"As I continue on this road to recovery, I am certain to tell those struggling with the disease of addiction that it is possible to recover."
I am a recovering addict; I abused opioids and benzodiazepines. The heaviest part of my addiction was 2008-2013. I had used drugs in high school but, not to the extent that I used during this period. I started using narcotics and Xanax at the same time; I became dependent on them to keep me going. I have a sixteen-year-old son who was seven years old when I started my active addiction. My husband divorced me, I was legally kicked out of my home, and I lost all legal rights of my son. At this time, I overdosed twice and almost lost my life both times. I lived out of my car, and I occasionally stayed at a recovery home; the drug use was obvious there.
My family wanted nothing to do with me; luckily, my ex-husband did let me stay in the house so I wasn’t on the streets. In February of 2013 I overdosed for the last time; I woke up in the ICU and had all kinds of machines attached to me.
There were doctors standing at the foot of my bed asking me if I could hear them; if I could I was to blink my eyes. I couldn’t move at all, they didn’t think I was alive, and they gave me more Narcan; I awoke a few days later in the cardiac ICU.
They told me I came very close to losing my life. When I was released from the hospital I went for intensive treatment for addiction; I couldn’t live my life like this anymore.
I am now proud and humble to say that I have been clean and sober since I left the hospital in 2013. By the grace of God my ex-husband took me back, and we remarried. I am back in my home, have the rights to my son back, and I am closer to my family than I have ever been. I am a proud wife, mom, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I am a productive member of society and learned so much about myself.
This is why I am sharing my story. As I continue on this road to recovery, I am certain to tell those struggling with the disease of addiction that it is possible to recover. The first step is admitting you have a problem. This is the best way of life if you are willing to give it a chance. Thank you for allowing me to share my story, and I’m always willing to help anyone who needs it.
