Meet Sarah, a former heroin addict turned recovery advocate. Sarah’s journey began in her late teens when she first experimented with opioids to numb the pain of childhood trauma. What started as occasional use quickly spiraled into a full-blown heroin addiction that consumed her life for over a decade. I don’t have nearly the material things I once did – but what I have today is a reflection in the mirror that I can look at and feel good about it. The greatest job of recovery is the ability I now have to feel good about the things I do, and the person that I am. I get to spend time with my children and be emotionally invested.
One of the things that breaks my heart is that I was not always there for my family as much as I feel I should have been. https://oyudo.org/what-causes-addiction-genetics-environmental/ He found out that rescue is possible while in rehab. Now, he helps others get started on the road to recovery as a treatment expert.
John’s obsession with his appearance and the immense pressures of his early career exacerbated his reliance on addictive behaviors as a form of relief. Raised in an environment where alcoholism and drug use were rampant, Alvina began abusing substances at an early age. After years of fighting substance use disorder, her https://ecosober.com/success-stories/ recovery began when she learned to love herself. My balance on that tightrope began (and continued) to slip as I became a pioneer in the opioid epidemic that enveloped the United States beginning in the early 2000s. All other emotions—sadness, fear, anxiety, hurt, guilt, shame, frustration, anger, sadness, depression—were tributaries that ran into it, fed it, and increased its flow and power.
While acknowledging history is important, continually revisiting past mistakes or traumas can keep individuals stuck in shame rather than moving forward. Effective supporters learn to balance honest accountability with emphasis on present choices and future possibilities. The trauma recovery process often begins with establishing safety and stability before processing traumatic memories. These specialized Sobriety interventions help integrate fragmented traumatic memories into a coherent narrative. Recovery tools for behavioral addictions often include cognitive-behavioral techniques that help individuals recognize and interrupt automatic thought patterns.
Through all of this, I maintained a 3.7 GPA, played a sport, was involved with the school newspaper and held a job. Because Iwas able to remain successfulin these areas of my life, it didn’t even cross my mind that my drinking could be problematic. If anyone implied it was, I simply froze them out and continued on with my lifestyle. I’d only begun drinking about a year and a half prior to this experience. I got drunk for the first time duringmy first week of collegeand quickly spiraled out of control. Itmade my anxiety quiet down, which was something I’d failed to figure out how to do for the majority of my life.
We all work as an integrated team at our addiction treatment centers to help provide a journey toward successful recovery. Make this your opportunity to reclaim your life. Call today to speak with one of our treatment specialists and learn more about options for addiction rehab. Our specialists know what you are going through and will answer any questions about addiction treatment.