Early Life and Struggles
Hi! My name is Ariel, and this is my recovery story.
Before my addiction, I grew up in a middle working-class family. As a child, I was very quiet and often preferred playing alone in my room rather than being around others. I was never the “cool kid” in school, and I often felt like I didn’t quite fit in. Even at a young age, I carried a deep desire to be accepted—to feel seen, valued, and like I truly belonged somewhere. That feeling of being on the outside stayed with me longer than I realized at the time.
How Addiction Began
As I got older and went away to college, I began experimenting with drugs. What started as something casual—just trying to have fun and fit in—quickly turned into something much more serious. That one decision spiraled into an addiction that lasted over 11 years.
For a while, I was able to maintain the appearance that everything was okay. I held a job, kept up with responsibilities, and convinced myself that I had things under control. But addiction has a way of slowly taking everything, and eventually, it caught up with me. My life unraveled, and I found myself homeless on the streets of Camden, NJ.
The Cycle of Addiction
I went in and out of at least a dozen rehabs and detox programs, always hoping something would finally stick. But each time, I returned to the same cycle. Even after experiencing an overdose that left me in a 7-day coma, I still wasn’t ready to let go of my addiction. Looking back, it’s hard to believe how powerful that grip was.
Turning Point in Recovery
Everything began to change when my sister stepped in and offered me a chance at something different. She gave me the opportunity to move to Maryland and truly focus on getting clean. During that time, she cared for my son while I began my recovery journey at Avenues in Prince Frederick.
This time was different. I committed fully to the process, and for the first time, recovery started to take root in my life. After graduating from the program, everything began to change in ways I once thought were impossible.
Life After Addiction
Today, I am a proud mother of two, and I am present in my children’s lives every single day - something I once feared I might never have. I’ve come full circle, returning to Avenues not as a client, but as an Alumni Coordinator, helping others find the same hope and healing that was given to me
Reflection
I am incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of my family and my Avenues family. Recovery gave me my life back, and for that I am forever thankful.
