After relapsing and using daily for the past two weeks, yesterday I did not take a single pill. I realized that I am not powerless over my addiction, I know precisely why I use and I am capable of changing that. I use to kill the pain of fear. I am afraid of everything, afraid of being myself, afraid of living, afraid of success, afraid of happiness. It is my choice to slowly commit suicide through the regular ingestion of psychotropic substances, and it is a pathetic choice. Last Sunday I spent the night consoling my childhood best friend after he disclosed that he had been physically, verbally and emotionally abused by his father, who incidentally happens to be a terminal alcoholic. His father was once a beautiful human being, a brilliant, brilliant artist who wasted his potential whilst destroying himself and his family out of a fear-born addiction. I saw myself in him. I do not want that. I do not need that. Yesterday I decided that I was done. I chose life. Today I re-affirmed my choice and did not use. Obviously, my perspective invalidates and prevents my participation in a 12-step program of any sort, so I'll be doing this alone, with very little support. I am not confident enough to confess my relapse to my family, my fiancee (from whom I am currently separated) is the only one who knows and I have not discussed yesterday's decision with her. But I am positive. I am going to live. I am going to be fully healthy, happy and alive. Wasting life through the abuse of substances is an all-too common story. I don't want it to be mine anymore than necessary, that is, anymore than it already has. For all my illness I've grown. I'm going to keep growing, living.