San Luis Obispo
Addiction Recovery
Center
Compassionate Treatment of Substance Abuse
Treat Addiction -- Save Lives
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Compassionate Treatment of Substance Abuse
Treat Addiction -- Save Lives |
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Chris B. I am a 22 year old woman who first started using drugs when I was around 12 and I quickly became addicted to OxyContin. From the ages of 17 to 19 it was a downward spiral with all my lying and stealing. It hurts to even write this. I got involved with a bad guy, a really bad guy. He was in with gangs and sold drugs. He used to mentally and physically abuse me. He told me that if I left him, he would not only kill me but my dogs too. With the help of my family I finally got away. I was sick of chasing drugs and money. I was sick of letting drugs and drug deals ruin my life any longer. I went to rehab for 10 days and there they asked me if I wanted to be prescribed Suboxone. I refused it. I wanted to do it on my own. I was only able to stay drug free for about a month and a half then I started "self medicating", getting methadone on weekdays and popping pills on the weekend. I thought I was clean then, but looking back I know damn well I was far from clean. I moved to California in August of 2006 and I thought things were going to be fresh and new but drugs and I met again. My relationship with my husband started to go south, I looked like crap, felt like crap, and I treated people horribly. I needed help again, so I researched 'addiction' on the Internet. In my research I found information about Suboxone. I looked for a doctor in my area and called Dr. Howalt’s office at the San Luis Obispo Addiction Recovery Center. I talked it over with my mother and husband and they agreed they would stand beside me and help me in whichever way they could, so I made an appointment with Dr. Howalt. Meeting Dr. Howalt for the first time seems as though it were yesterday. My body was shaking and sweating and my mind was full of guilt and anxiety with all the 'what ifs' running through my head. I was scared to death. To my surprise when I left the office after talking with Doctor Howalt it felt as if a ton of bricks had been lifted from my mind and body. His explanations and counseling helped everything seem so much clearer. It was one of the best days of my life; it was a new fresh start at life. always had my mind set on getting the next fix, my cravings never stopped. I was a rotten pickle stuck in a jar that was filled with all the causes and effects of my drug use. I have finally broken that jar and the contents in it have slowly dried up. I now have hope and a life worth living; a life without drugs. I have not turned back since, with the help of Dr. Howalt, Suboxone, my family, and 12-Step meetings I am now more stable than I can ever remember. Now that my mind is not consumed by drugs I can focus on the real things in life that drugs used to take away and put limits on. I am free to do what I please without drugs running my life! I now attend college at Santa Barbara Business College and I’m going for my associates degree in business!
My Experience with 12-Step groups When I first came to Dr. Howalt for help, he suggested that I go to 12-Step meetings. I laughed as if Dr. Howalt was joking! I thought that going to meetings was so absurd but now I realize I was still in denial thinking that I wasn’t an addict and I thought of myself as “above them.” Despite my feelings towards the meetings I went as suggested. The hardest part was driving to the first meeting and mustering up the courage to walk in the door and take a seat. After that it became easier each time I attended and now it’s a routine for me. Its funny, when Dr. Howalt recently reminded me of what my initial reaction was when he suggested meetings, it took me a few minutes to remember. Now thinking back I was shocked, no way could I have been so closed-minded and thought about 12-Step meetings in that way! Once I attended my first meeting it was like someone flicked a switch on inside me. Suddenly the meetings got addicting! I was surrounded by people who had been in my shoes, who understood my struggles and pain. Now, meeting after meeting I have hear stories about other people's lives and their solutions to obstacles that I can relate to. I have friends, people who gave me their telephone numbers and said, “call me anytime day or night”. Each time I leave a meeting mind is clearer and I have a boost in my energy! I just feel well...good!!! Now I realize that meetings are essential to recovery and sobriety. Think of it as free group therapy. You get to share things and get advice from your peers who understand you without judgment. Everything is confidential so don't worry.
The hardest part is getting out of your car and putting your ass in the seat!!!
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