The Truth About That ‘One Drink’ You Didn’t Plan On

You Drank Again. Now What?

You didn’t plan to.
You told yourself, not this time.
Just one. Just Friday. Just the weekend.
But now it’s Monday, and your body is buzzing with regret, your mind is heavy, and that familiar shame loop is whispering, “What the hell is wrong with me?”

Let’s cut through the noise.

There is nothing wrong with you.
You’re not a failure.
You’re likely stuck in something very real.
Something that most people spend their entire lives running from:

Addiction.

Take a breath. Don’t run. Let’s talk about it.

Because this word?
This big, terrifying, shame-soaked word?
It’s gotten a bad rap.

For decades, addiction has been portrayed as a moral failing, a rock-bottom story, a label reserved for “those people.”

But that’s not what addiction actually is.

So let’s redefine it. Reclaim it. Make it ours.

Addiction is the loop.
It’s the pattern that locks in when your mind and body get relief—sweet, fast, tap-out relief—from a behavior that eventually hurts you.

It’s when you do something that numbs you, soothes you, or lets you escape—
...even though you know it causes harm.

It’s when you feel the consequences,
swear you’re done,
promise yourself this is the last time...

…and then somehow, you change your mind.

Again.

Addiction isn’t just about the substance.
It’s not just the drink, the pill, the scroll, the shopping cart.

It’s about the loop.

You know it’s hurting you. You want to stop. You try.
And then—there you are, back inside the loop.

That’s it. That’s addiction.

Simple. Honest. Human.

Not evil. Not shameful. Not hopeless.

Just a loop your brain has learned.
And like any loop, it can be unlearned.

So here’s the truth bomb nobody gave you:
You cannot solve a problem you refuse to name.

And that’s where this word—addiction—becomes your ally.

Naming it doesn’t trap you.
It frees you.

Because when you stop calling it “just a bad habit” or “just a rough patch”…
When you stop telling yourself it’s just stress or weakness or “not that bad”…
You finally start seeing the real shape of it.
And only then can you do something about it.

Addiction isn’t the end of the story.
It’s the start of the plot twist.

Because now you know what you're actually up against.
Now you stop blaming yourself and start building tools.
Now you get curious instead of cruel.
Now you stop white-knuckling and start breaking the damn loop.

And if that’s what you want, I’ve got you.

—

If this lands, it’s because there’s a part of you that’s ready to stop spinning.
A part of you that’s done pretending this isn't a thing.

Let that part speak.

🔗 Book a free Clarity Call with me: https://www.mybadassrecovery.com/mentorship
🎧 Or listen to The Podcast: https://www.mybadassrecovery.com/podcast
💥 Or start the course that breaks the loop: https://www.mybadassrecovery.com/course

You don’t need more shame. You need a strategy.
And the moment you name the pattern, you can start breaking it.

Addiction isn’t your enemy. It’s your map.
It shows you exactly where to begin.

With love and fire,
Pamela