#NationalRecoveryMonth

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Once an 'Addict', Always an 'Addict'

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Once an 'Addict', Always an 'Addict'

There is a lot of debate in the recovery world about this phrase; half of me accepts it, while the other half resents it. Since becoming sober I have shared my story with hundreds of people and there are two things that occur: they either congratulate me on how far I have come or, they instinctively put me in a category that I did not ask to be put in.

In this post, I share how it feels to be constantly ‘labeled’, and I offer a new way to approach those with a past of addiction. At the end of the day, we are all just people, and regardless of if you were an ‘addict’ for a period of your life, you are so much more than that.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.  

Dear Society, I Have a Bone to Pick with You!

Dear Society, I Have a Bone to Pick with You!

At one point or another, we have all felt the need to defend who we are, and it’s most likely due to the societal pressures we feel on a daily basis to be someone that we are not. We question our worth, and we question our purpose, when really, we should be questioning the standards society has made us believe that we need to live up to. What is it going to take for us to believe in ourselves, and when will we feel like we are enough in a world that tells us we are not?

In this post, I write a letter to ‘Society’, expressing some of my concerns, and offering ways for us to make it better. We shouldn’t feel like we need to change who we are to fit into some mold of ‘perfection.’ You are enough, we are enough, and together, we can make this world a better place to live.

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.

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Our RECOVERY Reasons May Differ, but RECOVERY Is What Saved Us!

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Our RECOVERY Reasons May Differ, but RECOVERY Is What Saved Us!

September is National Recovery Month, and when I am given a reason to speak up for those in recovery, you better believe I will jump on the opportunity to do so! This month is all about sharing our stories, spreading awareness, and joining together to increase the understanding of mental and substance use disorders.

In this post, I ask the question, “What does RECOVERY mean to you?” and I share some of the answers I received from a handful of influential people that have helped me in my own journey to recovery. We all have our own stories to share, and our own reasons for recovery, but one thing remains the same: recovery changes lives for the better.

Help me fight the stigma that surrounds mental and substance use disorders!

Thank you for reading. I appreciate you.