National Stories of Recovery, part 2: Chris

A friend of mine recently said about recovery, “There is room around the table for everyone.”  In the beginning, I wondered if I belonged at that table.  I was 16 when I was first exposed to recovery and was just shy of my 19th birthday when I ultimately entered my recovery.  In addition to addiction, I struggled with depression, thoughts of suicide, a history of cutting and burning myself, a childhood head injury, and an overwhelming sense of not belonging.
When I entered an inpatient treatment program in 1990, I was confused and scared.  I did not intend, plan, or expect to still be in recovery years later.  However, after I completed inpatient treatment, I found people in recovery who guided me, supported me, and encouraged me.
I am grateful for my family for intervening early and providing support and resources for me to seek help.  Staying in recovery has required continued involvement with peer-based recovery supports, and at times, professional assistance.
As a result of being in recovery, I have a college education and a meaningful career.  I have rediscovered lost interests and broadened my experiences, and I am blessed with the support and love of others in recovery, as well as friends and family who support and believe in recovery.
Today, I belong around the table.                 -Chris


To view more stories like Chris's, visit the "Voices of Recovery" page on SAMHSA's Recovery Month website.

National Stories of Recovery, part 1

Here's a national story from the Recovery Month website: 

My freedom from the bondage of more than 20 years of drug use began with my arrest in April 2004.  I was tired of using drugs, but I didn’t know how to stop.  Addiction not only cost me my freedom, but also the custody of my daughter.  This arrest pointed me in the direction of the DC Superior Court’s Family Treatment Court program, which gave me the opportunity to save my life and regain the custody of my little girl.  I entered the program in April 2005, when I admitted that I was powerless over my addiction, and my life had become unmanageable.
While in treatment, I realized I didn’t have to put myself or my daughter through the pain and humiliation of my disease ever again if I just didn’t use drugs.  During my 21 months in the Family Treatment Court program, I learned how to really live on life’s terms and made the commitment to never use narcotics again.  I’m not going to say it’s not a daily struggle, but like any other health condition – diabetes, heart disease, obesity – life changes are required in order to thrive.
Stopping drug use is the beginning, but staying off is daily work.  Recovery has become my most prized possession.  I’ve gained control over this area of my life through 12-step meetings and a sponsor.  I fight the disease of addiction one day at a time.
Today, I love my life, and I am grateful for the challenges that have come my way.   Successfully overcoming these obstacles has made me so much stronger and has given me confirmation that I can, and will, be able to deal with anything that comes my way without the use of drugs.  My daughter and I have a bond that I can only describe as a grace from God.  I wish more people facing a substance use disorder could experience the joy and gratitude that I feel when I wake up in the morning in my right mind, in recovery.                                        -Karen

To view more stories like Karen's, visit the "Voices of Recovery" page on SAMHSA's Recovery Month website.

Guest Post :: Community Stories of Recovery, part 1

 In honor of Recovery Month, we requested submissions of recovery stories from members of our own community. What follows is one such submission:

 
I grew up in a middle class family that had numerous strengths and gave me assets for growth.  Unfortunately, generational alcholism existed on both sides of my family and even the non-alcoholics in my family often were at a loss to deal with feelings or set appropriate boundaries with each other.  

When I was a child, there were scary, painful things that rocked my world, stole my sense of safety, and fractured my personal identity.  I wanted desperately to be different than those people I saw who turned to alcohol or valium to fill a void in themselves; however, I fell into the same pit and and started abusing alcohol at age 11.  I did things overtime that were increasingly dangerous to my self and others including drunk driving.  By age 17, I had tried to committ suicide twice.  I stopped breathing during an overdose on alcohol and pills when I was in my late teens.  

Two months before that incident occurred, a recovering drug addict and alcoholic spoke to the teens at my church.  His story was compelling and it was one of the first times I heard an adult tell on himself.  He had been a violent teen who went to prison but was now sane, a business man and kind to his children and I could see that he was grateful to have them.  He gave me hope even though it didn't stop me from drinking. At that point, I was addicted and couldn't stop on will power alone. 

I sought help through 12 step Programs that truly saved my life and taught me how to walk and talk and think all over again.  I had a community backing me that said "we did this and you can, too."  Overtime, I have also benefitted from counseling, spiritually based support groups, exercise and changes to my eating habits.  It has been a series of steady steps forward, using mistakes as spring boards to further growth, input from wonderful sponsors (mentors), asking the God of my understanding for daily guidance, admitting when I am wrong, and being willing to help others that has reshaped my life.  The recovery path is not easy but worth it in the long run.  I have been continuously clean and sober for almost 30 years and want to keep going so I can see what the next chapter will bring one day at a time.
                                                                                                    -Annette

If you have a story of recovery from addiction that you'd like to share this month, send your story in 500 words or less to kate@dftipp.org.

"Broke is Broke"

Yesterday evening, speaker Silouan Green joined a group of local community members in order to encourage "Finding Purpose in Our Brokenness." His message was this: "Broke is broke," and the key to recovery is to focus on finding value and purpose in life.

For those present who work in community service fields or who are working through their own recovery processes, he encouraged the importance of recognizing that while the cause of what makes us "broken" may vary, most of us are "broken" in some way, and we can use those experiences to help those around us. Silouan believes that the key to recovery is not simply avoiding the next drink or the next hit; the most valuable key is finding a goal to work for and seeing joy in life.

For Silouan, his joy was discovered in a two-year-long motorcycle trip across the country. Other's joy may be very different, but what's important is that what is chosen to break free from the cycle of addiction is meaningful and hopeful.

This Recovery Month, if you find yourself in a state of recovery or desiring recovery, surround yourself with people who care, find a person or two who is willing to really listen, and look for joy and purpose in life. And if you're in a position of service and encouragement to those who are broken, be those things for others: a support system, a listener, and a leader toward hope, joy, and purpose.

It's September! Welcome to Recovery Month!

"September is National Recovery Month—an annual recognition of the fact that millions of Americans suffer from addiction and other mental disorders, which can be successfully treated, allowing people to live healthy, rewarding lives. It is also an occasion to encourage people to do what they can to widen the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for the many individuals who need them."

All this month, The Drug-Free Coalition will feature stories of success and continued recovery from across the nation and from within our community. We invite you to visit this blog throughout the month in order to learn from these stories of hope. In addition, if you have a story to share, we'd welcome your own submission. Email your story to kate@dftipp.org.