The Addict’s Diary is a platform that enables those whose lives have been damaged by drug misuse to share their experiences and find catharsis and a feeling of community, all while educating others about the reality of this epidemic and enlightening others about the realities of substance abuse.
In addition to this, people often provide images of themselves both before and after they broke their habit. The “before” pictures (which are often mugshots) reveal open wounds on the face, glassy eyes, emaciation, and a general air of despair. The “after” pictures, on the other hand, show clearer skin, bigger cheeks, and, perhaps most importantly, genuine grins.
Keep reading to check out these motivational entries, and if you want to read more about The Addict’s Diary once you’re done here, here, and here are some of the previous articles that Bored Panda has written about it on their website.
About this time 18 months ago, the internet was making fun of the mugshot of Shaun Weiss, who starred in Mighty Ducks. Shaun graduated from the drug treatment program today and is now 18 months clean and sober. The trouble is that you won’t see this discussed as often as you will witness his fall from grace. Let’s work together to make it different!
“That ought to get you motivated, don’t you think? In all candor, I imagined that I would pass away sitting on a park bench with a needle inserted in my arm or being shot in the head. In a million years, I never in my wildest dreams would have imagined that my life would turn out the way it is right now.
Quit putting yourself down like that. Because you have no idea what the next day may bring, it is best to get started as soon as possible.”
I started off as a 98-pound crystal meth addict who would do anything to feed his addiction. After breaking out of prison merely to get high and becoming a fugitive on the list of Hawaii’s Most Wanted, I reached rock bottom, and it seemed that my future was bleak. Everyone, including myself, had given up on me at this point. Due to the crimes I committed, which were motivated by my addiction to crystal meth, I ended myself serving a sentence of ten years in a high-custody jail. I have been free for around seven years, and in that time I have started my own company and become a motivational speaker. Throughout the seven years that I have been free, I have given speeches at more than 150 schools. When I do so, I educate the students about the perils of drug use and jail. I open out about my troubled background in the hopes that it would encourage them to make the right decisions. If I can prevent even one youngster from engaging in drug use, then my objective has been accomplished. Hello, everyone! I’m Kyle, and welcome to my COMEBACK!
Heroin was the cause of my loss. The first time I tasted it, I was immediately hooked. The only thing that mattered to me was experiencing that euphoric surge. I didn’t give a damn about how I appeared or about the people I was causing harm to. I didn’t give a damn about anything, not even myself. I checked into a sober living facility two months ago after completing my treatment program. As of today, I have been clean and sober for 53 days, and I am doing quite well. Without the disorder that drugs brought into my life, I experience a great deal more happiness.
My experience is not unique in any way. After a series of operations, I developed a severe addiction to opiate-based pain medicine, which continued to dominate my life for the next 12 years. I stood helpless as the whole of my life and everything I cared about vanished before my eyes as everything burned to the ground around me.
I wanted to stop using drugs but couldn’t get over the withdrawal symptoms. About a decade passed before I came to the realization that I could get clean; yet, I could not get clean and be comfortable at the same time.
Even though we’ve been through the wringer, my son is now six months sober, and I couldn’t be more proud of him.
My name is Marilyn, and I have a drug problem. The majority of my life was spent fighting off an addiction to crack cocaine. I have been admitted to and released from many facilities, including jails and prisons. I’ve worked in the prostitution industry. I have abandoned my little children. I robbed my mother and my father. On February 23, 2018, I was forced to say goodbye to my kid. Then I couldn’t find myself. I was rendered helpless after witnessing the horrible loss of my friend. Throughout the course of 33 years, all I wanted was one more hit. For the last 33 years, my go-to response has been “I’ll seek assistance tomorrow.” On March 23, 2021, I reached my breaking point and decided to seek help. I was unable to endure the agony of further humiliating myself for another second. I was able to admit defeat and hand everything up to God. Today, I am going to follow his direction and let him steer me. I now live in a community that promotes sobriety and healthy life. This day is dedicated to working the stairs. Today, I discuss my issues with a person who is acting as my sponsor. I don’t take drugs at all anymore, so I can enjoy life the way it should be lived. Today, I am 124 days clean.
Just now, five years ago, I was aware that the battle had come to an end. The drugs were victorious, and I was the one who had lost everything.
I gave up and made the decision to become sober. I discovered a fresh approach to life. I want to thank God for blessing me with such a wonderful life.
Getting high was the only thing on my mind throughout those 15 years. I was ultimately forced out of my home after being arrested, having my children taken away from me, and losing custody of them. In 2016, after several unsuccessful efforts at therapy, someone finally found something that worked. Today marks the completion of my fifth year of abstinence! My journey through recovery has allowed me to transform from a person who was addicted to meth into a useful member of society who now works in the medical field.
