12-Step programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous ask people in the last step to reach out to others and give back to those who need help. By sharing your story, you’re giving back – and you’re making a difference in people’s lives whether you witness their direct effects or not.

• Mine took five weeks, and I’d never written a book before.
• Sure, I may have told a few people what was really going on with me, but nobody quite got it.
• A well-managed sober living home will ensure a substance-free space, a daily routine, a requirement to work or attend school, and weekly engagement in house meetings.
• Your sobriety date is the midpoint of your story, the point at which addiction became a recovery.
• Butch worked for one of the state’s first intensive outpatient programs in Jackson, TN and the Jackson Area Council on Alcoholism.

Their common bond—the struggles that led them to embark on the path to recovery—leads to mutual support. If you’ve relapsed once or several times before, sharing what you learned from these experiences can be extremely valuable, especially for other sober living residents. The act of sharing your story can give other people in recovery hope and remind them that they’re not alone in their struggles. If you are enrolled in an Austin transitional housing program, chances are, other Austin sober living home residents have dealt with some of the same struggles you have.

DON’T Glamorize Your Story

John is a Certified Recovery Residence Administrator. With this time frame in mind, the next step in telling your story is to determine which aspects of your past are the most important.

• This community may hear and understand your experiences in ways that your friends and family simply cannot.
• If you were to skim over these details, it could rob someone of the opportunity to see themselves in your story and realize that recovery is possible for them.
• In sharing strategies and experiences with one another—successes and challenges—you can band together in the pursuit of healthy relationships with food and body.
• Behind the scenes, he was a heroin addict, but that wasn’t something he openly shared.
• If only I’d heard warnings from people I could relate to — people who grew up like me who got seriously hooked on drugs and crawled out the other side to tell their stories.

Whatever the reason, it’s important to show potential clients that you have been in their shoes and that getting treatment helped you come out on the other side. Recovery Connection is the ultimate addiction recovery resource portal for information on the latest treatments, centers, and programs. Whether you’re looking for treatment or for aftercare options, we can point you in the right direction. There is much talk about stigma as it pertains to mental health issues; whether it is substance abuse or an eating disorder, our culture has long preferred to simply not talk about it.

The Importance of Sharing Your Recovery Story: 12-Step Program Motivation

Writing your narrative allows you to reflect on all of your life’s events. sharing your story in recovery In fact, it can accelerate your recovery as you gain self-awareness.

This can help someone really tune in during that portion of their recovery that they may have glanced over otherwise. If you deeply believe that 12-step programs were key to your success, then make sure your story reflects that. For emotional and spiritual changes, detail how your relationships have changed, how your self-esteem has improved, and how your outlook on life is different. These changes can be some of the most powerful because they show that recovery is about more than just abstaining from drugs and alcohol. When sharing your story, be sure to emphasize your progress without being afraid of oversharing in AA.

The Structure of Story

Nobody in AA or NA simply woke up one day and stopped using. Robin Cox is the Chief Financial Officer at Cumberland Heights, the Southeast’s premier alcohol and drug addiction treatment center. Robin accepted her role at Cumberland Heights in 2006.

Just be sure to let them know of all the success stories and how the people who used the tools provided by treatment had better chances of long-term recovery. Addiction is all around us, personally and professionally. In order to successfully enter a treatment program, individuals have to fully accept their situation, overcome the stigma of getting help and commit to getting sober for the long haul. Making the decision to get treatment isn’t easy, and it’s only the first step on a very long road to recovery. If there’s a time and place to be vulnerable, it’s when you’re sharing your recovery story. You’re in a room full of people who understand what you’re going through and have compassion.

Why is it so meaningful to give to Cumberland Heights?

SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities. If you are in recovery, then chances are that 12-step programs have played a role in your journey to achieving sobriety. Be sure to mention the importance of these programs in your story. Watch Nicole Brewer and Mark Boyanton share their stories of recovery. These powerful videos highlight the passion they both have for helping others to achieve a sober life that they have full control over. I had just taken everything I had hoping I wasn’t going to wake up.

A well-managed sober living home will ensure a substance-free space, a daily routine, a requirement to work or attend school, and weekly engagement in house meetings. Many people imagine homeless bums when they think of addicts, but like you already know, addiction doesn’t always fit this stereotype. There are plenty of people who seem fine on the outside but are popping pills every hour or drinking at work. If you share your story in recovery, you may help other people understand this too. Briefly sharing these highlights offers context into the severity of your addiction and how it impacted your life and the lives of your loved ones. If there was a certain event or circumstance that served as a breaking point and made you decide that it was time to get help, that’s also another great highlight to share.

The Dos and Don’ts of Sharing Your Recovery Story

How could this woman still want to help me after all I put her through? I was asking myself all these questions, and I just said to myself “You know what I don’t want to die. I am going to surrender and take direction and give life another chance. So, with the help of a Drug Court program and some amazing people in my life I can say that I am truly blessed to be alive today. Many people the world over suffer from various kinds of substance abuse. In extreme cases, people also die because of a drug overdose.

Exaggerating or lying doesn’t help anyone — you or the others in the room. When you tell an honest account of your experience, you’re sharing your truth and being vulnerable. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Your genuine experiences may also resonate with others in the room, who may connect with you afterward to discuss similar situations they’ve been through.

Addiction is unique for everyone and getting sober is a very different experience for each person.

If you’re like me, in the beginning of your drinking and using, you thought you were just partying and having a good time. The Emily Program features stories of recovery on both our blog and podcast. If you are interested in sharing yours, please email or Your story is undeniable proof that recovery is possible.