Recovery, in their own words

Sober Stories

Real people, real recovery. Honest accounts of what it was like, what happened, and what life looks like now — shared to remind anyone still struggling that they are not alone.

Travis 47 10 / 15 / 1998
Age 47Since 10 / 16 / 1998

Travis

I was hopelessly addicted to meth. I was burning all my bridges. I did whatever it took to get and stay loaded.

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skip jones 35 12 / 31 / 2011
Age 35Since 01 / 01 / 2012

Skip Jones

It was no way to live. The liquor store was my dealer and I hated not being in control. I was a mean and angry person after I crossed the line into alcohol dependency. My relationships fell...

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D
Age 25Since 07 / 02 / 2013

Darby Cox

One long, self-absorbed pity party where nothing was my fault and everyone was out to get me. The "feeling" I remember the most is complete disconnect from the world around me. I didn't feel...

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B
Age 44Since 10 / 03 / 2007

Brandi Rivera

My life was hell prior to my sobriety. I ruined relationships. I ruined myself. All I cared about was finding my next hit and next drink.

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K
Age 34Since 09 / 09 / 2012

Kelly

I drank to cope, I drank to be "fun", I drank because it was a day ending in "y"... I blacked out more nights than I didn't and usually had no recollection of what I'd done or who I'd been w...

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L
Age 49

Laurie McGarvey

Every morning I woke up after not really sleeping anyway and heading for the vodka. I remember standing at my kitchen counter saying to myself how did this happen to me... I felt shame, guil...

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Deanna Longhway 33 2 / 28 / 2013
Age 33Since 03 / 01 / 2013

Deanna Longhway

I was lost. Drinking, drugging, missing work (quit soon after relapse), promiscuous, lying, cheating... The good me was gone.

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Brenda Sturm 49 9 / 13 / 2014
Age 49Since 09 / 14 / 2014

Brenda Sturm

I battled with different addictions beginning at the age of 23. Drug of choice was Meth. My mother passed away in 2007, and in 2009, I lost my 35 year old brother from an accidental overdose...

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Ron 65 6 / 25 / 2008
Age 65Since 06 / 26 / 2008

Ron

A never ending cycle of problems, trouble, lies and desperation.

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Barb 52 4 / 27 / 2008
Age 52Since 04 / 28 / 2008

Barb

I felt either frantic or nothing. The stress and anxiety I had were self fulfilling. I drank to bury the stress and created more every time. I just wanted it to not hurt so bad all the time....

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