Rock bottom refers to the time and circumstances in the life of an addict that causes them to reach the lowest possible point in their disease or addiction. It is the time when the addicted individual feels like there is no hope for them and that their life is so badly damaged that there is nothing good left in it.

For some, reaching rock bottom is a turning point. But to clearly understand what rock bottom means, we have to be aware that it can mean something different for every individual. For some, it could be the end of a marriage, but for others it could be the loss of a job or a home. There is no clear-cut method for predicting what your own personal rock bottom moment might be.

An addict may discover that his or her addiction has cost them the trust of family members, and it hurts so badly that this moment becomes rock bottom for that person. Each person has to find their own rock bottom moment, and there are addicts who reach rock bottom quickly, while others don’t reach it for years.

Perhaps you have suffered from addiction for many years, and you feel hopeless and bleak about the future, but you don’t feel like you ever reached rock bottom. Maybe you tried treatment or rehabilitation programs once, only to relapse almost immediately after you completed the program. Then maybe, just maybe, you’re wondering what kind of tragedy it will take to make you give up your addiction.

These feelings can be overwhelming at times, and these feelings can also be signs that you want to be sober and you want to seek recovery. In some cases, you may even avoid the worst circumstances because just the thought of rock bottom scares you into getting help. For example, if you know that because of addiction you can’t pay rent and you’re in danger of losing your home, the thought of being homeless may be enough to convince you to seek help.

The important thing to remember is that no matter where your own rock bottom may be, it’s never too late to reach out and ask for help – always remember that.

There are thousands of addiction-related book published every year and, no matter what the specific affliction, readers tend to read and appreciate the works of authors who are fearless and authentic.

Millions of people struggle from alcohol and addiction worldwide and the road to recovery isn’t easy, but in the end it is always worth the struggle. With that in mind, here are four must-read books that speak from the heart of addiction:

In My Skin: A Memoir of Addiction

The story of Kate Holden, the girl who seemed to have everything in life, a college graduate from a solid, middle-class home. Despite her beautiful appearance, she was painfully shy and chronically depressed. When she tried taking heroin drug for the first time, she never imagined that she’d get hooked on it. To cut the narration short, she lost her job, apartment, and friends. She began stealing money from her family, and sold her body to support her addiction to heroin. But her family never gave up on her. Thanks to their unconditional love, Kate ultimately conquered her addiction and never looked back.

Tweak: Growing Up On Methamphetamines

This is a story of Nic Sheff, the boy who grew up too fast. In his early teenage years, he regularly used pots, cocaine, and ecstasy. Eventually, his habits grew to include crystal meth and heroin. Despite of the signs of his drug addiction, Nic thought that he could quit whenever he wanted. It took one nearly fatal drug addiction relapse in California to convince him to quit. In a voice that is raw and honest, Nic paints himself as a young man at odds with his past and family. This book shows that despite trials and obstacles, there is always hope.

Up from Down: A True Story of Recovery from Addiction

This story is about the heroin addiction of Ted Adamson. He did what he had to do to survive. His days and nights were spent feeding an addiction that was never truly satisfied. He went from county jail to state prison. This book gives readers a real, un-sugarcoated glimpse into the life of a junkie. The author describes his world and all its ugliness with crisp, disturbing clarity. This is a must read book. From the Church of Synanon’s bizarre drug addiction therapies to modern 12-step programs, readers will be taken along on Ted’s journey and be inspired ultimately by his redemption.

Broken: My Story of Addiction and Redemption

This feature about William Cope Moyers. It depicts William’s unrelenting love affair with crack cocaine, which eventually led him close to death, with no obvious light at the end of the tunnel. But thanks to a loving support system, he eventually embraced spirituality and addiction recovery. In the end he conquered his shame, transformed his life, and dedicated his life to changing the politics of addiction in the US.

Relying on these books alone will not be sufficient to keep an individual to be fully recovered, but sparing your time reading the right material can really help.  If you think you can’t handle your alcohol or drug addiction, there are lots of addiction rehab centers in Ohio than can help you to your long-term recovery. They provide you materials and treatment plans that are very suitable to your needs.  Furthermore, some addiction rehab centers in Ohio also provide holistic therapies such as music and art therapy, equine therapy, yoga and a lot more.

1. Mood swings. Addicts often times become angry or irritated from minor offenses or for no reason at all. You might even see them having manic episodes, laughing a minute after they had an anger outburst or vice-versa.

2. Have poor personal grooming. When addiction progresses, addicts start to disregard taking care of their basic personal hygiene. Simple grooming habits like combing your hair or brushing your teeth are often overlooked.

3. Lying quite frequently. When under the influence of alcohol or drugs, lying and fabricating deceptive stories are easily done. Seeing or hearing these from your friend or family member are a strong indicator that he or she has a substance abuse problem.

4. Lone drinking. If you often see your loved one drinking alone around the house or at a bar, it can be the sign of alcoholism.

5. Bruises. Another strong indication that the person is having substance abuse problems is when you often see them with injuries or bruises on their bodies. Strangely, they do not remember how they got those injuries or know what kind of accident they’ve gone through.

6. Denies drinking. If someone drinks a lot or consumes a large amount of alcohol in a small amount of time, but keeps denying or lying about the true quantity of what he or she has drank: the individual definitely has alcohol abuse issues.

7. Frequent colds or nosebleeds. Having colds or nosebleeds may just normally occur from sinus problems. However, if this happens quite frequently, it can be an indication of a drug addiction problem.  Frequent nosebleeds may develop due to sniffing drugs in powdered form, like crystal meth or cocaine.

8. Itchiness. Some side effects of drugs like opiates or heroin include itchiness or skin irritation. If you often see your friend or loved one scratching a certain part of his or her body, there is a possibility that the individual is abusing the aft-mentioned drugs.

9. Unstable weight conditions. Someone with drug addiction may experience rapid weight gain or weight loss depending on the type of substance being consumed.

10. Money problems. If a loved one often asks for money but doesn’t knowing where that money is going, he or she could be spending it on “bad” things. He or she does not want you to know about drugs.