Toni-You failed me years ago and I’m releasing my anger and resentment by writing this. You were the only adult qualified at the time to help me and you let me slide when you started seeing signs of substance abuse. You could have done a lot more to stop the life I was starting to get into. I was a terrified child. I knew you didn’t like it but what you failed to see as an MFCC was that I was self-medicating from the overwhelming pain of what happened to me. I actually believed I had a “curse”, I was so alone. You were paid a lot of money to keep my mind and emotions guided into healthy functioning, to keep me safe. You had the chance to be stern with me or have me talk to someone who deals with substance abuse while I was just beginning to start. That torturous self medicating lasted for decades. I didn’t even consider getting help until my later years but by that time I was way too entrenched. Today I have to deal with all the consequences of where that addiction brought me. I am still rebuilding my life. Maybe these words will help your next patient you see signs of addiction in. Don’t ignore them as you did me. You have so much trust given to you that your younger patients will listen to you so you can guide them to better decision-making. This isn’t meant to hurt you, but you needed to know the truth. It is therapeutic to write this so I can express myself. I wish you well. -A newly sober past patient