glad that Justin took responsibility for his actions and he had this confidence to proof it. Detox to rehab thank you for sharing this amazing story of recovery.
This is where mental fortitude/ Responsibility kicks in. Support systems are vital too. Really glad he is able to use his experience to proactively inspire others. I just hope that he recovers.
No one, I repeat no one loves you more than you love yourself. Think about this. I couldn’t agree more with Justin on what it means to own up to your mistakes and take responsibility. The joy of the story is that Justine discovered himself.
Being a man owning your mistakes is a very good mentality. I maybe a GIRL but even I believe in this. If you fail do not look at exccuses look at yourself.
Justin has said it all.
Making excuses only makes situation more complicated,it doesn’t resolve issues.
A Great one shared by Justin.
A big responsibility is to be played during recovery process this will make recovery moves fast. It is always a good feeling to see one get clean cos such life will add more to the society than ever.
Taking your life responsibility seriously is important. And helping others out of addiction is a good thing to do.
I’m glad Justin put in the required effort and was rewarded for it. Thanks for sharing this.
Of course that’s is ourselve responsible, because we Determine our future and our life
Healing is a personal thing and starts from agreeing that you have a problem. I can so relate with this story so I understand.
Not just the “taking personal responsibility” but also reaching out to other to help them out with his own experience. This is fulfilment, I must say.
I think the fact that you felt responsible for your life, your addiction, is the important role in your recovery.
Justin’s experience is Inspiring.
He was clear that he didn’t make any excuse for anything and just did what has to be done.
A great energy possessed by him.
It takes a responsible person to recover from an addition. Know your bad habit and refrain from indulging any longer, it’s a great task.
Help will definitely come when one starts taking responsibility. we rise by holding hands to raise others. be accountable to fine help
Life has no lacuna…if you don’t fill it up with positive habit, it will be filled with negativity…glad Justin made it.
Amazing story from Justin. Despite not having any sort of addiction or substance abuse, I can heavily relate to the topic. I’m glad that he is recovering and healing. Sending support and love to him!
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people who are addicted with something and try to recover from that.
Recovery starts from oneself. This goes a long way in determining the success of such treatment.
Every drug addict has a crucial role to play towards his recovery from drug addiction. However, Detox is setting pace for other to follow. Bravo!
His attitude towards life changed so much since his rehabilitation. His courage to move forward and alter hi previous state is something to be commended. I hope he will be able to help other people too.
Loving yourself is a great step towards building confidence. His lack of confidence brought him to his low but I am glad he took responsibility of his life and stopped making excuses.
It good for one to always take responsibility for his or her actions. Thanks for sharing this blog. This is very important for me.