A ‘Low Bottom’ addict is someone who has to hit a really low bottom in their life before they’re willing to get help. These people have to lose everything; material, physical and emotional things. I definitely am the type of addict who had to literally have NOTHING left before I’d get help in the end, are you a ‘Low Bottom’ addict? I thought of 10 signs you’re a ‘Low Bottom’ addict.
10 Signs You’re a ‘Low Bottom’ Addict…
1. You’re homeless (by choice or because you’ve lost everything)
2. You’re prostituting for drug money (whether you’re male or female)
3. You’re committing serious crimes, not just petty thefts (felonies and serious offenses)
4. You’ve overdosed multiple times (and been in the hospital multiple times)
5. You’ve sold all of your and your family’s belongings (and probably even friend’s belongings)
6. You’ve been in and out of jail (the cops know you by name)
7. You’ve been to rehab more times than you can count (it’s probably like 42 times now…)
8. You have serious physical or health consequences and still continue to drink or drug (you’re in liver failure and still drinking)
9. You no longer have custody of your children (they were taken away due to your drinking and drugging)
10. You’ve stripped or done porn for drug money (and possibly other questionable and degrading things)
The disease of addiction is a serious, scary and baffling thing. It can bring people to some of the lowest lows, places where you never would have imagined you would end up. For me, I ended up homeless, sold my car for some pills, emotionally broken and physically exhausted before I was willing to get help. I had to have not a dollar to my name and not a belonging in my possession before I was desperate enough to seek help. Each addict and alcoholic is different; there are some people who can get sober from one simple consequence such as 1 trip to rehab, 1 arrest, 1 financial issue and etc.
Whether you’re a ‘Low Bottom’ addict or the person who gets help really early on in your addiction, we all deserve to live a better life than the one of an addict or alcoholic. I used to think because my life was so bad and so miserable that I didn’t deserve a good life – and that wasn’t true at all. All of us deserve a chance at recovery and a new life free from drugs and alcohol. Unfortunately, not all of us find our way to rehab or to the rooms of 12-step meetings. If you’re the type of addict who has to lose everything before you can get help, I pray that you lose it all quickly and are unharmed in the process. I’m grateful to have lost everything at the age of 22 and gotten help as young as I did.
Now, having 2 years of recovery, I am aware that all those things I did were my addiction and not me. A big part of recovery is being able to forgive yourself for all of those ‘Low Bottom’ addict things you did. If you or a loved one are struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll free 1-800-951-6135.