It has now been a little over 24 hours since Demi Lovato took to the Grammy’s stage and shined a spotlight on her darkness. I’ve watched her performance of her song “Anyone” over and over again with tears in my eyes and chills down my spine. Yes, it was a flawless performance. Yes, Demi has never sounded better. Yes, it was an emotional performance. Yes, it was the most truthful song I’ve heard in years. There is one other thing "Anyone” is, which is a harsh reality people sometimes overlook.

Demi has struggled with addiction for many years, in the public eye. Addiction is a terrible disease that could not care less how much money someone makes or how famous someone is. It grabs hold like a snake coils around a scared mouse, squeezing and squeezing.

“Anyone” was written just days prior to her near-fatal overdose in 2018. The song was Demi’s way of crying out in desperation for help, but as the song says, “Nobody’s listening to me.”

When someone dies as a result of their addiction, questions dance in the air like a flame dances in the wind. The smoke hides the truths that everyone is too afraid to see. Some will ask why they didn’t try to get help. They will ask why didn’t they go to anyone. They might ask why the person didn’t ask anyone for help.

Addiction messes with the person’s mind and warps them into a shell the addiction can continuously feed off of. Sometimes asking for help, in a direct manner, is an almost impossible task. However, sometimes people are screaming, praying, and crying out desperately for help, but no one is listening.

I tried and tried and tried some more
Told secrets 'til my voice was sore
Tired of empty conversation
No one hears me anymore

100 million stories and 100 million songs
I feel stupid when I sing
Nobody's listening to me
Nobody's listening

Sometimes people are so terrified to ask for help, embarrassed by the person they have become.

This is not the first time Demi used music to bare her soul and expose her struggles with addiction. In 2018 she released her song “Sober,” which reads like an apology to her parents and to herself.

I got no excuses
For all of these goodbyes
Call me when it's over
'Cause I'm dying inside

Addiction is not something you can wake up one day and no longer have like a cold or flu. It is a life long war against your own brain telling you to do something you shouldn’t. People say you are your mind. Imagine that mind betraying you every single day. Being an addict does not mean you are weak, being an addict means you have to fight harder against yourself than most people could ever imagine.

I don't know, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know why
I do it every, every, every time
It's only when I'm lonely
Sometimes I just wanna cave
And I don't wanna fight
I try and I try and I try and I try and I try
Just hold me, I'm lonely

Momma, I'm so sorry, I'm not sober anymore
And daddy, please forgive me for the drinks spilled on the floor

People like Demi are stronger than many of us could ever imagine being. They turn to the world for help and sometimes the cruel world that we live in turns its back.

If you are struggling for addiction, know that there are so many people that want to help you.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a 24/7 national helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

DrugFree.org has a text number for services, send your message to: 55753. You can also call Monday - Friday 9 AM - midnight ET and holidays/weekends 12 PM - 5 PM ET: 1-855-378-4373.
Recovery Centers of America has local treatment facilities and can be called at: 855-487-9626.

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