A few years ago, I discovered that someone close to me was experiencing active addiction. Over the years that followed, I've watched them try to piece their life back together time and time again. It absolutely broke my heart.
Addiction is cruel; it does not discriminate, and the impact it has on someone and their friends, family, and loved ones cannot be measured.
To watch someone you love to go through so much pain, whilst simultaneously inflicting pain on those around them – when you know that’s not who they are and it’s not what they want – is an indescribable pain in and of itself. The shame that sits within the person penetrates their entire being. It makes them act, be, and feel things that do not align with their true values, and they blame themselves every conscious minute.
I can’t solve their struggles; all I can do is be there for them in any way I can. But organisations like The Nelson Trust take some of that hurt away. By offering people experiencing addiction support and pathways, it means that the person, their families and friends do not have to shoulder that weight alone.
That’s why I’m shaving my hair off this July for The Nelson Trust. I’m going to miss my hair, and it’s going to suck waiting for it to grow back. But addiction can take many lives, and I’d miss my loved one far more – and the reality is, they may not come back. So, hopefully, by helping raise funds for The Nelson Trust, the appropriate care can be given to people in need so they can begin to rebuild their lives.
You can donate to Zasha’s fundraiser here.
