Nolan was numb, broken, and nearly died of an overdose, until a moment on his front porch changed everything. At Avenues, he found connection, purpose, and a reason to live.
What if every day could feel brand new for you too?
My name is Nolan, and this is my recovery story.
So before coming here to Avenues, I was at a really low point in my life. I'm not proud to say it, but I was smoking weed to run away from my feelings. I was snorting pills to hide from myself. I wanted my entire world to be numb because I couldn't deal with being alone. And it led me to a dark path, ultimately to overdosing.
I fell asleep on the porch. And if I would have made myself go to my bedroom, I would be dead. You know, I was in the process of dying when my uncle found me on the porch at 8 a.m. And I was purple, my lips were hard, I was barely breathing. Waking up in the hospital and seeing my family's faces, it was just not the life that I wanted. I knew I needed help.
When I came in here, my head was down. I was pissed off. I slept for like the first two days. And it really wasn't until I met the community, the staff, and ultimately friends that I'll hopefully have for life that my attitude started to change. We play sports, we play volleyball, we play basketball. That really welcomed me and made me feel at home. Everyone in the morning was saying, hey, what's up, how are you doing? I had a spot at the lunch table after that. So it's just weird how being yourself can just catapult you into this great community that we have here.
Coming to a treatment center like this or rehab, it's never gonna feel good. It's never gonna feel comfortable at first. But you got to treat it like the first day of summer and the pool is cold. Don't put your feet, in just jump right in! It's just unbelievable how timid and scared I was, and then a week later it's like I've been here for two months already.
Recovery to me is a new way of life. I don't feel as ashamed. I don't feel as embarrassed. Each day just feels so brand new. I'm just excited to live where before each day was dull. Now each day has a purpose and I'm finding myself and my self-love within each new step I take.
My name is Nolan. I found my way home, and you can find your way home too.