Recovery Spotlight VI - Full Interview Transcript
- What was life like before recovery?
- Dog [water]. It was just unmanageable, it was tough, definitely felt like an uphill battle, a lot of the time I felt like something was wrong and just didn’t know what, I felt like a “bottom of the barrel” individual
- How did you find your way into recovery?
- I’ve been in and out for a long time through rehabs, wilderness programs, etc. I was introduced to the program when I was like fifteen, but I had to reach a point where I had exhausted all other options of making my life manageable before I was willing to jump in.
- What’s life been like in recovery?
- It’s been challenging, rewarding, fulfilling, I’ve learned a lot about myself and learned a lot about treating others with respect and the dignity they deserve. A lot of growing pains that are just worth it. I wouldn’t trade what I have right now for anything.
- Do you have a message for the newcomer or people contemplating a change?
- I would say if you truly wanna change and you’re willing it’s possible, don’t let all the [naysayers] and self deprecating thoughts and all that [stuff] tell you it’s not. It’s either you do it or you don’t, either you believe in yourself or you give up on yourself.
- When in recovery did you find GFR?
- Maybe like two months in, I figured it out through my sponsor, I pulled up to one of the meetings and it was chill. I like what GFR is doing for the college community and Isla Vista, it’s a really cool resource for college students, it’s like a baby step into recovery.
- What’s your relationship with school like compared to before?
- Before, I was a high school dropout with no goals or aspirations for education, but about four months into my sobriety I got my GED, about six months in I started my first semester at SBCC, I had a successful semester, this semester I’m taking a break.
- What are some cool things you didn’t expect from recovery?
- I would say I didn’t expect to stay sober, and I didn’t expect to have points in my life where I have peace of mind, or to have built an amazing community of sober people around me. I didn’t expect to be able to sleep very well. I have so much more, the list of things is immense and it’s kinda crazy.
- What are some annoying/frustrating things you’ve encountered in recovery?
- Cravings. Certain individuals in the program that I don’t find very savory. I would say the times that I live in self-will, and normies. I have a lot of people close to me that are normies and I love them, but at the same time they [tick] me off, and I think it’s because it’s harder for me to relate to them and because they don’t encounter the same day to day struggles that I have to deal with as someone recovering from a substance use disorder.
- How have you managed or dealt with hardships in recovery?
- Relying upon my higher power, my fellowship, my sponsor, prayer, meditation, giving myself grace at times even though it’s not easy, and trying to help others however that might look.
- Anything else you’d like to add?
- Recovery is… dope, and life is a lot more manageable, and you can still be sober, have fun, and not be a square.