Recovery From Addiction Essay Two: "All The Cool Kids Are Doing It"
Posted 10-19-2009 at 04:47 PM by Skayda
Recovery and Addiction Mini-Essay Two:
"All the Cool Kids are Doing it!"
These seven little words by themselves, alone, they mean less than nothing in the scheme of how the universe works. But, together these seven little words can be the harbinger of any number of horrible situations for whoever they are directed toward. When one thinks of these words often the image is of teenagers smoking pilfered cigarettes in the school restroom during skipped classes. Yet, no matter what age you are, we are, we all still have peers and the pressures of life, love and the desire for acceptance run deeper than the darkest, deepest ocean in each and every one of us. Whether you are fifteen or fifty we have an almost innate need to feel that others around us do more than merely tolerate our presence; that they actually enjoy our company. When you are, like I am, a recovering drug addict, all of stigmas aside, it can be very difficult re-learning how to interact with other human beings. Our "radars" have been jeopardized and we have fears and suspensions galore; "Does she really like me for me?" "Did he only talk to me because of the drugs?" "Will he still love me when I'm sober?" Any number of scenarios and queries will find their way into our minds when faced with the ordeal of being in a social setting, especially with old friends and family members. And those we knew when our addiction was activally, and ferociously pursuing us. When I think back on what the "cool kids" did and who and what they are now I cannot help but wonder where we, as a society, found our impression of what and who exactly defines "coolness". If it's "cool" to "get high" than does that mean that everything that comes afterward, by proxy, is to be considered "cool"? Is it "cool" to lose all of your money and your self-respect and the your life gambling for months on end on the off chance you will hit a "nice" doctor at the millionth emergency room visit in the unending quest for more drugs? Is it "cool" to forget your loved ones birthdays, anniversaries and/or all the promises you've made to them which you never intended to keep in the first place or doing recall making to begin with? Is it "cool" to never be able to wear short-sleeves for fear of people's reaction, the fear of the judgement in their eyes when they see the mistakes of your life and addiction left in undeniable marks of realness up and down the flesh of your limbs? Is it "cool" to be found face-down on the sofa of a place you've never been before? Can you make anyone believe that it's "cool" to have woken up in bed next to another complete stranger after a night of debauchery bought and paid for with the promise of another shady and all-too-fleeting "high"? And, finally, would you, could you, even have the audacity to suggest that there would even be the smallest amount of "coolness" in the death of yourself, a loved one or even someone you've never even met before, due to following those seven deadly little words, "All the cool kids are doing it", clear through to their conclusion.
~End~
"All the Cool Kids are Doing it!"
These seven little words by themselves, alone, they mean less than nothing in the scheme of how the universe works. But, together these seven little words can be the harbinger of any number of horrible situations for whoever they are directed toward. When one thinks of these words often the image is of teenagers smoking pilfered cigarettes in the school restroom during skipped classes. Yet, no matter what age you are, we are, we all still have peers and the pressures of life, love and the desire for acceptance run deeper than the darkest, deepest ocean in each and every one of us. Whether you are fifteen or fifty we have an almost innate need to feel that others around us do more than merely tolerate our presence; that they actually enjoy our company. When you are, like I am, a recovering drug addict, all of stigmas aside, it can be very difficult re-learning how to interact with other human beings. Our "radars" have been jeopardized and we have fears and suspensions galore; "Does she really like me for me?" "Did he only talk to me because of the drugs?" "Will he still love me when I'm sober?" Any number of scenarios and queries will find their way into our minds when faced with the ordeal of being in a social setting, especially with old friends and family members. And those we knew when our addiction was activally, and ferociously pursuing us. When I think back on what the "cool kids" did and who and what they are now I cannot help but wonder where we, as a society, found our impression of what and who exactly defines "coolness". If it's "cool" to "get high" than does that mean that everything that comes afterward, by proxy, is to be considered "cool"? Is it "cool" to lose all of your money and your self-respect and the your life gambling for months on end on the off chance you will hit a "nice" doctor at the millionth emergency room visit in the unending quest for more drugs? Is it "cool" to forget your loved ones birthdays, anniversaries and/or all the promises you've made to them which you never intended to keep in the first place or doing recall making to begin with? Is it "cool" to never be able to wear short-sleeves for fear of people's reaction, the fear of the judgement in their eyes when they see the mistakes of your life and addiction left in undeniable marks of realness up and down the flesh of your limbs? Is it "cool" to be found face-down on the sofa of a place you've never been before? Can you make anyone believe that it's "cool" to have woken up in bed next to another complete stranger after a night of debauchery bought and paid for with the promise of another shady and all-too-fleeting "high"? And, finally, would you, could you, even have the audacity to suggest that there would even be the smallest amount of "coolness" in the death of yourself, a loved one or even someone you've never even met before, due to following those seven deadly little words, "All the cool kids are doing it", clear through to their conclusion.
~End~
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