People say there are only two certainties in life — death and taxes — but many would argue there’s a third we tend to forget about: stress. For some people, stress becomes so consuming that they turn to harmful substances like drugs and alcohol in an effort to cope.

Even though it usually starts off innocently, substance use often spirals out of control, and for some people, even leads to addiction. Of course, struggling with addiction only makes life even more difficult, and can even trick you into believing that you will never find the happiness you deserve.

But that’s not true — life can get better, no matter how difficult the road!

The truth is, no matter how tough life gets, and no matter how hopeless you feel — be it due to stress, anxiety, depression, or addiction — you can overcome any obstacle. Take Matt and Alonzo, for example, two brave men who triumphed over their addictions and went on to live clean, sober lives.

Matt

For years, Matt tried to fight alcoholism on his own, but found himself in a vicious cycle of relapse: he would be clean for weeks, but continued to fall back into his old habits every time. He knew he could no longer fight the war alone, so he reached out for help. Not only did seeking outside help provide insight into his addiction, but clarity into why he felt miserable whether or not he was drinking.

“I’ve come to the realization after some sessions with my therapist that the issues that were causing me to relapse were ones I didn’t even know about — things that I could remember, but I really did not understand the gravity of how that could impact someone’s life,” he said.

He also learned that he didn’t have to accept those destructive feelings, even though his alcohol addiction had tried to trick him into believing he did for years.

“As an alcoholic, you learn how to adapt to the way you feel, and it feels normal,” Matt admitted. “I remember what it was like in the beginning for me to just try to not drink and try to get through life, and just how impossible it was to live life on life’s terms on a daily basis.”

Although quitting drinking felt like a horrifying concept for a long time, Matt said that now he knows there are plenty of ways to find joy in life that don’t put his health in jeopardy.

“I knew something was going on and I found out what it is, and I’m very optimistic and excited about the fact that I can go back out there and not live in that state of anxiety that I didn’t even know I was living in.”

Alonzo

Alonzo had also faced what seemed like a never-ending battle with drug and alcohol addiction. He was able to manage his addiction through a 12-step program — but after he’d been sober for almost three years, he began to slip.

“I stopped talking to my sponsor and stopped going to meetings and stopped being held accountable,” he confessed.

He found himself working longer and longer days at work, which led to him finding solace at the end of the day with his co-workers in a place he admittedly shouldn’t have gone: the bar.

“Normally at the bar is where most of the contractors would meet, so we would drink and snort cocaine and make bad decisions.”

But through his previous experience, he knew he was on a slippery slope, and took the admirable step of seeking treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab center. He regained his sobriety, and also discovered new things about himself — revelations that help him stay on a healthy path no matter how hard life gets, or how long the workday is.

“I had a problem with being vulnerable. It’s OK to be weak. That’s when you tell somebody, ‘Hey, I’m really struggling.’ That’s really when you’re strong, because you won’t fall,” Alonzo said.

He continued, “I knew I was unbalanced and I knew I didn’t set boundaries. I didn’t like to say no. … [It helps] just being in contact with my emotions, understanding what to do in the situation of being bored, and understanding what to do in a situation when anxiety kicks in. How to not look over into the future, but just actually just live for that day. And by me living just for that day, it kind of sets everything right into that day, the time that I do have.”

Matt and Alonzo are living proof that no matter how hard life gets, there is always the opportunity for a happy, healthy future. No matter what you’re going through, don’t ever feel like you’re too far gone. And if you do feel lost, reach out for a helping hand. Matt and Alonzo would tell you that it may not be easy, but it’s worth it.

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