Let me say this if you are stuck in the depth of addiction; there is help for you. I can say that I first got sober and spent my first nine months of recovery stuck in my home. I was afraid to leave my house, worried I might run into an old buddy, and my daily anxiety was unbelievable. How would I ever bring in a New Year and enjoy what I once lost?

After struggling for nine months and being a dry drunk, I climbed out of my hole and went to Celebrate Recovery. Celebrate Recovery is where I found myself and realized I was not walking this walk alone. For the longest, I believed there was no help. Know there is help, and we want to walk this thing we call recovery with you.

At Celebrate Recovery, I found a place that I call home. I feel welcomed, I found my forever family, and I am loved and supported. I now realize that I am not tied down to a title as an addict. My title at Celebrate Recovery is “my name is Melissa, and I am in recovery for drug addiction and alcoholism, and I struggle with depression and codependency. Do you know how great it feels not to be tied down by a title or walk alone?

If you are still struggling with addiction of any form or any hurt, habit, or hang-up, I recommend you look up Celebrate Recovery; thousands are located all over the United States. Please do not sit another day tied down to the addiction that is taking you away from your family. Your family loves you too much to watch you suffer another day.

Written by: Melissa Pena

When I started self-care, I did not understand what it meant, and after some research and meetings, I learned what self-care was. Self-care is a primary value that we need in recovery. It teaches us to prioritize our own needs. I knew I needed to find tools and resources beneficial to my physical and emotional well-being. 

Here are some helpful ideas to help you start some self-care.

I found new activities to help promote my wellness. I started eating healthier, walking with new sober friends, and even trying yoga. Anything that can benefit my well-being helps me to feel better about myself. We all know that getting sober, we usually gain weight. This is okay because were now living a life without drugs and are not self-medicating anymore. 

Furthermore, I found out I wanted to try new things. I started painting rocks and hiding them around my community. I learned that I liked reading and what better way than to sit down and enjoy quiet time? I sat and watched healthy TV shows while petting my cat. I began journaling and being honest about my feelings, triggers, and struggles. Seeing these written down helped me to stay away from the things that could cause relapse. I started attending meetings and being around other recovering addicts. I realized I was not alone in this walk. I started attending domestic violence because I was a victim and needed to learn tools to help me stay away from abusers. Lastly, I prioritized myself. I set boundaries, I learned to say no, and I learned to ask for help. 

Recovery is not easy, and it is not something to rush through. Recovery is an everyday process. We will have ups and downs. So, where can you start in addressing self-care for yourself? 

Written by: Melissa Pena