I first arrived at Sophia Recovery when I was a teenager. I was barely old enough to legally drink, and I knew in my heart I was either going to die, be in jail, or hurt somebody else.

I got arrested basically as soon as I started drinking. My dad was sort of a functioning alcoholic, and I proved pretty quickly that was never going to be me. Once someone took this picture of me. I was drunk, and one of my eyes was sort of closed. I realized I looked exactly how my dad looked when he was drinking. I never wanted to be like my father, so seeing that broke my heart.

I was in trouble with the law again and again - until I was looking at adult jail time. That was really terrifying to me. I was so unhappy that I was suicidal. I couldn't drink, but I couldn't not drink.

I phoned a family member, who had also been through AA. They brought me to Sophia Recovery Centre. I finally got enrolled in some programs and counseling.

The ladies at Sophia, and the 12-step program, believed in me. They gave me the keys to the church to open up three days a week. It was good for my self-esteem to know that people trusted me. My whole life I had felt separate, different, alone. At Sophia, people wanted me there. It felt so nice to not be judged, and actually be embraced.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing. After years of sobriety from alcohol, I had what looked to be the perfect life. I was working at my dream job, bought my dream home, had a car, a great relationship, and finally received a pardon for my criminal record. I was living the typical "dream life".  But I was struggling to keep up with it all.

I was prescribed benzodiazepines for anxiety. It wasn't long before I became addicted and started buying extra medication, including opiates. Then I couldn't stay awake, so I used cocaine and crack. I almost lost everything I worked so hard for.

Thankfully, I started opioid agonist treatment. I was able to stop using for a couple years, but I didn't deal with the shame and embarrassment of that relapse.

Eventually I turned back to alcohol. It had been years since I drank. I was sure it wouldn't be a problem anymore. I had changed so much.  But then I couldn't stop.

It wasn't until I was honest with those close to me that I was able to find recovery again. Without my recovery community and my loved ones, I wouldn't be sitting here today. It's not easy to talk about - but nobody makes a major change in their life and says, “well, that was easy, without any setbacks.”

As life changes, my needs in recovery have changed as well. I might need different support at different times - and I’ve found that. I've met the most intelligent, interesting, inspiring and caring community in sobriety.

There's a life beyond addiction - and it’s beyond our wildest dreams.