At a young age, I got involved with drugs and alcohol.
They took hold of my life.
My motivations were just completely towards getting the
means to get high and drunk and that was
what I lived for.
I remember feeling
alone at times.
I didn't have anybody to talk to or relate to.
I was in a very dark place, with
feelings of emptiness and loneliness.
I actually didn't really know a lot about treatment.
I was very naive to the whole realm of recovery.
I guess I thought that there were people
who were like me and people who weren't and
I was one of the ones who was destined to
live a life full of drug use and misery.
I got in some legal trouble and that brought
me to Oriana House as a consequence of
my
illegal activity. What worked best for me was
being able to talk to other people who had gone
through what I was going through previously, who had experience with
similar things and
came out on the other side
in a better place.
I needed other people to let me know I was worth it and that it was possible.
I didn't even know there was a different way of living.
I didn't know there were people who had done things I had done and lived similar ways
and changed that.
I became willing to think of other people besides just myself and consider
others' thoughts and feelings and how I might affect them
because for a long time, I thought everything I was doing
was affecting
just me; it wasn't hurting anybody else. It didn't involve anybody else.
But that changed over time.
There are people, friends, and family who care about me.
It did affect them. I needed to come here
to get where I'm at now.
I think it was necessary. Recovery to me feels like I know what peace means.
I have a new understanding of the word peace. I'm able to
enjoy my time and not be on the move all of the time
and just be able to
enjoy being still and enjoy the moments.
I'm so grateful for the people who didn't give up on me
because
there's no one way of going through recovery.
It's different pathways for everybody.
It might take somebody a few times until they do get it.
But when they do, that's when it's rewarding.
I currently work as a recovery coach for Oriana House. I'm able to
give back and be that person that the staff was for me
and for other people.
It's really rewarding. I love coming to work every day.
It doesn't even feel like work.
And that moment when I can see other people, and
seeing the hope and
knowing that there's another way to live is what makes it all worth it.