Next Step Recovery Straight Talk

Here at Next Step Recovery, many of our guys are celebrating their “clean time.”  This is no small accomplishment. In the 12-step program, we are constantly reminded that each day of sobriety is a gift.

Collectively, the guys at Next Step have several years of clean time under our belts. We are very proud of our progress, as we know the day-to-day struggles and challenges that these milestones represent.

This week, we have residents celebrating their 2-month mark as well as 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 months and 1 year—all clean and sober!

It is inspiring to realize that although each of us is in a different part of our recovery journey, we can all support and help each other take our next steps toward the lives we truly want to live.

At Next Step, clean time not only represents how long we’ve been clean and sober, it also reflects a lot of personal growth. Recovery is not just about abstaining from drugs and alcohol, it is about setting goals and learning the life skills necessary to achieve them.

Our residents are working on getting an education, finding a job, rebuilding relationships with friends and family, and learning to take care of our ourselves with exercise and good nutrition.

That’s why being here at Next Step Recovery is so important for all of us. We couldn’t do this life-changing work without each other, the staff and our shared commitment to working on our personal 12-step program.

I am so proud of the perseverance and strength I see here each day. I know how difficult recovery can be, but I also know the rewards that lie ahead for each of us.

This month, I am celebrating my own “clean time” anniversary. I have been sober for 16 months now, and I am truly grateful for each one of these days. I know that I got here by focusing on my recovery one day at a time. By keeping it simple. By reaching out to friends. By waking up each day and making the commitment to take the next step.

Congratulations guys!

You’re hired!!

At least that is what several of our newest residents are hoping to hear very soon. They are working hard to find employment despite a challenging economy and a lack of confidence that is so common in those who are in early recovery. Confidence is one of many things active addiction steals from you along with your sense of worth, self-esteem, and dignity.

I am speaking from experience. I still continue to struggle with these issues as do so many of us who are in recovery. These problems and others can make things like finding a job very stressful and discouraging, especially in early recovery.

In an effort to help, I put together a Job Search workshop. We met yesterday morning at 10:00 am and didn’t finish until close to 3:00 pm in the afternoon. Many of the residents attending the workshop were very young.

We started off talking about the types of jobs they were seeking, their expectations and how to set obtainable goals. These topics generated a lot of great discussion and supportive brainstorming.

We then talked about how to dress while looking for a job. This topic had the opposite effect! No no one liked hearing (or talking) about the importance of slacks and buttoned-up shirts with matching socks. Who would have thought?!

I had the guys fill out a generic job application. When they finished, we went over the applications with the group. I made suggestions on how the applications could be improved, and I invited them to ask me questions about my experience applying for jobs.

It was great to have a safe setting to learn how to present yourself confidently and professionally. The guys were able to ask questions they wouldn’t have felt comfortable asking in another setting. There really was no “dumb” or wrong question. And, as they were learning, so was I. I really enjoyed getting to know these guys and their talents and strengths.

We also worked on cover letters, resumés, and how to build references. Then we had fun learning “on the job” with mock interviews and role playing.

We started off with standard interview questions and then moved on to some more complicated ones. The guys took turns answering questions and offering feedback to each other. We laughed at some suggestions and took note of others.

At the end of the day, everyone had enjoyed the workshop, learned some new job skills and, most importantly, got a healthy boost of self-confidence with the support of their peers.

What I enjoyed most was watching the guys get excited and empowered when they had a great answer to an interview question or a helpful suggestion for someone else.

I am already looking forward to my next workshop and the opportunity to meet and work with more new residents. It is a privilege just being able to share my recovery journey with others. These are memories and experiences I will cherish throughout my life.

Jon

As we move into the New Year, I wanted to start sharing some of the amazing stories of the residents here at Next Step Recovery in the hopes that our journeys can inspire all those who need to take the next step to improve their lives. We know very well that this next step can make the difference between life and death.

I am grateful for all the residents who have volunteered to share their stories here. I am blessed and inspired to work alongside these courageous men. While the stories we will be sharing are true, the names have been changed to protect our residents’ anonymity (even though many would gratefully share their names).

I’d like to start the year off by sharing the story of one of our newest residents.

Two months ago, CC arrived at Next Step Recovery looking for structure, guidance and a safe place to focus on his recovery after finishing a 30-day detox program. CC is only 21 years old, but the serious consequences of addiction forced him to grow up quickly. He is a brave young man working very hard to create a new life. A life, he would tell you, that he was in danger of losing altogether.

CC grew up in a close-knit, typical middle class family. He was close to his family and did well in school. He even decided to work for his family’s business after graduation.

As CC entered his late teens he began experimenting with drugs and alcohol, hanging out with the wrong crowds and acting out. When he tried the drug Oxycodone (street name “Roxy”), addiction started to take over his life in so many ways.

Even though they worked together in the family business, CC was able to hide his using and addiction from his father for some time. As he gradually lost control to his disease, his father and his family became more aware of his growing problem.

As his addiction grew stronger, he began using at work. The more he denied his problem, the worse it got. The lies were getting bigger, and the consequences were getting more serious. CC was arrested several times, charged with felony possession, and lost his best friend and girlfriend.

By this time, CC had moved out of his parents’ home and gotten an apartment. His family still invited him over for dinner and family functions, but he almost never showed up. Instead, he lied and made up stories or he simply didn’t return their calls.

Things hit bottom when CC lost a very close friend to an overdose. His friend’s mother discovered him lying on his bedroom floor dead. CC could not stop thinking that this could have been him, it could have been his mother. He didn’t want to put his family through this much pain.

CC had been through enough and was finally ready to get some help. He talked his brother whom he considered his mentor. He confessed that he was in a lot of pain and wanted help, but he didn’t know what to do. After opening up and being honest with his family, he was ready to surrender to any help he could get.

CC entered treatment on September 15, and his relationship with his family improved immediately. He was overwhelmed with the support they showed. He couldn’t believe that his family stood by him even after all the problems and heartache he had caused.

After treatment, CC and his family wanted more structure and a safe place for him to continue his recovery. They chose Next Step Recovery.

Since he arrived two months ago, CC has worked closely with his 12-step sponsor and has attended as many meetings as he can a week. He recently picked up his 90-day chip!

As I have gotten to know CC, I have grown very fond of him. I understand his struggles. I’ve been there. And I know he is overcoming the odds and turning his life around.

CC’s story, and the stories of all the other men here at Next Step, inspire me in my own recovery journey. Their strength and determination to succeed is remarkable.

My New Year’s wish is for all those who are struggling with addiction to find their way into recovery. I hope they are fortunate enough to find a loving and caring safe place, like Next Step Recovery, where they can start building a clean and sober foundation.

Happy New Year! And thank you CC for inspiring us all!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here at Next Step Recovery! Our lights are hung, and the tree is up. Several guys, including myself, are getting into the holiday spirit. Many of us will be here for Christmas this year.

Many of the guys are receiving Christmas cards and packages containing candy and goodies in the mail daily from family and friends. It’s great to see their smiling faces when they open them.

We are all are so busy with meetings and work, focusing on our recovery and overcoming personal challenges, that is such a joy for us to receive a special gift or card that lets us know that we are not on this journey alone and that we do have the support of our families and friends and those who care so much about it.

We have many things planned for the guys on Christmas Eve and Christmas day, including a holiday dinner, a movie, Climbmax indoor rock climbing and lots of great fellowship. I am sure that we will all have a great time, and we are really looking forward to our time together.

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from all of us here at Next Step Recovery.

Merry Christmas!!

I want you to take a look at: Next Step Recovery Incorporated – Next Step Recovery – Christmas Wish List 2011 

On Sunday, Next Step Recovery residents gathered to give thanks. We decided to celebrate Thanksgiving early so we could share this special holiday with all the guys before some of us traveled home to spend time with our families. It was a great day!

Several of us began cooking around 8:00 am, preparing the turkeys and the ham for the feast later that day. We had an amazing time reminiscing, laughing and sharing holiday memories while we cooked.

We all sat down together to share our meal in the late afternoon.  But, before we gorged ourselves, we went around and shared what we were most thankful for. The majority of us were thankful for our recovery and for Next Step. We were grateful to be able to celebrate a holiday in a safe place with people that cared about them.

Many of us have been in active addiction and have missed out on a lot of family celebrations and holidays. We realized how special it was to be surrounded by friends and peers. The gratitude expressed by everyone in the room was overwhelming.

Gratitude and giving back have become a major piece of my recovery. I have come to realize that by sharing my experiences, strength and hope, I get those same things in return.  I guess it really is true what they say. “You can’t keep what you have without giving it away”.

I am thankful for my life, my recovery, and friends and family—and I’m grateful for Next Step Recovery for giving me those things back.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I just recently celebrated a year of sobriety. I would have thought that the hardest part of my recovery was behind me. Not so.

A year ago, I made the conscious decision that I could not keep hurting the people I care so much about—including myself. So I went into a 28-day treatment program at The Life Center in Galax, Virginia.

In treatment, I came to realize that “my way” of dealing with addiction didn’t work. I needed the help and support of others. This decision led me to my next phase of recovery: the decision to work and live in a recovery community here in Asheville, North Carolina, at Next Step Recovery.

With the support and encouragement of my mentors and housemates, I decided to focus on myself and my recovery for the first year. During this time, I asked a lot of questions, I sought out and listened to good advice, and I worked on my individual recovery program. I took life day by day, and I was grateful for my progress and every small victory.

I was pretty surprised when I found myself in a complete panic on my 366^th day of sobriety. I suddenly realized I hadn’t planned for anything beyond my first year of recovery. I was so focused on making it to the one-year mark that I hadn’t looked beyond that goal.

Suddenly, my anxiety was way out of control. I was terrified because I hadn’t planned ahead. What was I supposed to do now?!

Not knowing the answer, I did what had worked in my first year. I went to a mentor in the program who had been sober for several years. I explained what was going on and how I was feeling. Without a pause, he laughed and said “this is completely normal. All recovering addicts go through this experience!”

He reminded me that recovery is all about progress not perfection. He encouraged me to wake up each morning and focus on doing “the next right thing.” He also reminded me that I could use everything I learned over the past year to help me overcome my recovery challenges and to live life on life’s terms.

Although I was still afraid of failing, afraid that I’d missed something, I got up the next morning, as directed, and went about my day as usual—taking things one day, and sometimes one moment, at a time.

The more I think about it, nothing has really changed nor was it supposed to.  I am still very young in recovery. I still need the guidance and structure that has gotten me through the first year.  I still have to live my life one day at a time.

Well, maybe something has changed over this past year. Each time I have reached out, there has been someone in the program who has reached back or reached up to help me out of the tree that I have run myself up when my doubts have overwhelmed me. I have learned to trust that good friends can make all the difference in my recovery.

As I have traveled the road of recovery, I have met some very special people in the program.  I have discovered that many recovering addicts have amazing talents including musical, writing, artistic—even computer programming (which, to me, is an art form!).

While incredibly talented, addiction prevented them from tapping into or discovering their talents.

In early recovery, many addicts start exploring different creative hobbies and using them to express their feelings and emotions—both good and bad. I have seen guys come into the program beaten down from active addiction who begin to blossom as they start to explore some of their talents.

When I came to Next Step Recovery, I had not held a paint brush in 15 years due to my addiction. Then one day we were asked to paint a section of canvas that depicted our personal recovery experience.

From that moment on, I couldn’t stop painting. All of my free time was devoted to it. I poured my heart and soul into it. I couldn’t believe how much my paintings helped me share my feelings in my own way.

To me, this is what living a full life is all about. Using all of our tools and our talents to work with our daily challenges and emotions as we walk the path of recovery.

It has been amazing to finally become aware of who I am and who I can become when I live a clean and sober lifestyle. These creative discoveries have become an important part of my life and my recovery.

Check out our latest Newsletter !

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Next-Step-Recovery-s-Fall-Fundraiser.html?soid=1102498753439&aid=9GAXBabTTlA.

Throughout my recovery process, I have found that the friendships, relationships and bonds I have made are essential.  When I first began my recovery, I didn’t understand how important these relationships would be.

When I came into recovery, many others stressed the importance of a support network. This idea scared me somewhat, and I wasn’t sure I needed or wanted a recovery support network.

Looking back, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I have met so many great people in recovery who are from all walks of life—a kaleidoscope of different backgrounds and personalities. What we all share in common is having been in the trenches of active addiction and finding and fighting our way into recovery. This shared experience, I realized, made it easy to make friends and form strong bonds.

There is something to be said about “birds of a feather.” Building a support network has been a major piece of the puzzle in my recovery.  It has been so important to know that I can reach out to someone anytime, day or night, no matter the problem or situation, and talk it through.

When I came to Next Step Recovery, I was so grateful for the tremendous support and guidance I received both from the staff and the residents.

For me, my strength has come from something as simple as a one-on-one chat on the porch with one of the residents or a group of us joking around trying to find the humor in a difficult day or just sitting around the dinner table sharing a meal with good conversation.

Here at Next Step, we have cried, laughed and shared our strength, hope and experiences with each other—all the while knowing the struggles we are all going through and hoping that the road of recovery rises up to meet our feet each day.

In the end, this is what matters to me most in my recovery: my support network and great relationships with people that are changing their lives alongside me with the program of recovery.

When I walk through the house and hear the laughter from someone telling a funny joke, or someone sharing some good news or reaching out after having a really rough day, I know that I am in the right place—not only for myself but for others as well.