Recovery, in their own words

December Archives

Recovery stories from people whose sobriety date falls in December — real accounts shared to remind anyone still struggling that they are not alone.

Age 31Since 12 / 11 / 2015

Shari

It sucked!! Never been to treatment.. used everything everyday for 15 years... at the end I knew it was to recover or die. I couldn't do that to my mom. I was dragged through hell and back.....

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Age 40Since 12 / 24 / 2013

Nathan Thomas

At the time there was a perception that nothing was wrong, nothing could go wrong, and this is what life was supposed to be like.

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Age 26Since 12 / 24 / 2010

Courtney

When I was getting high it was like living in a dream. A dream that I thought was perfect until about a year into being an addict and losing my grandfather who was like my dad to realize tha...

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Age 34Since 12 / 15 / 2014

Kelly

It was awful to wake up day after day, week after week. My addiction was getting worse, so was everything else in my life especially my health. The blackouts started at 19. Four alcohol-rela...

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Age 44Since 12 / 17 / 2009

Kimberly Garcia

I woke up one day, after three decades of drinking, and decided, I am done. I went through terrible cold turkey alcohol detox, skin itching, chills.. but 7 days later I was over it, and over...

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Age 37Since 12 / 09 / 2015

Stephanie Lynn

I have lived in active addiction since I was 19 years old. I spent 18 years struggling to break free. It started out with a simple ear infection. I went to the emergency room in the middle o...

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Age 55Since 12 / 06 / 2001

Dennis Knapp

Coming back from a relapse was very hard for me. I had 10 years clean and sober and worked in the field of addiction. I had a lot of shame and guilt to contend with.

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