When telling your story, “what happened” should be considered the turn of events that led you to hitting rock bottom, and in doing so spurred your willingness to enter recovery. When telling your story, you may feel the urge to start off as you would start any other story—from the beginning. This is sensible, sharing your story in recovery but you must have an idea regarding which parts of your history are most important and which can be left out. You will want to make some notes, and practice telling your story aloud to see how long it takes. Otherwise, you risk running too long and never getting past the story of your addiction.
The stories of others illustrate the ways that addiction and alcoholism can be fought and overcome. You can also relate to the feelings of hopelessness, fear, and despair that others have gone through. One of the most profound benefits of sharing your recovery story is the hope it can inspire in others. Your story is a living proof that sobriety is achievable, and it can be the catalyst for change in someone else’s life.
Lisa’s story is a stark reminder of how easily prescription drug use can spiral into addiction. A successful marketing executive and mother of two, Lisa’s life seemed picture-perfect from the outside. But behind closed doors, she was battling a crippling addiction to prescription opioids. Sarah’s journey began in her late teens when she first experimented with opioids to numb the pain of childhood trauma. What started as occasional use quickly spiraled into a full-blown heroin addiction that consumed her life for over a decade. It’s important to know that sharing involves both talking AND listening.
Just remember it is not about everything, it is about keeping it short and to the point. Most meetings begin with some readings, meditations, and a story which can go for about 30 minutes. This keeps you from telling too many stories and refines your focus on the most important parts of your personal story. You are honestly telling a story about recovery and addiction. Storytelling also affects readers’ attitudes, behaviors and actions.
There is also a notable run of addiction in the LGBT community. More importantly, however, these are both examples of things that have molded your personality and experiences. So while you don’t need to go through every minute detail, you should still endeavor to hit the major points. Don’t just stand before the podium and present yourself as someone who https://ecosoberhouse.com/ abused substances for a while and then quit. Those of us who enter a 12 step recovery program such as AA and NA may eventually be charged with the task of telling our stories to others. This may be in the form of a speaking meeting, or it may simply be a situation in which we feel as if another recovering addict or alcoholic may benefit from our counsel.
After completing rehab, individuals must rebuild their lives. This includes creating a new support system, using healthy coping mechanisms, and making positive changes in areas like employment, relationships, and goals. The advantages of support groups and sponsorship are immense. It offers a sense of belonging, provides a non-judgmental atmosphere to discuss issues and progress, and offers opportunities to heal and develop. Brie joined the Amethyst Recovery team in 2017 as an HR assistant.