- Drugs
- Friends & Family
By the time I was 18 years old I was a daily heroin user and was, slowly but surely, throwing my life away. I quit one university and failed out of community college, was constantly on the brink of losing my job, had no real friends left, and was about to be kicked out of my house. My parents told me that if I wanted to see my siblings and not be homeless I had to go to treatment. That was the turning point. I had no idea that someone my age could even have a drug problem, much less recover. Hearing stories of other people getting off of drugs and turning their lives around gave me hope for the first time in many years.
My recovery journey began on July 20, 2009. It’s so hard to pick the biggest positive change in my life since then– there are many! But, I would choose the relationship I have with my three younger siblings. Also, I have been able to graduate college and pursue a career I am passionate about.
One thing I’ve learned through this process is that I am never going to be perfect and neither is the world. I have to be gentle with myself and with other people. And I can’t change other people or situations, only how I react to them. I am someone people can count on; who they know will truly listen to them and be a constant in their life. I am proud of that.
One of my biggest struggles in long term recovery is finding balance in my life. I have so much passion and want to do so much more than is humanly possible. I have had to learn to prioritize, stay in the moment, and keep my recovery first. Without my recovery, I don’t have anything else.
Interpersonal relationships are the part of my life I find most satisfying since I have been in recovery. Even though they can be a struggle, it’s so amazing to have true, meaningful connections with the people in my life.
I have learned many truths on this road, but the one piece of advice someone shared with me that has helped quite a bit is: “Practice” doesn’t mean “do perfectly.” It just means giving something your best effort on a consistent basis and getting better at it as a result.
If you’re at the beginning of your recovery journey and you’re afraid you can’t do it, know this: The only thing standing in your way is you. All feelings pass, and a moment of relief isn’t worth all the pain and suffering that comes with active addiction.