In Volume 3 of the Letters to Myself series, Jen Taylor, LCSW, takes her 23+ years of experience as a New York-based spiritual psychotherapist to turn the focus to addiction. Addiction is gravely misunderstood in today's society, and were it examined as the illness that it is, lives would be changed. As per the Mayo Clinic, "surges of dopamine in the reward system cause the reinforcement of pleasurable but unhealthy behaviors like taking drugs, leading people to repeat the behavior again and again. As a person continues to use drugs, the brain adapts by reducing the ability of cells in the reward circuit to respond to it," causing addiction.

Jen brings her expertise to the table with valuable resources and a collection of letters from those who have struggled in these areas and offers their stories in the hope of helping others. It is Jen's prayer that this book provides hope and alternatives to young people who are struggling with addiction.

Please call 988 (USA) if you are struggling with suicidal urges.

Life can be challenging; cling to the hope.