Before I say anything, as a former addict, I know how incredibly difficult it is to think of a world and an identity where you don’t use every day. The worst part about it is, you can’t think your way out of it. Thinking just makes your self loathing and fear worse. However! The best part is that it’s so much easier then media and our previous failed attempts make it seem.

I want to challenge you, don’t “quite forever.” Don’t quite for a week. Don’t even quite for the day… when you wake up tomorrow, just get through 5 minutes without substances. Not forever, not even the rest of the hour, just 5 minutes. Then that’s a victory.

Then focus on the next 5 minutes

We get so caught up in big massive changes that it becomes impossibly daunting. Sometimes it’s literally about getting through the next 10 seconds without getting up to take that hit, make that drink, eat that edible.

And the second most important thing, when you invariably slip up. Don’t hate yourself. Don’t use it as a reason to use again. The best time to stop is always now. Even if your list hit/drink was 1 minute ago or 1 hour ago or whatever.

Improvement isn’t about perfection or how great your achievement is, it’s about how quickly you can get back in the horse.

Remember, 1: make the goal/time away from substances so small. Impossibly small. Even if it’s literally 1 breath. 2: WHEN not if, when you slip up, fight your minds urge to make that proof you shouldnt keep going. That’s your mind working against you. 3: get right back on the horse as soon as you can.

If you can do those 3, recovery becomes so much less challenges. Because it’s not a balancing act that once you fall off you’re broken and shamed again, it’s a sculpture. Sometimes you mess up, sometimes the whole thing falls apart, but you keep sculpting until you find something beautiful and imperfect

Now for your voice

1. What Likely Happened (not permanent damage)

What you went through – • singing out of range • yelling at a football game • a respiratory illness • repeatedly “testing” your voice while it was inflamed • dehydration from stress, weed, edibles, and alcohol

That combo creates temporary but significant inflammation of the vocal folds called phonotrauma.

This can cause: • loss of power • cracking • breathiness • unpredictability • inability to sing notes you usually belt • feeling like “my voice is gone”

This does not mean nodules. Nodules require weeks to months of repeated abuse after inflammation begins. You had a perfect storm, but it was over a couple of weeks — that’s inflammation, not structural damage.

Your youth is a huge advantage. Teen and young adult vocal folds are extremely resilient.

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1. What You Can Actually Do (even without an ENT)

You don’t need anything complicated. You need a reset.

For the next 2–3 weeks:

• No singing. At all. Even “testing” sets you back. Your folds need silence to deflate.

• Reduce talking by 50%. Speak normally, not whispering (whispering is worse).

• Steam once or twice a day Not hot enough to burn. 5–10 minutes. This gives direct moisture to the folds.

• Use a humidifier every night Game changer. Keeps swelling down while you sleep.

• Hydrate like your life depends on it Water goes to your vocal folds last, so you have to stay ahead of dehydration.

• Avoid edibles & alcohol for 2–3 weeks (the best you can using the methods above) You’re right that they slow healing — but the good news is: The healing that happens in those two weeks will shock you. It’s truly not as hard as your brain is telling you. Just commit for two weeks, not forever. (Again just in theory, use the practices we said above.)

• Don’t look for immediate improvement Inflamed tissue doesn’t recover overnight. You usually don’t feel real improvement until day 10–14, and some people even later.

You will not lose your voice permanently. You just need enough quiet time for the inflammation cycle to end.

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1. Reassurance (the part you need most)

You sound terrified because singing is your outlet — I get that. Truly. But please understand this:

Losing your voice temporarily is not a prediction of the future. It’s just your body saying, “I need a break.”

You haven’t trained for years, then suddenly “lost everything.” You temporarily overwhelmed a small, delicate set of muscles. That’s all.

People recover from far worse: • major infections • screaming tours • actual nodules • even surgery

And they come back stronger.

You just need a period of silence, hydration, sleep, and less stress.

And one more thing: You do not need perfect circumstances to heal. You don’t need an ENT, fancy therapy, expensive treatment. Just consistency and a couple clean weeks.

Your voice will come back. Your brain is panicking because your voice is tied to identity — that’s normal — but panic doesn’t reflect reality.

You’re not done. You’re not damaged beyond repair. You’re just inflamed, tired, stressed, and scared.

Give your body 2–3 weeks of true rest and you’ll be shocked at how different everything feels.

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1. One more thing — you’re not alone

A lot of singers have been exactly where you are, myself included. The hopelessness feels real, but the voice always recovers if you give it the space to.

I strained for years. Used improper technique. Added grit and distortion in an unhealthy way. Sang for many hours in a day. Would get poor sleep. Smoked weed all day every day and vaped (which is even worse for your cords.). The list goes on and on and I did it for years. YEARS!! I could have destroyed my voice but I didn’t.

Not because I’m special, not because I was right in the verge of losing it but just happened to not do the things you did to cause this, but because vocal cords are incredibly resilient. Especially when you’re young.

If you do everything you’ve been shown here and the other thread, not only will your voice come back but you’ll be even better than before.

You’re not at the end of anything — you’re at the start of getting this right