Four years ago today, I detached myself from a habit I thought I was unable to live without. I was a complete mess and so was my life. I'm not saying it was easy. In the beginning, it certainly wasn't easy at all; but I'm proof that you can.
I am openly honest about my former drug addiction and I have no desire to be otherwise. If you're interested in judging, that's you and Your Walk. I am completely comfortable with who I am, who I was and who I strive to be. I always say this because it's true:
If I'd not been there, I wouldn't be here. That's my motto, I guess you'd say.
Honesty is an important step for my recovery. I'm not exactly sure how the 12 steps work, but my steps have been honesty and support from those I love. Unfortunately, along my way there have been looks of disbelief and judgement; which I'm sure happens to everyone to who makes a change in their lives. For some reason, people tend to judge that that they do not understand or are unwilling to remove from their lives.
I wish I could wrap my arms around every one that experiences this pain in their life and tell them, it gets better. It gets easier. It gets glorious!
I want so badly to be a recovery advocate. I want to shout my story from the rooftops and help those that need it. Sadly, I know from my own recovery, you have to have the "want to" before anything changes. I struggled with drug and alcohol addiction in some form or another from 15 years old. I am now 32 years old and completely drug and alcohol free! So, when i say life is glorious, that's an understatement.
If you read this and have any suggestions on how I may go about being a recovery advocate, please feel free to comment here. Also, feel free to share this publicly or privately to anyone you feel may need to hear this! SUPPORT IS KEY!
This may sound strange, since I've never actually met you... but I'm so proud of you and what you've managed to accomplish!! How wonderful to be free and at a point where you're ready to help others. While I have no suggestions on the advocate aspect, in the meantime keep blogging! It's such a great way to have your voice heard and encourage others struggling to get through the day. Yay for you!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much, Melinda! You have no idea what your comment means. It's difficult to express how hard it was to actually write this. It feels awesome to be in a place where I am able to search for ways to help others. I know what it's like to be "there" and I now know what it's like to be "here". I cannot say enough: THANK YOU <3
DeleteYou are awesome girl! The first step is admitting you have a problem and you have done that already...being honest and sharing is the best you can give anyone, just remember there are others out there struggling and would love to hear more stories...it helps to here how other ppl struggled and has made it through what once was the end of the road for some...
ReplyDeleteLike Melinda said..keep blogging, heck start another blog and dedicate it to the folks that struggle in addiction and that is recovering from addiction...you will be surprised who will share...CONGRATS to you and I'm also so proud of you...
Thanks! Folks (in general) who haven't been where I was, don't understand the struggle at all. On the other hand, those who do understand, that's what entries like this one is all about---maybe it will help just one get through to the other side <3 God is good!
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