No two people on Earth are exactly alike. We all have our own thoughts, emotions, actions, and our bodies often react to substances in their own ways as well. We experience addiction to drugs and alcohol in different ways as well. What may be addicting to one person won’t hook somebody else. What can trigger a craving in me may not be the same thing that triggers you. Some people relapse, some people don’t, even when they went through very similar or even identical treatment programs. Simply put, addiction is different for everybody.

Addiction is Different for Everybody

There’s no one size fits all way to treat addiction because there’s no one size fits all addiction. It’s a painful road that we each have to find our way down, and while you may find people who can relate to your situation, it’s a whole other can of worms for you than it was for them, and vice versa. Mothers who are battling addiction experience different emotions and triggers from fathers, men and women experience it differently and deal with it in their own ways. Even if you abuse the same substances, no two battles will be the same.

That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be, both in the battle with addiction and for the average joe. We’re not supposed to all experience the same things in the same way. That’s what makes humanity unique; we’re all different. That uniqueness is also our strength, because even if we don’t realize it, it’s giving us the opportunity to make a difference in someone else’s life. Being able to tell our story and give advice on different things is what helps us move forward. It helps us rely on each other in our darkest hour, rather than turn away. You’re not supposed to have all of the answers or know exactly how to help someone battling addiction. You’re just supposed to have the ones you have. Your battle with addiction may have given you tools or information that could prove invaluable to someone else, and this is possible by accepting that no two cases of addiction will be alike.

Everyone experiences addiction in a different way, with different substances, triggers and ways of getting clean. Knowing that your unique journey may help another person struggling with addiction should encourage you to continue to move forward.