What It Was Like
Hi! My name is Alyssa, and this is my recovery story.
I started partying and using in high school. By the time I was 16, I had already been to rehab for the first time. I managed to get clean for a while, but addiction wasn’t done with me yet—it was still there, waiting for the right moment to pull me back in.
When I was 19, I got into an accident and was prescribed pills. That’s where things started to spiral again. What began as something medical slowly turned into something I couldn’t control. At first, it felt manageable, even justified—but over time, it took over more than I was willing to admit. By 24, I was back in rehab, trying again to put my life back together.
At 25, I had my daughter, and at 27, I had my son. He was born 13 weeks premature, and I had to have an emergency C-section. It was a traumatic and overwhelming time, and not long after, I went back to pills. That eventually led me to heroin, and everything started to unravel faster than before.
When I was 30, I was arrested for the first time, and Children and Youth Services took my kids. That was one of the lowest points of my life. I felt completely stuck in my addiction, like I didn’t know how to get out of it. I was scared, lost, and didn’t recognize who I had become or how far I had fallen.
My mom stepped in and took care of my kids while I tried to get myself together. I was able to get sober and stayed that way for a couple of years—but I slowly stopped doing the things that had helped me in the beginning. I got comfortable, let my guard down, and eventually, I relapsed again.
That relapse lasted four years. In that time, I burned everything to the ground. I lost custody of my kids again and was arrested again. It felt like I had completely lost everything—my family, my stability, and any sense of who I was.
What Happened
But that wasn’t the end of my story.
I went back to rehab, and this time I made a decision to do things differently. I moved into a sober house and stayed there for two years. I focused on myself in a way I never had before. I showed up, did the work, and stayed consistent—even when it was uncomfortable and hard. My mom moved back from Key West to support me and care for my kids, giving me the chance to truly rebuild.
What It’s Like Now
Slowly, things started to change. I began working at Avenues Recovery Center, found stability, and eventually got my own place. Step by step, I earned back trust—and eventually, I got my kids back.
Today, I’m almost four years sober. My life isn’t perfect, but it’s real. I’ve rebuilt what I once destroyed, and I continue to show up every day—to stay sober, to grow, and to be the person and mother my kids deserve.
