Eight years ago today my world stopped. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me. I actually laughed at the time, because that is what I do when I am hurting. Then I drank, a lot. I went down to Florida and tried to drown my sorrows. I tried to see what chance I had of escaping the truth. In the end I found I already knew the answer.
I have people tell me to sum up recovery for them, "In your opinion, what is recovery?" I find this extremely hard to do. I once heard someone say that recovery was like playing a country music song backwards, because you get back your house, your truck, your dog and your wife. I have gained so much in my recovery, that it is difficult to qualify or quantify what recovery means "for me."
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of telling you what recovery means to me I will show you what it means to me:
I was featured by Randy Bacon Studio as part of his 7 Billion Ones Series. Here is the link and what they had to say on Facebook about the piece they did:
I had an opportunity to do a Public Service Announcement (PSA) last year that played on a couple of television affiliates for a local anti-methamphetamine organization started by the Rotary Club in Springfield, MO. Don't Meth with Us began working with 5th grade students locally and has expanded across the state, becoming Don't Meth with Missouri. With this initiative they are trying to reduce the number of youth who begin using.
Today, I want to
introduce you to the concept of Spiritual Spackle. It is what took me from
bitter to grateful and from abstinent to being in recovery. To understand what
Spiritual Spackle is, let’s start with a story from my younger years:
“Everyone has a relapse left in them, but I don’t have another
recovery in me.”
Absolutely one of the worst things I have heard.
Ever!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do so many people leave that relapse an option, stalking them
every day. Is it not enough that our brains and old playmates and playgrounds
are already against our continued sobriety? It was for me, so I decided to do
something about it. I tried on long-term recovery and liked how it fit. Then I
poured myself into recovery like I had my addiction, 24/7 and 365. I kept the
momentum going and never stopped doing the next right thing!
This is an interview for Sink or Swim, which is part of the Drug Free VA campaign. It was a really great experience, and I hope it helps people who see it. I have truly been blessed to have the opportunity to speak in videos, television commercials and communities. I love that I have gone from dealing dope to dealing hope through my recovery, and enjoy the opportunities I have had to share my story with others so that they too can lead better lives.
Educating people on addiction/recovery and reducing stigma are my passion. If they are your passion as well, check out what Better Life in Recovery is doing. We are transforming lives with recovery. We do this by dealing hope and reducing the stigma that surround addictions and mental health issues through community service, education and awareness events that celebrate people in long-term recovery! Thanks for reading and watching.
Hi, my
name is David and I am a person in long-term recovery. For me that means I have
not used drugs or alcohol since January 31st, 2009 and since then I
have dedicated my life to helping others. I am a husband, father, sponsor,
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, hope dealer, stigma killer and motivational speaker.
I was
abused as a child which led to a lot of mental health issues. I used alcohol
and other drugs to escape from my past and feel normal. I was introduced to
methamphetamine my senior year dropped out of high school.
Over the
next 25 years I died more times than I can count on one hand and went to jail
more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. I thought nothing would
ever change. Boy was I ever wrong. I asked God for a miracle and He
answered that prayer. It was not easy. I had to work for it, so I focused on my
recovery like I did my addictions.
Today, I
am a counselor for the Greene County, MO treatment courts through Alternative
Opportunities Treatment Services. I have 4 college degrees including a Masters
of Social Work. I am a role model for my family and the community. I sit on 3
different board of directors for local organizations. I use my past to help
other people overcome their hurts, habits and hang-ups. I have gone from dealing dope to dealing hope!
Several
years ago I started a nonprofit called Better Life in Recovery (BLiR) because
of the stigma regarding addiction, mental health and recovery that permeates
our society. BLiR’s mission is transforming
lives with recovery. We deal hope and reduce stigma people who struggle
with addictions and mental health issues face through community service,
education and awareness events that celebrate people in long-term
recovery.
BLiR is
growing steadily. In 2012 we did 1 event, in 2013 we did 3 events, 2014 we did
8 events and in 2015 we are aiming for 24. We are currently looking for funding
to start a local recovery community center and finish a documentary that will
be part of a program that encourages youth and helps them live amazing lives. BLiR
is proving that in recovery, we go from draining resources in our communities
to becoming one!
Today, I
know that the sky is the limit and my goal is to give people who are still
struggling the hope that they can achieve sobriety, and the people in recovery
the courage to come forward and be proud of who they have become while
rejoining their communities!
I hope
you join me in letting others know there is a BETTER LIFE IN RECOVERY!!
As an addict, I lacked concern for anything other than my next
high. As an agnostic I lacked accountability. For me, those combined for a
perfect storm of problems. (I am not saying all addicts and agnostics are this
way, but I was.)
I could manufacture and sell methamphetamine without caring about
its' impact on other people. I could hurt people over tiny amounts of money and
not worry about any spiritual repercussions. I could steal from anyone, sleep
with whoever I wanted to and leave them immediately after with no concerns
other than legal ramifications.
Life was easy and uncomplicated. Unless the police caught me, I
would never be held responsible for the things that I did. Even if they caught
me, I would still never have to answer for EVERYTHING that I had done to people.
My life was all about me.
I remember being at a meeting and hearing someone say, “Relapse is
part of the process.” I sat there, thought about it for a minute and realized
that is one of the dumbest things I had ever heard.
Relapse may be part of some people’s road to recovery, but some
people stop and never use again. Telling people that relapse is part of the
program is done for a reason and I understand that. I believe it is done so
that when people relapse, they are not ashamed or embarrassed of their relapse and
never come back to a meeting again.
That said, there are way better things to tell someone than
relapse is part of the program. Someone telling me that can actually fuel my
relapse.
I prefer something that I heard at a meeting about 15 years ago.
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