I’m Beaton, I’m a grateful recovering addict!

My recovery journey started in early April, 2018. After 8 years of progressive, unmanagable substance abuse I said enough was enough. I checked myself in to detox!

It wasn’t the facility or nurses that helped me come to realize who I truly was…it was my first NA meeting ever that I attended while I was in there! At the meeting I felt lifted, hopeful, and reassured. I read the reading “who is an addict.” It brought me to tears as I read the words, realizing I was describing myself. It was then and only then that I realized I was an addict!

Afterwards I checked the NA meeting schedule to see if there was a meeting in my area, I was disappointed to find out there wasn’t any! I knew I had to get one started but how?

Luckily upon returning home I met a guy with 5 years clean( Curently my sponsor) who lived in the community! A lot of people had already been pushing him to get an NA chapter started! With his help, and the help of another recovering addict, the three of us managed to get a room and litrature and we had our first meeting! The group is still thriving to this day. We’ve faced and overcome almost every imaginable obstical.

After my discharge from detox I made it 3 months clean! I was and still am a service member to the group! Life was great, my recovery was amazing. I witnessed the birth of my daughter, got an awesome job in my field of study. Things couldn’t have been better…then complacency and lack of step work caught up to me and I went through a 4 month relapse from hell.
In that time I still got to my meetings and checked back in to detox another 2 times, I got a refferal to rehab and 6 weeks later I checked in there.

Rehab was exactly what I needed to light the fire and restart my recovery process again! I learned a lot about myself, and I learned a lot about CBT, addiction and the brain, and some coping skills! Rehab got me back on my feet. I learned how to live again.

Today, January 3 2019 I am 61 days clean and serene. This time recovery looks a lot diffrent. I’m a lot more vigilant with my addiction. I use all available resources! I read every bit of recovery litterature I can get my hands on. I joined a local AA group for additional support, I go to counseling, and most of all I do my step work with my sponsor. All I can say is I’m safe and alive today, I thank the fellowship of NA for saving me and helping me turn my life around!

It works if you work it so work it you’re worth it!!!