- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Faith
- Friends & Family
- Mental Health
Submitted by: Susanne Johnson
BB had a moment of clarity when she was confronted by the choice and consequence of either dying or getting sober quickly. BB asked for help.
Prior to that day, she was suicidal for many months. This all happened at a young age of 14. Her school got also involved and she has been suspended and mandated to go to treatment. She asked one time for help and because of her age, she could not change her mind once process got started. She had doubts but found her real willingness later during treatment. Addiction was prevalent in her family for many generations; luckily her older brother seems to be not affected by the disease and is doing well.
She came to The Journey Home in Baton Rouge and loved it there right from the beginning. The people there became just like a family for her. She stayed in treatment for a total of 17 months with a four month visit to a different facility in-between. She had been using since she was only twelve years old and is grateful today that she found recovery early enough in her life.
BB was not only suffering from substance use disorders, but also from PTSD through a sexual assault prior to her using. She found help for her mental health conditions and her trauma as well as a life clean and sober from drugs and alcohol. BB is now six years clean and sober and she is still in contact with her former treatment facility. She visits them and participates in alumni events. Ever since she entered the treatment facility, she went to 12-step meetings and today, as she celebrates six years of sobriety, she still goes to 2-4 meetings a week.
“Life still happens,” BB says, “but the way I approach things has changed very drastically. I have a spiritual connection today and feel pretty calm today no matter what comes my way.” She describes having a good balance in her life today. BB loves camping trips, walks with her dog, and generally loves to be outdoors a lot. Her relationships with other family members have drastically improved; she describes herself as being really mean and rebellious when she was young and using. Today, she tries to do the next right thing and tries to be there for family instead of always wanting something from them. BB goes to school today and hopes to begin her career in the field of psychology and one day work in a prison, helping inmates to get clean, sober and find their life.
“Working the 12 steps has drastically changed me.”, she says, “It gave me a complete new outlook on life and is a major part of my sobriety.”