I get to spend time with my children and be emotionally invested. I get to care for others and be a good friend and a good son. Podcasts and YouTube channels provide another medium for sharing recovery stories. They offer a more personal and friendly way to communicate experiences, as listeners can hear the emotions in the storytellers’ voices. Blogs and personal websites offer a platform for individuals to share their recovery stories in depth. They can chronicle the journey from addiction to recovery, providing a detailed, personal account of the highs and lows experienced along the way.

Before getting sober I did not think people who were sober enjoyed life. Or at the very least, I thought I was broken and there was no way to “fix” myself. I never thought I would enjoy little things like getting a new car. And I never would have imagined I would get married. It helped me find who I really am—the Susan who was waiting there for me, just under the surface, ready to break free. I don’t have to live with all this guilt and shame.

The Key Components of a Quality Recovery Story

When you share your recovery story, you are doing a service to others. Some may just be beginning their journey to recovery, and others may be dealing with unexpected cravings after long-term sobriety. Here are some of the important ways hearing your https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/sharing-your-story-can-help-others-through-recovery/ story helps them. Your journey from addiction to recovery is a defining experience in your life. As you share your story, you think about what you have overcome, where you were and where you are now, and of your personal success and achievements.

• Eventually, I just stopped even wanting to try to explain my troubles to anyone else.
• I was an alcoholic for 10 years and I never could have quit without the help of Valley Hope.
• I read the big book and work the steps just to name a few of the things in my program.
• I found myself trying to hide from anyone and everyone.

My alcohol problem started the day my sister was killed in a car accident. Since my sobriety birthday there have been a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. I have experienced a lot of emotional turmoil, but I learned from these experiences how to cope with life without drugs and alcohol. I’ve made so many lifelong friends, but I’ve also lost some friends to overdoses.

Checklist for Sharing Your Story

It has brought me closer to my higher power, my children, and family. It’s HARD but it is TOTALLY worth it in the end. Stay stronger than your addiction and you will see that life gets easier as time passes. I have learned to slow down in almost every aspect of my life. When I get worked up and rush things, I tend to have expectations and resentments.

It isn’t easy to formulate the thoughts and memories, and then deliver your story. Being an open book is not natural for someone just emerging from substance use, much less talking about such personal issues with strangers. But being brave and allowing others to know you on a deeper level can be extremely therapeutic. It shows that you value yourself, your life, and your future enough to not only be heard, but to also be cared for. I had lost it all – there was no money left of my own and barely any left to take.