As someone who spent several
Years as an intake
At a drug and mental health
Rehabilitation center
I understand the process of
Recovery
Better than most.
I’ve witnessed firsthand
People with drug addictions
And Illness like Manic Depression,
Schizophrenia or Depressive
Disorders
Make full recoveries and
Go on to lead a relatively
Normal and stable life.
These illnesses have touched
Every American in some way
And occasionally
I receive letters
From concerned
Parents and loved ones
Asking me how they
Can “Save” their relative
Or friend from one of these
Horrific illnesses.
They don’t understand
That the recovery process
Is normally a long
Arduous process of
Trial and error
To be
Carried out by
The afflicted
And the process is never
Fully completed.
Many people
Have helped me on my
Recovery Journey;
Parents
Relatives
Friends
God
Doctors and
Peers
But they were more like
Spectators cheering me on
As I walked the long
Arduous path
Of self improvement.
Recovery requires commitment
And willpower,
Attributes that cannot be
Given
By a loved one
But rather earned
Through experience
And determination.
Ultimately
Your loved will
Will have to
“Save”
Themselves.