It is through the collective efforts of our supporters that we can provide a beacon of hope and inspiration for individuals on their own recovery journeys. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider. Laura Silverman is the founder of The Sobriety Collective, a resource and blog created to celebrate recovery — especially through creativity — in all its forms. In 2007, at age 24, Laura pulled a 180 and went from being an insecure, anxious binge drinker to newly-minted sober 20-something.
Living Recovery: True Stories of Addiction Recovery
I learned how to deal with difficult emotions in therapy as a part of my journey and found healthier ways to express them. This newfound ability to face uncomfortable feelings without the crutch of alcohol was liberating. Addiction recovery success stories serve as beacons of hope, demonstrating that overcoming addiction is possible with perseverance and support.
It’s a trait that he sharpened while in recovery, and it’s a significant reason why he’s finally found so much success staying sober. Read about their journeys, and learn how drug abuse treatment has played different but essential roles in their lives. I think it’s so important to share my experience with others because I truly believe that only another addict/alcoholic can help someone of the same variety.
During the most unsettling time of my life, I craved all the messy, tragic, complex, wonderful stories that could show me what was on the other side. Nobody in my real life could meet that need, so I turned—as I always do when I need comfort, encouragement, or inspiration—to books. Finally, at the behest of his coworkers and boss, he ends up in a rehab that specifically caters to gay and lesbian patients. Once his 30 days are up, he has to figure out how to return to his New York City lifestyle sans alcohol.
The actor told Us Weekly in 2019 that his daughter helped him realize he needed to get sober. «It was to suffocate the anxiety and what my life was going to become with this condition and getting so numb I didn’t think about it,» he said. «It was the only tool I had at the time, so I believed that would quell a lot of that angst. A lot of that fear. And it only made it worse.»
I was born September 14, 1977 in Yokosuka Japan. My father was in the Navy and so happens he was stationed there. My mom and dad divorced shortly after my sister was born. My father was an extreme alcoholic and was never around us while we were growing up. I don’t know if I blocked out most of my childhood, but I remember I was never really being happy. I really didn’t start drinking until I went to college.
- The day I decided that I needed help was when I was in the bathroom and looked in the mirror and asked myself what I’m doing to myself.
- It has changed every part of my being, the way that I move and the way that I communicate.
- You’ll have more time and money to invest in yourself and your passions.
- Through unwavering determination and the unwavering support of her family and treatment team, Sarah experienced a remarkable transformation.
- The following morning, after the kids were off to school, I told my wife that I was an alcoholic and that I was seeking help.
- Sarah’s journey began in her late teens when she first experimented with opioids to numb the pain of childhood trauma.
Sobriety Stories: Brittany finally knows peace after years of despair
From intense cravings to emotional hurdles, each challenge tested his resilience and determination. I never thought I’d reach the point where I wouldn’t want a drug or a drink, but here I am, and it’s there for you too. Eventually, I got to a point where I simply couldn’t come back. I was using drugs daily for five years, watching my life fall apart and waiting to die, knowing there was a better way to live but not being able to get back to it. It still can be painful and scary, but all addicts who don’t want to use again have to make this journey. Connected to this is forgetting that The Twelve Steps are not static.
The Impact of Sharing Recovery Stories
And that, to her, is the luckiest thing of all. Established author, podcast host, and sober midlife coach Kate Baily details her journey to sobriety and the lessons she learned. Madeleine Forrest, sober content creator, writer, podcast host, and creator of the Happiest Sober Hub, shares her recovery story. These stories reflect the strength and determination of individuals who have overcome the grip of addiction and embraced a life of recovery. Their experiences offer inspiration, support, and encouragement to those still fighting their battles.
The 6 Stages of Mental Health Recovery
- That, to me, was freedom – but it later became prison.
- For more inspiring addiction recovery success stories, visit Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation.
- It required honesty, openness, and consistency in my behavior.
- Madeleine Forrest, sober content creator, writer, podcast host, and creator of the Happiest Sober Hub, shares her recovery story.
- My father was an extreme alcoholic and was never around us while we were growing up.
«I had one of those white-light experiences where I saw myself being dead and losing everything I had worked for my whole life, so I put myself in rehab,» he said. During a 2022 interview on the podcast «Call Her Daddy,» Mayer said that he hasn’t really dated since getting sober. «To come home and not to have the buffer support of a few drinks just to calm the nerves, it was a really amazing thing,» Farrell https://rehabliving.net/vanderburgh-house-sober-home-review added. During an appearance on «The Ellen DeGeneres Show» in 2017, Farrell celebrated his recovery.
- Through shared experiences and constant encouragement, Maria slowly rebuilt her confidence and commitment to sobriety.
- Ironically, it was about this time my father finally was able to maintain sobriety.
- I began drinking again thinking I had it whipped.
- It all happened while the children played together outside on the beach.
- Lisa checked into an inpatient rehabilitation center, where she underwent a medically supervised detox and intensive therapy.
- «And that’s all part of the beauty of turning whatever things you’ve gone through into a story. I find that to be very cathartic.»
“I was able to stay sober for 9 months Vanderburgh House Review – meetings every day, praying every day, really in the middle of the program. Drug and alcohol addiction stories are usually shadowed by short, faceless segments on the news. But each story’s a deeper, human element that is too often untold. When combined with a full continuum of residential and outpatient addiction treatment, Valley Hope patients can find freedom of substance abuse and enjoy healing in long-term recovery. Long-term constant sobriety has changed my life in so many ways.
When I finally walked away from booze at 34, my life opened up. I can honestly say sobriety is the best thing I have ever done for myself. It was my jumping-off point into a life I knew I had buried inside of me.
How your life changes when you quit drinking?
And the way that I experience things, the way that I cultivate my relationships with people. I get to live with both sides of me, the ugly and the good. I can maneuver things and figure out what’s a good decision for me. The gray area just kind of becomes a little less. There’s a whole world that is so celebratory and celebrates you finding your truth. It’s a thing where you’ll say, “I’m a month sober,” and people will be like, Congratulations!
I know there are many healthy, moderate drinkers, but I also see drinking culture as a great cover for pain. When I got sober, I thought giving up alcohol was saying goodbye to all the fun and all the sparkle, and it turned out to be just the opposite. “I’ve had a tough time getting my recovery back. I wasn’t sponsoring anybody; I wasn’t helping anybody.
If you want sobriety (or to reduce harmful substance-related behavior), I truly believe the first step is to ask for help. Most importantly, you have to have a supportive network of family, friends and professionals. Over the course of the day, her drinking had led her to be separated from her friends, her purse, her shoes and her sanity.