“Rock Bottom” is an Addiction Myth Part 2: Ladies, I’m Talking To YOU

When I wrote the first iteration of this idea, I felt it missed the mark. I shook it off, thinking maybe 250-word atomic essays weren’t the place to talk about addiction. So, I tried a thread instead.

Addiction isn’t my primary message, but the treatment industry is where I cut my teeth as a coach. Plus, as someone sober since 2013, it’s part of my story.

Why The First Iteration Missed the Mark

Three men responded to it, with two disagreeing with me. Those two felt the need to point out “rock bottom” is an ever-moving goal post. Funny, I hadn’t said it wasn’t. The third man agreed with me, but he’s my friend, so he’s biased. We won’t count him. 😉

I hadn’t made the most important point in my original essay about the “rock bottom” myth, which is how the ultimate “rock bottom” is death. All the more reason to stop this myth in its tracks; to perpetuate the misguided belief that an addict “must hit rock bottom before they can change,” is like taking a dare from the Grim Reaper.

The men aren’t who I had in mind as I wrote this piece, yet they were responding to it.

Ladies, My Myth Busting Was For YOU

Men weren’t my intended audience. Ladies, that was meant for you.

We’ve all had a partner, family member, or kid who dealt with addiction. We tried to reconcile this myth with wanting to stop their suffering. We, who have tried to balance helping with detachment. We are the ones who perpetuate this myth. We are the ones who need to stop it as much as we need to stop over-helping.

Ladies, I wrote something about that idea, too.

Meanwhile, I realize I must do better at connecting with women…

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