Suzanne’s Addiction Recovery Story
At the age of 62, Suzanne decided she needed to return to rehab.
Suzanne’s story unraveled through a storm of denial – first, it was just drinking in college, then she was introduced to drugs, but when traumatic events began to force themselves into her life, she clung on to the only thing she felt like she had – substances.
Suzanne realized in her 40s that she was beginning to have a problem with substance use, as it was brought to her attention by several family members and even co-workers – but like most who struggle with addiction, she thought she had a handle on it. Once she realized she was spiraling out of control, Suzanne went into rehab and got the help she needed. She spent 20 years sober and happier than ever before.
However, Suzanne was a victim of emotional and physical abuse from past relationships, and even though she pushed forward and tried to move on, the hurt was a lot to bear on her own. After 20 years of sobriety, she reached out for familiarity, as she was stuck in a relationship where she felt unloved, unsafe, and unseen.
“I was so angry. It felt like the entire world was against me. I didn’t know a person could have so much anger inside of them. And a little voice inside of me said, ‘You’re in trouble again’…I needed to get really serious about getting sober because I’m all I have.”
Finally, after a frightening threat from her ex-husband, she called a friend for help. A couple of days later, she was on her way to Discovery Point Retreat, where she was able to commit to recovery – because this time, she knew exactly what she wanted. She wanted the freedom to deal with hardships healthily, learn coping skills to aid her in that journey, and become so high on life that drugs and alcohol could never reach her again.
“The happiest I’ve ever been was when I was sober. Being sober is not boring; there are so many laughs and happy times to be had…but addiction is a disease that completely changes who you are. There are too many benefits to being sober, and I know because I’ve experienced it before. And I wanted that freedom and happiness again.”
In 9 months, Suzanne regained her strength, sobriety, and desire to live a fulfilling life free of substances. Currently, she works as a house manager for Discovery Point Retreat, helping others along their difficult yet incredibly worthwhile journey to recovery.
“I wanted to quit. I really did. They were hitting way too many truths, and they challenged me. Every time I went in there, I was just so mad. They slowly broke it down and made me realize I had done it to myself. It wasn’t anything that the world had done; it wasn’t God getting back at me; it had been my decision to drink or use drugs. And I had to get to a point where I could forgive myself. They’ve given me the confidence to believe in myself again. They helped me restore my dignity, self-esteem, and self-respect. They treated me like a human being – like someone that had value, and they truly wanted to help me.”
If you or someone you love is in need of help, contact us today at 855-306-8054. Discovery Point Retreat is here to support you through recovery no matter where you are in your journey.