Don’t Stop Progressing

Submitted by: Susanne Johnson

Travis’ history of substance use was a steady progression from alcohol to marijuana and followed by opiates before he found recovery. He started relatively late for someone with the disorder at the age of 18 and is today sober since five years. He is 32 of age. He started to realize that there is a problem as things went out of hand in his personal life. Not only he got arrested for the first time, but he also began to sell all his personal belongings and started to get kicked out of different places, loosing jobs and more. The financial problems he hit along the road were in his eyes probably the biggest motivator for him to change something in his life. Being constant out of money was no fun.

As Travis entered the long-term treatment program he had not really the intention yet to get clean and sober. He was hoping they find an excuse for him to make things work. He was hoping to hear that he has some kind of disorder that could be treated without him stopping all substances, especially the alcohol. He had no plan to give it all up at this point. But he came all the way from California to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to enter this place for the following nine month. He chose to go far away from home, where he would not know anybody and where he could have a new start. His mom and his aunt found the place for him online, not knowing what they are really looking for, but made by chance and luck a great choice for him. His mindset has changed while he was in the residential facility and he started to feel comfortable with his new sober life. After attending this inpatient facility for nine month he transferred to a sober living facility. He enjoyed being there, had a lot of fun with the other guys and stayed for another two years. “It was like a dorm where you live with all your friends, just you live all sober together and have fun.”, Travis added.

Being comfortable with his newfound life he started to work at the treatment center, that helped him to get into sobriety, where he is still employed as a Wellness Director today. He introduces the clients to different aspects of physical education, exercise, yoga and more to get body and mind healthy and in balance. “Change does not only mean to stop using drugs, we have to also start doing things we don’t usually do, like working out, eating right, sleeping better.”, he says. Travis wants to expand this aspects in the treatment center even further in the future to give clients more options to choose from in finding their new way of life.

His relationships to family have drastically improved, even his family was always very supportive to his recovery. Family get-togethers were never a lot of fun, but today he really enjoys going home and visiting family. He loves the time he can spend with them now in sobriety.

If someone is coming to the end of his term with the treatment center, he always like to tell them, that they graduate from the treatment center, but they don’t graduate from recovery. “Do not rest on your laurels, keep going and do the things you need to do.”, Travis tells clients if they are ready to leave. He also encourage them to continue their spiritual growth by doing things they usually don’t do and are good for them. “Don’t stop progressing. Keep moving forward.” he states as the most important advise he can give to anyone in recovery.