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Since leaving you I suffer less anxiety about normal life things that others can deal with. I have learned to deal with emotions, grown-up mentally stronger – something that I should have done at an early age. I believe that I have been robbed of 25 years of my life, and I point the finger at you for this. If you are struggling to articulate your feelings about the emotional roller coaster that is early recovery, a letter may be able to help. Either way, writing a goodbye letter to alcohol is a very interesting and successful method.
- Another recovering alcoholic published a goodbye letter to alcohol in the Fix, a recovery magazine.
- I needed comforting so badly – and you knew exactly which buttons to press, in a way that no-one else ever has.
- I justified using you, saying that you fueled my creativity when in reality all you did was sap away a bright and alert mind.
- I am now not only saying goodbye, but stay the fuck away from me and my family.
- We will pay £25 for every letter we publish.
- I tried to push through, but eventually I physically couldn’t go on – my body was finally reacting in a way I could do nothing to prevent and I had no choice but to detox.
It is very personal to me, but I believe that it may inspire others and help them use a goodbye letter to alcohol on their own journey of sobriety. We may decide to re-visit the letter from time to time, as a reminder of why we cut alcohol out of our lives. There are lots of methods of quitting alcohol out there and it is very much a ‘horses for courses’ approach. This particular tool worked well with me. I do re-read it from time to time, but this is just something that has helped me along my own personal path. With this in mind, who you share your personal goodbye letter to alcohol with is entirely your choice.
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My body had been poisoned, and my mind had become shrouded in darkness. I forgave and forgot, and I came crawling back. Every day https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/writing-a-goodbye-letter-to-alcohol/ was a fresh start, a new morning to restart our glorious relationship. As the years rolled on, you were there almost daily.
I had settled for destructive relationships, had become resentful and cruel and didn’t care if I was disloyal. I eventually had to get a job because we were broke, and I was terrified as I found myself standing behind a counter having to be face-to-face with customers every day. That’s when I did start seeing you every day. I had to have you with me at all times, although I hid our relationship from everyone as best I could. We had to spend some time apart when I first went to uni – I had Hepatitis and couldn’t see you. But my Anxiety Disorder was getting worse and I started to really experience how bad it could feel and how alien I felt around others, how abnormal, out-of-place and different.
What to Include in Your Goodbye Letter to Alcohol?
You once had me trapped in a mindset of worry and struggle, which introduced me to your close friends – anxiety, shame, and guilt. Once I got more acquainted with them, I knew they, just like you, weren’t my real friends. They only visited when they wanted to manipulate me and make me feel like less of a person. I realized they all came as a result of my interactions with you. For more support and information about how to intervene when a family member or loved one faces addiction, reach out to us at FHE Health. Our counselors are available 24/7 and would be glad to be of assistance.
I had been round to a friend’s house and when I got to the door I heard screaming, shouting and thuds. When she finally answered the door, I could see she had been crying and she told me it wasn’t a good time. Well it’s been a while now, and although you are a bad influence, I do miss you sometimes. I miss our secret relationship, the way that no-one else was part of it and could never get in on it. I miss the way you comfort me when I’m down.
Let’s turn the dialogue around and focus not on how our body looks but on how it feels and what it can do.
Ever since, I stay awake at night, dreading a call telling me you’ve hurt yourself or someone else. Be sure that this section does not become an exhaustive list of every large and small grievance you have that relates to addiction. While you may have dozens of examples to share, going too far in depth can begin to feel like a bashing session, and this diminishes the effectiveness of your objective. Instead, focus on the most meaningful and significant examples that are likely to have the maximum impact.
Write your letter and sign off as you would when writing a regular letter. Writing a goodbye letter to alcohol can be done with pen and paper, or on a computer, or phone – or whatever suits you. The objective of the exercise is that you create something that you can look at, read, and is personal to you. So, think of it as writing down why you want to break up with alcohol or drugs. If you have decided that you want to quit drinking, or you are sober, it’s a cathartic experience to say good riddance to your confidant — alcohol or whatever substance it may be.
You stopped me from learning how to deal with life situations. Whenever I hit a turn in the road – good or bad – you were there to stifle my emotions. When you do write a goodbye letter to alcohol, actually ‘write a letter’ – in letter form. Using the basics of who you are writing to – so ‘dear alcohol’, or for me, simply ‘alcohol’ (I no longer hold it in ‘dear’ regard).
I’m grateful that I still have the privilege of going to temple with my siblings and grandparents. I’m grateful I can be home to celebrate with them. Your response when your friends start daydreaming aloud about the imminent summer.
Living Well as a Neurodivergent Person
And the more honest you are towards yourself, the more of a useful tool you will find it. Using this method of moving thoughts to something physical is a powerful thing. Harnessing this power to write a letter to alcohol – a goodbye letter spelling out the end of your relationship – that is some serious power to harness.