With the third set of submissions that center on personal stories of addiction and recovery, our entrants range from those with accidents and trauma that resulted in the path to recovery, to a look at how mindfulness can help with addiction and recovery. We think it is hard to deny the power of personal messages on addiction, and reading these essays you may find yourself nodding your head in agreement.

Regardless of their starting point, all the ‘Honorable Mention’ essays share a desire to truly create change in the lives of people struggling with addiction. We hope these inspiring messages help anyone reading make it through their own battles with substances that much more easily, knowing that you are never alone.

1. B.B. (Lake Superior State University)

My name is BB. I come from a small rural community in the upper peninsula of Michigan. The small community which I come from is the type of community where everyone knows one another or is related to one another.

Rural Settings and the Huge Impact of Addiction

I have seen the addition of drugs and alcohol firsthand. I have family and friends who are still struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol, but are not aware they have a problem, don’t want to change, don’t know how to change, or have limited resources in this area to do so.

I, personally, have been affected by alcoholism. A snowy, winter night in 2011; I was out at a concert with my boyfriend. The night started out with a few drinks. We were having a fun time, but it ended in a horrible way. I don’t remember driving, but I ended up hitting someone. I remember the officer assisting me into the front seat of the trooper vehicle and I asked if everyone was ok and the officer said, “everyone is alive.”

The Power of Personal Messages on Addiction

That traumatic life experience taught me a lot. I knew I needed help, but I didn’t know how to get it. My lawyer was able to get me into a drug court program through my Tribal affiliation. Requirements of me were strict, as though I were in a military boot camp. I had to remain sober, attend three AA/NA/support meetings each week, therapy every week, the list goes on and if I were to have violated any of those requirements there would be repercussions.

August 2013, I successfully completed the drug court program with no violations. The drug court program was very hard; I cried many times. In 2016, I graduated from LSSU with my nursing certificate, and am now a Licensed Practical Nurse.

Sharing Success with Others Seeking Sobriety

Fast forward to August 2021, I was reinstated my license to operate a vehicle again after almost nine years without it and I now have 3 years, 5 months, and 11 days sober. I am three semesters away from completing my bachelor’s degree in nursing at Lake Superior State University.

I think to reduce the number of people struggling with addiction is going to take a lot more than pamphlet handouts and “Don’t Do Drugs” t-shirts. Individuals who suffer from addiction need a lot of encouragement to find ways in which they can simply love themselves without drugs or alcohol, along with promotion of healthy ways to cope with life stressors and healthy ways to celebrate instead of using drugs and alcohol.

More education on resource availability and how to properly use them such as outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation resources, instead of sending people straight to jail. I think that the promotion of individuals’ recovery stories would do so much for those struggling. It would show them that they are not alone and recovery is possible. Most importantly, never give up on them.

2. L.M. (University of Arizona)

I have witnessed many people in my family struggle with addiction, whether it be drugs or alcohol. This has impacted my childhood and adult life as close family members have been absent.

Getting help is a choice many are not willing to make, and in my life, this has mainly stemmed from unhealthy coping mechanisms when it comes to mental health issues. I think the first step in reducing the number of people struggling with addiction is education and having proper resources.

Creating Curriculums that Address Addiction

Most schools offer assemblies and guest speakers to talk about drug and alcohol addiction and the consequences to young children, however, this is not always effective. I believe that talking about reasons for addiction and how they affect the people around you would be a much better course of action than trying to scare children out of drug and alcohol addiction.

Many of these presentations show how drugs and alcohol affect people physically rather than how they harm the people around them. Proper education on how to recognize addiction is informative and can guide children and adults to advocate for those around them. Addiction can also start at a young age and educating children that they can reach out for help and providing resources for those struggling or witnessing loved ones struggling is very important.

Education for Families Facing Addiction

I witnessed my father struggle with alcohol addiction for 15 years and if I had received proper education and resources to get him the help he needed, I feel I would have been able to have a much safer environment to live in as a child. I was forced to mature quickly and become more of a caretaker to my father than he had been to me which is extremely difficult for a child to go through.

Providing therapeutic help is another course of action people struggling with addiction can take. Therapy can help people in a multitude of ways and help them discover self-awareness and obtain healthy coping mechanisms for trauma and addiction. Personally, I think advertising therapy more frequently can allow more people get the help they need.

Support & Encouragement for Loved Ones in Recovery

Talking through problems offers relief and support while encouraging addicts to lead a clean life. There are many types of counseling ranging from anonymous meetings to one-on-one therapeutic help. Group therapy can be very helpful as it is a safe space where you can be supported by others that have struggled to get clean.

Overall, going to a rehab facility and going to therapy is the individual’s decision, but supporting and encouraging them is helpful in their recovery. When my father finally decided to go to a rehab facility, I sent letters to make sure he knew I loved him and was proud of him for getting help. I’m very lucky that he was able to get clean and I want to motivate others to provide assistance to those that need it most.

3. S.M. (Utah Valley University)

Addiction is a widely misunderstood mental disorder in which certain chemicals in one’s brain are lacking. In turn, this can make a person turn to outside sources to provide what they are naturally missing.

Many times, the lacking substances include serotonin and dopamine which are readily available through drug use, sexual interaction and exercise. I believe that if we are able to provide individuals with healthy practices and alternative ways to achieve the same or similar effect as addictive substances or activities, we could eliminate or greatly reduce the amount of people who struggle with addiction.

Listening to Our Bodies on Addiction

Our bodies are intelligent. They let us know what they need if we can be still and listen. One life-changing application can be practicing mindfulness. The dictionary defines mindfulness as “a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one’s feelings, thoughts, and bodily sensations, used as a therapeutic technique.”

When we put this concept into practice, we allow ourselves to still our minds and bodies in order to be fully open and aware of our communication with self. We are able to recognize our body’s needs and react accordingly by getting to the root of what is actually happening in our bodies, not just putting a “band aid” on the issue.

Cultivating a Practice of Mindfulness

I have immersed myself in learning all I can about mindfulness practice so I can help those around me. I have been diagnosed with clinical anxiety and depression, which I have, unfortunately, passed on to some of my children.

We have adopted mindfulness practices in our home so we can identify what our bodies are telling us and address it. We quiet our minds, focus on our breath, breathe slowly and deeply, and home in on what pain we are experiencing and how to alleviate it. Our mental health has an inarguable impact on how our bodies function.

Through mindfulness, we can look at our minds and bodies in an honest and objective way to identify the issues at hand. We can see what we need in accordance with mental care, whether that be exercise, rest, or counseling. I have been able to find so much mental relief through therapy and speaking with counselors.

The Power of Personal Messages on Addiction: Embracing Mindfulness

I have gained the tools I have needed for years to address ways to alleviate my anxiety and depression. It has been indescribably helpful in my health journey, and inspired me to return to university so I can, in turn, assist others in their journey to better mental and physical health.

The practice of mindfulness has made an incredible shift in my journey, and I have become incredibly excited about sharing this knowledge with others. By pursuing a degree in psychology, I believe I will provide others with the tools they need to address their mental health and subsequently assist in the relief of addicted individuals.