I wake up in sweat
My heart it pounds
I can’t catch my breath
The dark surrounds
I am in my bed
With memory gone
I did it again
The same old song
That well known taste
Between my lips
It took me again
With strength it grips
My mind is racing
And my throat, it burns
Despite all of pain
No lessons I’ve learned
I don’t know what I did
I don’t know what I said
The panic is set
This part I dread
I’ll say this is it
Never again
A lie I’ve told myself
Since it began
It traps me within
All the places I hide
All the pain and shame
That I keep deep inside
I’ll cry and beg
To please let me go
Locked in a shell of someone
I no longer know
I’ll claw my way out
Until I see light
I can’t lose this battle
Daily I’ll fight
As my mind starts to quiet
I’m starting to see
The only one who can save me
Is me
By Contributor S. Cook
SOBER POETRY: This is a space where recovery and creativity meet. It features heartfelt verses that capture the emotions of sobriety. Written by various Sober Curator Contributors and readers about their recovery journeys, these poems provide inspiration, healing, and reflection for readers seeking solace and connection.
Do you have a sober poem you’d love to submit? ✏️ Submit Your Story to Speak Out! Speak Loud! Reader-written essays and opinion pieces. We publish sharp, specific, witty writing about modern sobriety. Submit your story →
SPEAK OUT! SPEAK LOUD! at The Sober Curator is a celebration of authentic voices in recovery—echoing Madonna’s call to “Express yourself!” Here, readers and contributors take the spotlight, sharing transformative sobriety journeys, creative talents, and new avenues of self-expression discovered along the way. Through videos, poems, art, essays, opinion pieces, and music, we break the silence that often surrounds addiction, replacing it with connection, hope, and inspiration.
Your story matters—and we want to hear it. ✏️ Submit Your Story to Speak Out! Speak Loud! Reader-written essays and opinion pieces. We publish sharp, specific, witty writing about modern sobriety. Submit your story →
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed in the Speak Out! Speak Loud! Section are solely the opinions of the contributing author of each individual published article and do not reflect the views of The Sober Curator, their respective affiliates, or the companies with which The Sober Curator is affiliated.
The Speak Out! Speak Loud! posts are based upon information the contributing author considers reliable. Still, neither The Sober Curator nor its affiliates, nor the companies with which such participants are affiliated, warrant its completeness or accuracy, and it should not be relied upon as such.
Help is Available
THE SOBER CURATOR RESOURCE GUIDE: At The Sober Curator, we provide high-quality content centered around the vibrant and fulfilling lifestyle of sobriety. While our focus is on the positive aspects of sober living, we also acknowledge that life can present challenges without the aid of alcohol or substances. Coping with these challenges alone can be daunting, which is why we strongly believe in finding recovery within a supportive community because it is the opposite of addiction.
If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, a co-occurring illness, or a behavioral health disorder, we urge you to seek help. While the task may seem daunting, it’s important to remember that support is readily available and that there are people out there who want to help.
It’s crucial to remain persistent in your search for assistance until you find the right solution for your unique situation. In some cases, it could be a matter of life or death, so it’s essential to never give up on finding the necessary help.
If your life or someone else’s is in imminent danger, please call 911. If you are in crisis and need immediate help, please call: 988.
