If you’ve missed a session—or stopped showing up altogether—this is not a guilt trip. You’re not in trouble. You’re not

From the outside, I looked fine. I was productive. I kept up with work. I paid my bills on time.

You didn’t blow your only chance. You didn’t waste it. And you are not too far gone to try again.

You didn’t fail. Maybe you stepped away. Maybe you ghosted. Maybe you told yourself you’d be back next week—and then

I didn’t hit rock bottom. I hit Tuesday morning. Laptop open. Lunches packed. Kids out the door. And me—back at

You left. Maybe you skipped sessions. Maybe you stopped calling. Maybe you silently dropped out of your last treatment when

They don’t know how bad it gets. And why would they? You’re a professional. A parent. A leader. You make

You didn’t plan to fall off. At first, you were showing up. Sitting in groups, listening more than you spoke,

It’s not always a dramatic exit. Sometimes, people just stop showing up to their intensive outpatient program for addiction treatment.

I was the “together” one. The get-it-done one. The “Are you sure you’re okay?” one—who always answered, “I’m fine.” But