"My journey through the storm"
My Journey through the Storm Times
I've been affiliated with CenterPointe since 1987 as an inpatient and outpatient client and now as a board member.
In the earlier years of treatment with the Glide program, it was like being on an emotional roller-coaster.
I was very frustrated, in deep self-denial of my addiction, and experienced constant depression.
I established a pattern of frequent relapses and I would sabotage myself when things were going well for me.
I always wanted to be successful, but I also wanted to hold on to drinking alcohol. I decided to take the next step and go through residential treatment.
I was given many tools for self-betterment, but chose not to utilize them and I broke away after I finished treatment.
In December 2005, I was diagnosed with cancer and I decided I had to get sober before anything could be good in my life.
I didn't want to die living like this and I asked God for help.
I discovered the lessons CenterPointe gave me were still embedded in my head. It was like a light went on and I started using those tools to get sober.
I came back to CenterPointe as an outpatient.
I was learning coping skills and addressing my mental health issues but I managed to make working with my therapist or case manager very difficult.
I harbored anger and self-hatred. I lived a life of drama. CenterPointe kept accepting me and supporting me and I kept working toward lasting recovery.
Now, I have seven years of sobriety. I still work every day on my recovery.
I try to remember where I came from. I talk with other people and with youth about the storm times.
And, I give back to my community for all the support the community gave me.
-Samuel B.
