Summary

The web content is an author's personal narrative about the perils of addiction, the journey through recovery, and the importance of self-help and faith in overcoming substance abuse.

Abstract

The author, Michael Patanella, reflects on his past struggles with addiction to heroin and cocaine, emphasizing the dark reality of an addict's life. He describes the progression from casual drug use to full-blown addiction, which robs individuals of their talents, relationships, and dignity. Patanella highlights the mental health issues often underlying addiction and the destructive lifestyle it necessitates. Despite the grim circumstances, he conveys a message of hope, sharing his own escape from addiction and urging others to seek help. He stresses the importance of not wasting one's talents and the necessity of self-rescue, as external saving is often beyond reach. The narrative serves as a cautionary tale and a beacon of inspiration for those battling addiction.

Opinions

The author believes in the transformative power of recovery and the possibility of redemption from the depths of addiction.
He suggests that the pain of addiction affects not only the addict but also those around them, often causing more suffering to loved ones.
Patanella asserts that active addiction leads to a life devoid of true living, characterized by lying and manipulation as survival mechanisms.
The author expresses that the risk of losing friends, family, or even one's life does not deter an addict, illustrating the overwhelming power of addiction.
He advocates for personal responsibility in the journey to sobriety, emphasizing that one can only save oneself and not others.
Patanella's narrative conveys a strong belief in a higher power, suggesting that divine intervention may have played a role in his survival and recovery.
He encourages readers to appreciate and reclaim their talents and life, advocating for immediate action to prevent the loss of trust and relationships.

Insanity’s Normal For An Addict’s Typical Day

Forward (May 28, 2020)

Hello dear readers. This is not a new piece of literature for me. I wrote and originally published it in April of 2018. I was much more fresh in the game of recovery and sobriety back then and much of the dark pains from the devil were still far from gone. At that time, many of my stories and articles took on a dark persona, often shocking or scary to some. I don’t regret writing like that. I felt that with the heroin and other opioid epidemics going on throughout the United States. it was important to keep it true, and keep it real. I have paid the price when it comes to being imprisoned by an addiction to not only heroin, but cocaine as well. The fact that I am alive is mind boggling. But perhaps God kept me here on earth, so I could try to reach others who are sick and suffering. I really hope that for anyone out there who has never used drugs and an opportunity to use comes up, or gets offered to you, please,

think twice.

Typical Story Of A Typical Addict; And The Usual Type Of Life That Goes Along With It

Illicit recreational drug use or abuse. First just for fun on weekends. Out of boredom. Quickly turns into a Dependence, then it almost instantly it goes from Dependence to Full Blown Addiction.

Opiates…Benzos…Cocaine…whatever

Throw in a very good chance that there’s undiagnosed mental health issues, already long since present since before the drugs started. You have got yourself something extremely lethal brewing. Put the incredibly sad daily life into play, the lifestyle that is lived, the type required to support an addiction and you have someone who isn’t really even living.

They’re only just existing….BARELY.

When you have a human being who spends 24 hours a day not living; then you’ll have many examples of Wasted Talent.

The addiction robs who you are, robs you of relationships, self respect, dignity, robs a majority of any social existence. At least any that’s sincere, real, or with substance, or trust.You’re probably not experiencing or aren’t able to maintain love either. Whether romantic, or plutonic. The love that’s an ultimate blessing & gift from God. You may had once been engaged in a sport, hobby, friendships or a job.

You might have talents, but if that’s the case, once an active addict, any once constructive talent, is now nothing more than wasted. They once had talents, skills, hobbies, a love for people. Addiction robs everything, including talent, passion, heart, mind, soul, & faith.

The person I just described;

That person was Me for upwards of a decade.

I was fortunate. I was able to escape.

One thing we, do in active Addiction is we neglect everything, & everybody. That neglect includes our talents, responsibilities, family’s,passions, jobs.

Scary how fast our lives & talents are lost; lives crumbled,

Everything Gone. All passions, all talents, skills, & relationships are lost and all things disappear. BUT One NEW thing appears.

A new talent. The new talent is LYING. active addicts, are the best at it the only talent the devil leaves us with.

Lying, so good it’s almost professional, in nature. In a short time period, we become con artists trust losing, heartbreaking, fraudulent, dishonest criminals.

I learned quickly the ones closest to us, go through as much, if not MORE pain then the pain we ourselves are experiencing. Everyone around us, becomes an innocent victim of pain at the hands of us. Whether it is our self inflicted pain onto ourselves, or pain onto others.

Most times it is not even physical pain we’re causing, but its emotional, mental, & psychological. The pain we cause is constant, repetitive, & heart wrenching.

That pain also never has remorse.

So imagine that torture inside, and out. When the insanity is so powerful, that with all those consequences quickly becoming more consuming;

The chance of medical complications or an overdose becomes more inevitable with each passing day. Well that risk doesn’t scare us. Nothing stops us or scares us. We seem to not fear anything. Not even losing the most valuable losses of all.

The worst possible consequence of all, that being; risk of losing our friends & family; not even that risk seems to scare us.

Nor the chance of death. That too won’t scare us. People, you don’t have to live like that. I found a way out; you too, can find a way out.

The faster the better.

Get back that relationship, that friend, that talent; get back LIFE.

Enjoy love again. Enjoy people again.

Enjoy your talents. Find that help now. Hurry, because that trust is falling. Hurry before that trust splatters onto the ground.

Prove to God, that you’re NOT an example of Wasted Talent.

Prove to God you’re Thankful for the life he gave you. Make YOUR #1. If you want to change someone then change YOU change YOURSELF.

You can’t save or change anyone else. You can’t make or keep others sober. You only have ONE you. ONE Life. You can only save yourself. Don’t try to save the World.

Don’t be a Martyr.

Save Yourself.

Before God takes You prematurely. Because He will; Sooner than you think.

Michael Patanella

is a Trenton, New Jersey Author, Publisher, Columnist, Editor, Advocate, and recovering addict, covering topics of mental health, addiction, sobriety, mindfulness, self-help, faith, spirituality, Smart Recovery, social advocacy, and countless other nonfiction topics. His articles, publications, memoirs, and stories are geared towards being a voice for the voiceless. Hoping to reach others out there still struggling.