Myth #8: I Have to Hit Rock Bottom Before I Can Get Sober

Decoding Nine Myths About Recovery

In my novel, Stay Sober and Save the World the Cave Woman Way, Cave Woman and Sylvia (or Sil) develop an epistolary relationship with each other. The letter writing continues, as you’ll see below.

Myth #8 People must hit rock bottom before they can get sober

Dear Cave Woman,

Does a person with an addiction have to hit bottom before they’ll get into recovery?

Many humans narrowly escaped addiction, either by a fluke of circumstance, by stopping the behavior before crossing that invisible line into addiction. 

I bet they have other addictions like being addicted to control or adrenaline.

That does happen, but I promise some people simply stop. Others who do cross the line into addiction can absolutely stop before they hit bottom. 

I think you equate hitting bottom with hurting others?

Yes, and it's brutal. I'd recommend getting help long before a person hurts someone else. A person will have to learn the same things and feel the same feelings without that brutal remorse that kept me from sleeping for months after I got sober.