Seth Blais

When I stopped using drugs to suppress my emotional pain, I had to start the long process of learning how to manage life without substances to help me.

Calling addiction a disease does not eliminate responsibility for the actions of those who are struggling, it allows them to admit their shortcomings and seek treatment without fear of being stigmatized and bullied. People with diseases find appropriate treatment.

In the fall of 2016, I was on a steep decline towards being homeless, or worse, dead.

Just say thank you.

Most of us sometimes experience negative or painful thoughts when left alone to think. Many people, myself included, like to use this time to beat up on ourselves and practice negative self-thought.

This was a hospital, after all, they couldn’t be bothered by a sick person trying to reduce the harm of his disease.

One of the most challenging parts of entering recovery is that you are forced to face the same painful emotions and challenges, but without the help of drugs and alcohol.

Perfectionism: I’ve never heard of anyone completing recovery–or accomplishing anything in life perfectly.

Putting action behind the wanting never came easily. With too much planning and not enough action, I usually failed to execute and experience positive results.

Recovery is possible.

Reflecting on the past decade, I can now more clearly see the pattern of self-sabotage.

It’s important to find peace in knowing that you are doing the right thing and focus on what is within your control.