Choosing Substance Over Health: A Self-destructive Cycle
We often blame external circumstances for our choices when, in reality, we’re the ones making those decisions.
If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “They did this, so I’m drinking my sorrows away,” think again. You’re the one choosing the anger, the misery, the turmoil, the despair, and the depression. Moreover, you’re electing to punish yourself with harmful substances — toxins that are only going to increase your suffering.
The truth is, no one is forcing these substances upon you; you’re not being held down and forced to ingest poison. Yet, many of us use our circumstances as a justification for our actions, as if we’re being granted permission to absolve ourselves of responsibility. We feel as though life is punishing us, but these perceived tormentors aren’t really present within our personal space.
So, what do we end up doing? We challenge the pain, we defy the punishment, we dare life to make things worse. We say, “you think you know pain? You think you can make my life worse? Watch me do it better.” We choose to drown our sorrows with alcohol or numb our emotions with pills. We prove how ‘good’ we are at ingesting poison, often pushing it to extremes.
The cycle of self-destruction doesn’t end there. We continue this toxic behavior, day after day, proving we’re still alive, defiantly stating “you can’t kill me.” Such behavior is a clear demonstration of how we let our demons win, whether these demons are our insecurities, past traumas, or even just an unhealthy person or a raging narcissist attempting to penetrate our emotional defenses.
In the end, by choosing to engage with our own toxicity, we let them win.
We need to realize that this self-destructive cycle isn’t the answer. There are healthier, more beneficial ways to cope with our circumstances.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, visit BeyondSober or SoberNotSober for support and help. Remember, we are stronger than our struggles and we have the power to break the cycle.
