Sharing Your Recovery Story Workshop

She earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Tennessee. Butch Glover, a state licensed and nationally certified addiction counselor, accepted his role as Chief Operations Officer in 2015. Dr. Sledge has been named Nashville’s top addiction doctor by the Nashville Business Journal, a recognition only five percent of physicians in the United States hold. Dr. Sledge served on the board of directors for the American Society of Addiction Medicine and was among the first physicians to receive certification from them. Prior to his current role as Chief Community Recovery Officer, Randal served eight years as Assistant Commissioner with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

These people have played a vital role in your recovery, and their support should be recognized. Many people imagine homeless bums when they think of addicts, but like you already know, addiction doesn’t always fit this stereotype. There are plenty of people who seem fine on the outside but are popping pills every hour or drinking at work. If you share your story in recovery, you may help other people understand this too. It was then and there where I had a moment of clarity that by not sharing, I was being selfish. While I may not have all the answers and have no delusion in my mind that what I say is going to save everyone’s life, there might be someone in there who needs to hear something I’m going to share.

And save lives in the process

Embrace tradition and focus on the connectivity you have to the recovery community. When discussing people you love or care about, focus on emotional stability you get from loved ones and partners, not romantic feelings. Focus on improving your concepts of relationships and how that differs from when you were in active addiction. For years, I’ve been vocal about my own recovery from anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. In 2001, I founded the Helping Other People Eat (H.O.P.E.) nonprofit, and I speak nationally at a variety of mental health events to share my story in hopes that I can help others.

Here are some things I’ve learned about connecting with people in a way that fits my comfort level. If you’ve dealt with addiction or mental health issues in your own life, then you know there are a million reasons people avoid treatment. Some think they can get sober on their own, and some believe treatment won’t work for them. Whatever the reason, it’s important to show potential clients that you have been in their shoes and that getting treatment helped you come out on the other side.

Give Back by Telling Your Story – It Could Save a Life

As a community outreach professional for addiction treatment, I know that convincing individuals to take such an important step to get help can be difficult. However, if you have your own story of addiction and recovery, appropriately sharing that experience with your clients can resonate deeply. Knowing that you were once in their shoes can help them realize the benefits of getting treatment.

He was known for his wild antics with his friends and had no problem doing something crazy for other people’s entertainment. Behind the scenes, he was a heroin addict, but that wasn’t something he openly shared. Now that he has found lasting sobriety, he is speaking out. Be sure to check out my YouTube channel The Rewired sharing your story in recovery Soul for mental health and addiction recovery videos. I remember I had a friend who I got sober with who suffered from depression and his first sponsor from AA told him that he couldn’t relate to the depression issues. His AA sponsor knew a guy in NA who did have this experience and recommended my friend switch sponsors.