It was everyone's favorite time of year: Girl Scout cookie season. All one could hear about is where to get cookies, what Girl Scout cookie is the absolute best (Samoas or Thin Mints for the win), and how many they had eaten. Some even compare Girl Scout cookies to drugs or alcohol because they are "so addictive." People mean that as a joke, but for me, it actually became a reality. I was so addicted to Girl Scout cookies that I had to go to rehab; I ate 24 boxes and knew it was a problem. This is the story of the time I went to rehab after eating 24 boxes of Girl Scout cookies.

It started out so normal. Like always, my mom got Girl Scout cookies from a work friend and sent me a few boxes while I was away at college. After an agonizing period of waiting for the cookies to arrive, I got an email telling me I had a package ready for pick-up at the front desk. Excitement overcame me; I raced downstairs to get my cookies, opened the package, and started devouring the box of Samoas. Once I started eating, I couldn't stop. I finished the box of Samoas, then the box of Thin Mints, and finally the box of Tagalongs. After eating approximately 40 cookies in one sitting, I should've been satisfied; that's enough cookies to last some people the entire Girl Scout cookie season! However, 40 cookies weren't enough for me this year, Something had changed in me; I couldn't stop thinking about getting my next box of Girl Scout cookies and kept craving some Samoas. I had to get more, no matter what it would take.

I left my dorm and walked all over town looking for Girl Scout cookies. Soon enough, I came across some dealers outside of CVS. The price was high for a box of cookies, but I didn't care. I had to get my fix somehow. I bought five boxes of Thin Mints and headed back to my dorm, consuming all the boxes that night. For the next couple of days I returned to my dealers, hidden in the form of young, innocent Girl Scouts who didn't seem to know the power the cookies they sold held over me. It was after I consumed my 20th box of cookies within the span of three days that I started to suspect that I may have a problem. I didn't yet know it was an addiction, but I was aware that I had a problem. I couldn't stop myself though; something about those cookies was irresistible. For the third day in a row, I went to buy more cookies; my dealers knew me by name now, and knew my order. Two boxes of Samoas, two boxes of Thin Mints, one box of Tagalongs. After I went to my dorm, I blacked out; from what I heard, I was found on the floor of the community bathroom, clutching my empty box of cookies (box #24) and sobbing. My RA contacted my parents and the hall director and went to the hospital, where I was when I woke up.

The doctors gave me grave news; the type of news that I was hoping not to hear. I had a Girl Scout cookie addiction and must go to rehab in order to recover from it. My parents and I were in tears, but knew it must be done. I couldn't go on depending on Girl Scout cookies to live from day to day. I checked myself into rehab center. At rehab, I went through intensive withdrawals from Girl Scout cookies, attended GSCA (Girl Scout Cookies Anonymous) meetings, and learned how to live without Girl Scout Cookies. It was intensive, tough, and tested my strength, but I got over my Girl Scout cookie addiction over the course of a few months.

I still get cravings for Girl Scout cookies at time, but I know if I even have just a single cookie, I could slip back into addiction. I now avoid Girl Scout cookie stands like the plague and anytime someone offers me cookies, I have to turn them down. Going to rehab was a very low point in my life, but I am fully recovered and living a happy life. My advice for you is to be very careful around Girl Scout cookies; just eating a couple of boxes can easily lead to your life spiraling out of control.