Resident Blogs

Service Work

Area Service Work

A new commitment in service work began today.  I went to my first area meeting and that was an experience. I’m the new Alternate GSR for my home group. Service work keeps me vigilant in my recovery.

Detox Commitment

At the end of this month, on Easter Sunday my sponsor and I are going to detox to share our experience strength and hope.   I love doing that because that’s where my journey started.  I’m excited to go spread the message and tell my story.  However, I have a very real fear of sharing. My disease tells me that I sound stupid and I don’t make any sense, even though I know that’s not true.

Step Work

I go over step 4 work on Tuesday I can’t wait to do that.  To get all that off my chest and let it go. Then I can move on and start my step 5 work. It’s not that I am or want to rush through the step work.  Rather, it’s the ability to keep growing through my step work.  And that’s just really exciting to me.

Live In The Solution

I’m starting to share more in meetings. When I do share I try to share my problem and then my solution. Today I don’t sit in my problems anymore. Instead I look for a solution. That’s what recovery teaches us, to live in the solution.  I’m accepting slowly that I’m right where I’m need to be for today and I get involved as much as I can.

Noticeable Changes

Someone came up to me today and expressed how much I’ve changed and how proud of me he was. It made me feel really good because I know how much I’ve changed and the foot work I have put in.   But when someone you look up to notices it, well, It fells good.

 

Clean and Serene

My life today is great!  A life I never dreamed of having.  My dad and sisters are in my life again, and a mom that loves me will always be there for me.  I have the best sponsor ever.  A beautiful girlfriend and she’s everything I’ve ever wanted in a woman and relationship.  A few close best friends that are always there for me, my support group.  And a wonderful puppy who loves me unconditionally. I’m clean & serene and genuinely happy today. Everyday isn’t easy but it’s worth it!  I’m worth it and so are you, we all are.  It works if you work it. Trust your struggle, The best is yet to come!

A grateful recovering addict, Nikki

Act On Impulses

 Act On Impulses

Ok so I feel really terrible about relapsing and honestly pretty humiliated but with time that will hopefully pass.  I need to work on waiting and thinking things through before I act on impulses due to my feelings.  coping mechanisms.  I know that impulses to use are fleeting and I really don’t have cravings that often.  So I dont know why I acted totally INSANE.  Besides the fact that I am crazy and an addict so….the outcome sucks.

Recovery Meeting

The A club meeting was pretty awesome tonight.  They actually sort of began debating during the meeting!  Talking about making amends.  Some people were for going to the jail or the court house and telling on themselves for crimes they had committed in the past, and doing time for them.  One guy’s stance was that if you did that then you could carry your message of sobriety to prison.  Marcy said she felt the meeting had taken a turn for the worse.

Nervous Habits

I had to say I relapsed at S.A.S.T.O., and that sucked.  My nerves were so crazy I laughed and it was totally inappropriate, and I know I tend to do that.  Another nervous habit I started while in dental school is clenching my teeth.  I have got to stop or I’m going to ruin my enamel.  This started when trying to remember the anatomy and the numerical dentition of the teeth during tests/exams.  Now that I’m sober I’m noticing the weirdo stuff I do.

Hope To Learn Myself

I’m still happy to be here.  This is an opportunity to change my life that I have never had before and feel terrible I compromised myself.  I don’t know why I self-sabotage.  I guess I don’t know how to be successful.  Maybe success scares me?  I’m so used to letting everyone down.  So I’m taking suggestions.  I’ve made a woman’s group my home group.  And I’m reaching out and talking to woman regularly that have good recovery and time.

The World Doesn’t Stop After Relapse

Other than that…spent the evening watching an hour and a half of shows on the History channel, did some shopping.  My Aunt started radiation this week.  I’ve been trying to call her but neither her or my uncle will answer.  They don’t know the house number.  My mom does though so no worries there.  I just was wondering how she was.  I left her a message letting her know I was thinking about her and love her.  They have been my only support.  They stood by me when my parents wouldn’t.  I’ll talk to her soon.  I’m sure she doesn’t feel like being on the phone.

It Gets Better

My head is still muddled but it helps to pour it all out and maybe someone will identify.  I’m lost at the moment but I see so many other addicts and alcoholics actually doing great.  They all tell me the beginning is like this and it gets better.

Jayme

SaveSave

Today I Have Recovery

Today I Have Recovery

My names Nikki I’m an addict. Today I have 173 days clean. I’m so close to my 6 months. I’m so fucking proud of myself and how far I’ve come and how my life has changed. This isn’t the longest clean time I’ve ever accumulated but today I have recovery and I’ve learned its not about the clean time you have, its the recovery you have to go with that clean time. Today I have recovery.

Test To My Recovery

This week has been a little testing to my recovery. We had a couple people relapse in the house and I feel like I’ve been like holding my recovery close to me all week long. There was no desire to use drugs, thank god, it just really bothered me because I got clean for a reason and I don’t want to be around that people are high. My choice today is to surround myself with people that are clean and in recovery.

Relapse Happens

Relapse is apart of people’s stories and living in a place like I do, it’s going to happen. I’m just glad it got resolved. One person we took to detox and I hope she changes her life around because I want everyone to live the amazing life I live today and I do care about her and the other one.  The other girl that relapsed, someone else and I called her out.  I hope by us calling her out she identifies the cause of her relapse and can change whatever it was that made her go back out.

Attraction Rather Than Promotion

I know I can’t save anyone and I know I’m only in control of my own recovery.All I can do is lead by example, give my experience,strength and hope and keep working on myself. They say its attraction not promotion. So if I keep working on myself and becoming the best person I can be everyday, hopefully someone will see the changes in me and want that for themselves.

I Continue On

My dad goes for his prostate biopsy on Friday I’m a little scared about that because he might have prostate cancer. I’m more worried than he is. I need to have more faith and just keep praying about it. I got in a new relationship recently, things are going really well with her. She’s just so different than anyone I’ve ever been with. Time to get ready for my day. I’m so grateful for the life I live today. Today I have Recovery.

Trust your struggle, the best is yet to come.

A grateful recovering addict Nikki

Substance Abuse Problems

Substance Abuse Problems

 Substance abuse problems made my life hopeless. I hated myself and how I let my substance abuse spiral out of control. Shooting up pills daily and drinking myself to sleep every single night was my life. Constantly on edge with anxiety and depression. Though I was working two jobs, I was inwardly a scared little girl who knew her time was coming to an end.

Different From Others

I knew at a young age that I was different. That I didn’t quite fit in with the rest of society. Always managing how others viewed me and trying to become like everyone else. The days of worshiping my creator God were long since gone and I had nothing left. Nightly sweats were so bad that my sheets were soaked as if i had just washed them. Food was no existent and didn’t care about anything but myself. Everyone that was closest to me I lied to and manipulated. In the end I was only lying to myself. I was mistakenly thinking that outward appearance was working and no one knew that I had substance abuse problems.

My Family Knew

My run finally ended when I finally was caught and fired for stealing from work. I then shortly found myself in the presence of my mother and father who had no idea why this was happening to them, yet again. I had tried to get sober before but it didn’t last longer than a year and a half. They hated me too. They wanted there daughter back. I tried to manage my substance abuse without having a job and things turned from bad to worse. I told my parents about my substance abuse problems and showed them my scars. They were horrified. I remember my mom crying hysterically hugging me telling me she didn’t want me to kill myself.

Substances Were Killing Me And My Family

I stole everything I could get my hands on from my family. Exhausted them of ever trying or wanting to help me ever again. I was a bad daughter, friend and I couldn’t stay faithful to anyone in relationships. My thinking was that the world owed me something. In no way was I grateful for what I had instead I wanted more. I wanted it all without having to work for it, and didn’t care what it cost.  My substance abuse problems put my mom into a deep and dark depression almost killing her.  A relationship with my father was not at all an option.

Freedoms Ripped Away

Shortly after I came clean about my substance abuse, three cops cars surrounded my parents house. Immediately I knew my freedoms were going to be ripped from me.  The knock came at the door and I was taken to jail with my parents left crying in the foyer of my once filled with love home. All the opportunities to succeed were in my possession but I never wanted to work hard or do the right thing. Just give me the easy way out. And always searching for love in all the wrong places. Truly lost, to the point that I didn’t recognize myself.  The grace of God saved me from getting charged with seven felony counts of defrauding a merchant. While in that jail cell I found God and peace.

An Opportunity To Redeem Myself

I mourned over my horrible display of a life. But the good thing was that it forced me to get sober. I was beginning to gain clarity. I wanted to have a happy life but just couldn’t seem to understand how to let God take control over my life. When I went to court my parents were worried to death. They were crying and unable to look at me sitting there in shackles. I got up to face the judge and the most miraculous thing happened, I didn’t get prison time. The state lowered my charges to 6 misdemeanor and 1 felony charge. I was even more amazed when they decided that they would send me to a local transitional house and if I graduated and paid my probation fines I would receive pardon for my crimes.

Threw Myself Into Recovery

It was hard to stay sober in the beginning. Now I have a sponsor, she took me through the book and I’m working my steps. As well as a home group and started doing small service commitments. Feeling better day by day. I have graduated the transitional living residence, and am currently still on probation.  My life is happy, joyous and free for the fist time. My parents and I have begun to rebuild our relationship. I am coming up on ten months sober and I am so excited to see what the future holds.  Hard work allowed me to pay for the vehicle I now have.  Currently I am a full time employee and in the training process for assistant manager. Recovery allows rent and bills are paid on time. A life filled with love, hope and peace.

Committed To Recovery

God is my steadfast companion now. He does for me what I cannot do by myself, and am truly amazed at the gifts recovery has to offer. Finally putting in the hard work and becoming the person I was always meant to be. I am truly grateful for the first time in my life. Today I can look the world in the eye. Additionally, I am beginning to forgive and love myself. Life is hard at times but I refuse to give up and rest on my laurels. I am committed to my recovery, I pray this finds you well. There is always hope, even though it may not look or feel like it.
Jill

A Productive Member of Society

A Productive Member of Society

 A productive member of society is what I’m working hard at being.  The person I am suppose to be. My family just came down from Louisiana and spent a week in Florida. It was so nice to spend time with them clean. It’s been along time since I was clean around them and they wanted me around. I got to spend time with my niece and nephew and be the aunt I’m supposed to be and be and the sister I’m supposed to be.

Being The Aunt And Sister I am Suppose To Be

I got some bad news with my dad. He possibly has prostate cancer. My dad is my rock and I don’t know what I would do if anything ever happened to him. My dad’s been by my side no matter what and I’m scared but I just keep praying talking to my sponsor and talking to my support group about it.  I’m trying to have faith through this process.  I get to be there for him and be the daughter I am suppose to be.

Being The Daughter I am Suppose To Be

I’m half way through step 4 this is the hardest step I’ve worked but it’s good because I’m learning a lot about myself and my patterns. We just started up a roof cleaning and pressure washing business, which is going really well. We are starting to get business and its something I enjoy doing. I enjoy working outside and doing general labor work. I’m excited to see this business grow.  Being a productive member in society like I am suppose to be.

Being The Person I Am Suppose To Be

I can’t wait to pick up my 6 month key tag. I know it’s a just for today program but I’m so proud of myself and how far I have came and today I’m an good example for the newcomers. Now I am being a productive member of Narcotics Anonymous like I am suppose to be.  I’m proof that any addict can stay clean and lose the desire to use. I’m so grateful for the people in my life today.  I am an addict. I have 163 days clean today.

A Productive member Of Narcotics Anonymous

 A grateful recovering addict, Nikki