Two Recovering Addicts Share Their Paths to Serenity After Conquering Substance Abuse
When we think of a person with a drug or alcohol addiction, we tend to imagine adults. But many of the recovering addicts we spoke to said their habits started in childhood and escalated over time. For some, it stemmed from a family history of substance abuse, while others said they experimented and ended up falling down a slippery slope.
What each person had in common, however, was the unfailing strength to fight back against their addiction. These are just a couple of their inspiring stories.
Coryanne sought to be the positive example she never had
You could say Coryanne was born into a life of addiction. Her substance abuse started at a young age, eventually spiraling out of control as she became an adult.
“I have been an addict since I was 13,” she revealed. “My mom kind of got me started, and over the past year, it went from doing pain pills and snorting stuff to the needle. And that became a drug itself.”
Now a mother herself, Coryanne realized she didn’t want to set the same dangerous example for her children. She said she feared putting them through the trauma of not only losing their mom, but of stumbling upon an accidental overdose.
“I have three kids that look up to me, and I knew they were going to end up finding me dead,” she said.
One of the greatest challenges with addiction is that even if you know getting sober is the right thing to do — for yourself and for your family — taking that positive step is frightening. It seems easier to believe you can conquer it yourself, without asking for anyone’s help.
But Coryanne said she finally realized she had finally run out of options:
“I knew I couldn’t keep running, and I couldn’t do it by myself. I tried and it didn’t work. I was going to end up killing myself,” she explained.
So she took action. She checked into addiction treatment at Serenity Rehab Center, and said that a big part of her success was her state of mind. She took her program to heart and constantly reminded herself that sobriety was truly what she wanted. And it paid off.
“It just gave me a second chance when I didn’t think I deserved one,” she said. “I look forward to getting my life together, because I can now. I have the proper tools to deal with life on life’s terms.”
Chris had happy beginnings that turned dark
Chris said there was nothing particularly destructive about his upbringing, but that he simply chose the wrong path.
“I started off as an intelligent individual. I did really well in school and was successful in my own business — and then things just kind of got out of hand. I started off using drugs in high school, and it progressed into something that ended up as my detriment,” he recalled.
His addiction journey ended up taking everything he had. He’d gone from a happy childhood to a successful career to nothing … and had no idea how it had happened.
“Eventually, I found myself homeless, and I remember looking up one day and thinking to myself, ‘How the heck did my life turn into this?’” he said.
Chris explained that entering rehabilitation was the first step to regaining control — and this time, he wouldn’t let his progress slip away.
“To me, it was life changing, and it’s going to be something that I will hold close to my heart,” he said. “I was given a second chance, and I feel it — I’m going to be successful.”
Part of what makes Coryanne and Chris so inspirational is that they fell into addiction when they were too young to truly understand the consequences of their actions, yet they still managed to overcome their disease.
According to Coryanne, it wasn’t just about discovering her way back — it was about self-discovery, too.
“I found myself. I see the good in myself, and I see the good in others,” she said with a smile.