My Addiction Story

by Christie
(Hilton Head, SC, USA)

This is a story of what happens when you don't respond well when very bad things happen to you. This is a story of how stories repeat. This is a story of how you can change your story, too, how you can slowly, but surely make different choices...

(STORY THEME: Perseverance/Faith)

How To Rebuild Your Life When You Lose Everything

I became addicted to drugs after my husband passed away in a car accident. Within a short span of time I lost everything and everyone that I ever loved. I lost both my houses, car, custody of my beloved boys - but I could not see what was happening to me at the time. I ended up living in a single wide, rat infested, trailer that was constantly raided by the police. Many of the people I knew from that time either died or are imprisoned.

It was only divine intervention that helped set me on the right path. I had a boyfriend that I lived with for 2 years who helped me stay straight, and a job I loved. But I had a suspended drivers license and ruined credit.

Two years ago my boss died from a heart attack then my boyfriend died in a car accident 8 days later. I began slowly spiraling downward again. This time I could see what was happening and decided to move to Charleston, SC back near my boys to rebuild our relationship. I was lonely and alone: I didn't have anyone for support and had trouble finding employment since I didn't have a drivers license and I had some problems with my background check.

I took a job selling cars at the same time I befriended a drug addict friend. Within a few weeks I was back using hard drugs until one night, driving recklessly I was pulled over and arrested where I spent 60-days in the detention center.

When I was released I found myself with nothing. My car had been impounded with my wallet, phone, clothes, computer etc and I didn't have a cent to my name. Discouraged, I went right back to using drugs. Within three weeks I decided I would rather die than continue on like that and went into detox.

When I got out I moved in with a friend who drank vodka non-stop which turned him into a rageaholic. Fearing for my life after a terrible night I moved in with the downstairs neightbors in the apartments where I was living. I was living with two guys I barely knew with no job, no way around no money and no anything.

I began walking to two AA meetings each day where I slowly made friends. I met women who were living in a recovery house and moved in that house with 5-other women all recently sober. Every day was drama of some sort. I would wake up and dress in what few clothes I had, then take the bus downtown where I worked a job I barely understood selling timeshare for minimum wage. I was depressed beyond belief.

My recovery roommates went through my personal stuff whenever they felt like it and discovered I was taking Suboxone which is designed to help addicts get off pain pills permanently. They kicked me out of the house giving me 15-minutes to pack my stuff and move.

One of my co-workers had a daughter starting an externship in nearby Hilton Head and we agreed to move. I began a job with another timeshare company which took 3-4 months to even grasp what we are selling. I was dead broke and didn't know anyone.

Sometime in June as my relationship with God strengthened the cloud of depression hanging over my head finally lifted and I began making enough money to become self supportive. I really began changing around December growing closer to God and spending my free time writing my book I am working on and feeling productive. I finally have my drivers license back for the first time in 5-years and a car that is registered legally in my name.

Things have definitely come a long way in just 18-months of time and I want to say to anyone suffering through addiction: if I can make it from borderline homeless and back in just a year and a half so can you.

There is always hope...

About Steve M Nash

Steve is a recovering self-help junkie. It all started in 2001, when he found himself face to face with his unhappy, unsettled, and struggling self.

Enter stage left, self-help and spirituality books. Enter the road to recovery. Enter SBI! and the inspiration to create SelfHelpCollective.com

Enter Steve's love of great inspirational quotes

Enter (slowly) the realisation that the answer does not lie in a self-help book, or the words/actions of a guru, the answer lies within.

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