RECOVERY STORY OF THE MONTH!

Blake J.
Sobriety Date: July 9, 2014

My name is Blake and I am a recovering alcoholic/addict. I struggled with addiction for a number of years and it robbed me of life, love and happiness. I was without direction, lost, hopeless and on the verge of death before I decided enough was enough and here is my story.

My mother (who died of an overdoes in 2012) was a full-fledge alcoholic and addict.

I was raised in an alcoholic home. My mother (who died of an overdoes in 2012) was a full-fledge alcoholic and addict. I really didn’t know what was going on at that age, but I just new mom always had her drink in her red plastic cup and slept a lot. I had three brothers and we were pretty normal kids just very adventurous. At this time we lived in North Carolina, but my parents split, and we moved with my dad to Ohio. I was pretty active and loved sports. My grades were decent, and I did enough to pass through school.

I took my first drink when I was in high school (freshman year). From the moment that I took that drink, and several more after, I felt like I could be whoever I wanted to be and very comfortable in my own skin. I remember it was a great feeling that I knew I was going to do many times over. My drinking started as weekends and not being able to wait for the party, and progressed to everyday.

It got so bad that I would come to wrestling practice drunk.

I was in a program called O.W.E and we would get to leave class early for work, and we would just go drink. It got so bad that I would come to wrestling practice drunk. Eventually came the point where I was in a car accident, and it was affecting my schooling and trouble with the law. I graduated high school by the skin of my teeth and had a lot of extra free time to drink and drug. I was introduced to all kinds of drugs and would do just about anything.

My dad kicked me out and I moved to my mother’s house where I could do whatever I wanted and really when off the deep end. My grandparents called me one day and told me they wanted to help me go to college and live with them. I decided it was a good idea and moved in with them. I was now an alcoholic/drug addict/drug dealer enrolled in college. This did not last long, and I ended up in my first treatment center. I stayed for month and managed to stay sober for almost a year. This also began my tour of treatment centers in the area. I bounced from place to place but could not stay sober. I watched a lot of my friends die as a result of drugs and alcohol.

I watched a lot of my friends die as a result of drugs and alcohol.

My family had enough of me stealing form them, and the courts had enough of my criminal life style, and so I was sent to prison. Prison was not what I wanted but, looking back, it was probably the best thing that could have happened to me. I did my time, and I learned a lot about myself and who I wanted to be. I got out and went to the Keating Center (where I had been a number of times) and actually wanted to change. I was sick of hurting people and living a meaningless life. I wanted to make something of myself, and I got really busy.

I was sick of hurting people and living a meaningless life.

I stayed at the Keating Center for a year and really took advantage of all of the opportunities they gave me. I learned above all that I was the problem and I was my job to make changes. Personal responsibly is one of the greatest hurdles I had to overcome in life.

Today I am one day away from being 6 years clean and, man, I can’t tell you how good life is. I have a loving fiancé who still puts up with my character defects, a beautiful son (now 3 years old) and a daughter on the way. I started a business and employ people today. I gained a lot of material things which is great but the most gratifying things in my life is I can sleep good at night and don’t have to run anymore. There is a better way, and me and many others are proof of it. It just requires some work and willingness.