Sobriety Is Possible
Sobriety is possible – if they can do it, so can you. In this series, Avenues Recovery presents true accounts of everyday heroes in recovery.
Hi! My name is Justin, and this is my recovery story.
Hitting Rock Bottom
My story starts much like most in addiction. Pain, loss, and horrible decisions plagued me for decades until I ended up in a jail cell yet again. As I sat in the cell waiting to hear how long they were planning on locking me away and going through the detox that felt like death, my lawyer visited and told me that I would be a good fit for the Recovery Court Program. This time I agreed with the plan, because it meant I didn’t have to go back to prison.
Entering Treatment
I finished detoxing on the jail floor and after a few months I was released to a treatment center and it took some time being there that I finally made the decision to put my all into myself. I had to find out how to win against myself and the staff as well as a lot of my peers showed the way. Something clicked inside my heart and I gave in to the process.
Finding Faith and the 12 Steps
My higher power found me in that treatment center and showed me how to love myself. With a new found relationship with God and the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous along with a sponsor I found happiness, freedom, and fellowship. I worked through these 12 steps and cleaned out my closet of bad decisions and became a new man.
Helping Others in Recovery
I became a better man and then found joy in helping others just like myself. I went to meeting to meeting sharing my story and that brought me much joy that it lead me to come back to the same treatment center that my sobriety journey started to join the team. I have now been working in Treatment for about 2 years now. I also graduated Recovery Court and also help others that are in Recovery Court go through the process.
A New Life in Recovery
I went from living in the woods in a tent and a jail cell to having my own apartment with full custody of my son. I also found love and am currently engaged. I found a new way to live my life and it started with self-love and the will to fight for myself.
If you find yourself struggling, stop now and join us on the broad highway of recovery and love yourself.