The Beginning of Recovery
Hi! My name is Hillary, and this is my recovery story.
My recovery journey started with a furlough from the Harrison County jail to the Breakaway on 6/14/2018. I was certain that the judge was going to send me to prison that day, but he showed me grace and granted the furlough. I didn’t know what recovery was or that it was even a thing, but I knew I wasn’t going to prison, and I knew I wanted something different. I was tired of the fast life, I was tired of hurting everyone, I hated who I was and before I went to jail, I wanted my life to end. Jail saved my life.
Early Substance Use
My usage started at age 14, a few years after I lost my father, and I moved to Las Vegas with my mother. I spiraled into a darkness. Once the partying started, it never stopped - it only progressed over the years. My mother didn’t know what to do with me. We moved to Indiana 3 years later and I started my freshman year in high school, I quickly found the people and things that I was looking for. I was arrested not long after being in Indiana, but I was a juvenile and didn’t experience any consequences for my actions. Then my mother started partying with me, and things only continued to get worse over time.
Consequences and Turning Point
I turned 18 in a juvenile detention center, but was only there for a few weeks. I didn’t receive any serious consequences until I was 27 years old, which was when I was locked up in the Harrison County jail. Interestingly enough, jail led to my recovery journey. Jail saved my life, the Breakaway showed me how to live it. I did have a 2-day relapse after I graduated 8 months later but it just showed me that drug use wasn’t what I wanted for myself anymore.
Life in Recovery
Since 4/21/2019, I have managed to maintain my recovery, one day at a time. I’ve worked in recovery ever since then and have sponsored many women. I had had many struggles throughout my recovery journey, but because of my sponsor and my huge support system, I can stay sober through anything.
A New Life
Today, I get to be a mother and a wife. I get to show up for others, just as others have been there for me. I get to be a daughter, a sister, and many other things that I didn’t care about being before I entered recovery.
Giving Back
I just want to continue to help others find their way to recovery, because that’s what was done for me. I will continue to give back what was so freely given to me. I want people to know that it’s not always easy, it’s not always pretty, it’s uncomfortable, and it’s okay to not know what you’re doing.
Final Message
There’s help out there, all you have to do is ask and be willing.