Campbell County Stories

Monica

I’ve been clean from opioids for seven years now. I was broken, hopeless, lost and tried taking my own life. This was my rock bottom, but a new chapter was to begin. At the time, my son was two and I knew after trying to attempt suicide, there had to be some purpose for me. That’s when I prayed, called a facility to receive detox and was admitted the very next day. I fell in love with a new way of life. I learned about the mental, physical and spiritual parts of recovery I had to address every day in order for healing to take place. It was a fight for my life, and I wanted to live. I humbled myself and became open-minded enough to hear hope, healing, and recovery from others who paved the way before me.

I was not court-ordered or made to go from jail. I was lost with no will to live the life I was living and willing to do whatever I had for this so called life of RECOVERY. I made a promise to God if He would open the door I would give it everything I had and never look back! I laugh at this because who are we to make bargains with God. For whatever reason God heard my cries then true life and love began. I often say recovery is not for weak-minded people. It was the hardest thing I had ever walked through, but the most eye-opening and true to my soul journey I’d ever taken! I have no regrets and would change nothing about my story.

I actually graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree while in rehab, and it was at that very moment all the questions I had for God (three months into my recovery) about my journey and pain were answered. I knew at that very moment this was what I was put on earth to do. My spiritual awakening talked about in 12-Steps.

It was three years before I received a job to help others struggling with recovery. I had many trials, frustrations, tears, anger, tribulations, questions and growing pains, but I did grow and now know why that was necessary!

I got the amazing opportunity to work as the Case Manager for the 8th Judicial District Drug Court for almost three years before accepting another beautiful opportunity working at Ridgeview as a Recovery Specialist. I eventually became a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist and am now working on becoming a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor. My son is now nine, and my beautiful daughter is four. I have an amazing husband, church and network of people who are there for me. I am someone who is dependable, reliable, honest, humbled and eager to grow…all characteristics I never thought I could say about myself. It feels amazing to have a job which does not feel like a job because I am giving away what was so freely given to me!

I work a program today where step four of my moral inventory list is done daily. I am humble enough to make amends where amends are due, fully acknowledge my character defects and think about others and not just myself. I am blessed beyond measure and no words can describe that feeling!!