The decent

The Slow Descent into Addiction

It started subtly—so subtly that Jake never saw it coming. At first, it was just a drink after work, a way to take the edge off. Everyone did it. It was normal. Then, after a few weeks, one drink turned into two. A month later, he needed three to feel the same relief.

Stress at work piled up. Life felt heavier. The drink wasn’t just a way to relax anymore; it became a necessity. Then came the nights he didn’t remember getting home, the mornings where his first thought was how soon he could have another. It wasn’t just alcohol anymore—pills helped him sleep, a little something else helped him wake up.

Months passed, and Jake told himself he was in control. He still had his job, his friends. But slowly, things slipped away. Missed calls. Missed deadlines. Excuses. The people in his life started to pull back, but he didn’t notice. Or maybe he didn’t want to.

By the time Jake realized he had a problem, he was already in too deep. He hadn’t planned on becoming an addict. No one does. It wasn’t a choice made in a single night—it was a thousand small choices, a slow unraveling, a path he hadn’t even realized he was walking until it was too late.