I Went From Nothing to Learning How to Live Sober

 

Growing up, my dad was a pro cowboy and I went everywhere with him, so I was raised between Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. I had a normal life as a rodeo kid, blazin’ the trails and having the time of my life. I had lots of friends, went to church, played basketball, and did barrel racing. It was such a good life. I went to court reporting college and made it to the state testing level.

One of the happiest moments in my life was having my first-born son. I went into labor a month early, but when I had him there was no other feeling like it in the world. He was the absolute light of my life.

I was 23 years old when I started to use drugs. Everybody I knew was on drugs, and my best friend was the first one to give it to me. I tried meth and liquid pot, and I thought it was the greatest feeling in the world.

Drugs took everything from me – my career, my kids, my college degree, my friends, and family. Everything I worked for and towards, it took away. It impacted my family, and it took a long time to gain their trust again.

I tried to get clean several times and was not able to accomplish it.

One day a friend of mine who worked at Narconon stopped by my house and told me about the program. They gave me the choice to get clean or never see them again. At first, I didn’t want to do it. I thought I was doing just fine.

I was so sick when I got to Narconon, but they kept an eye on me and the assists helped me relax. I started to feel really good once I did the detox program. I was sweating all of the toxins out, and I started to feel like myself again. My energy level went up and I was able to think clearly.

I learned that when you quit doing the wrong things, like drugs, and change your habits for good, life will fall into place. I know the difference between right and wrong. When you do what is right, you will see yourself looking forward to what you can achieve in life. There is a big difference.

I gained hope that life can be good again, and I gained the knowledge and skills of how to stay clean.

Graduating was an accomplishment, and I felt amazing. I’d never been healthier in my life.

The biggest thing I got is long-term sobriety and not relapsing. I was able to move forward and do better every day. It was so weird at first to be sober because I never expected it to be possible. I never thought I could be sober—I had been on drugs so long. Now it is such a normal feeling. I don’t think about drugs.

“Everything that drugs took from me I got back. I got custody of my son back, I found a great career, and am working towards getting my medical assistant license.”

Everything that drugs took from me I got back. I got custody of my son back, I found a great career, and am working towards getting my medical assistant license. Now I own two houses and three cars. My kids have horses and I watch them rodeo all the time. It is so fun to watch them rodeo.

I got my support back – my family. My brother didn’t speak to me for a long time, but now I have resolved my relationship with my family and they are my biggest supporters ever. I have their full trust again. I look forward to graduating college and I am a year away from having raised my youngest son – he’ll be 18.

I went from nothing to learning how to live sober—to live life. I created new dreams. God has given back in abundance.

If you are struggling with addiction, keep trying until you succeed. Find a good support group and when you are in recovery, put yourself in the right places where you are not forced to make the decision to relapse to addiction.

My favorite thing about being sober is being able to make the right choices – I don’t regret the choices I make.

—Chanci, Narconon Arrowhead Graduate