Hannah

“If you let God into your life, and if you really commit to the program, you’ll get through it. You’ll have a family that will help you and be there for you.  “

It all started when my mom got sick in 2013 – stomach cancer. That’s when I began to take her pain medication. When she died a year later, I thought I could quit, but it was too late by then. I was addicted – physically, emotionally, everything.

I attended several faith-based programs before, and it didn’t work out for me. I even tried the Bridge for a few months. I left less than halfway through the program – I just wasn’t ready to commit. Before, I didn’t believe God loved me. When I was stuck in my addiction, I didn’t feel bad about it, I didn’t have any conviction, I didn’t want to get clean. My family tried to push me – threatened to kick me out if I didn’t’ change – but nothing inside me made me want it. But God worked on my heart a little bit.

At that point, I knew that I would either die from an overdose or go to prison with the way I've been living. I heard God in my life telling me to change, so I can be there for my family. I tried to get better on my own, but I kept relapsing. I read the bible, went to church, attended meetings in the community, but I kept relapsing. With every relapse, I would lie in my bed and cry until I passed out. I just remember telling God, I don’t want to do this anymore. At the time, my sister was getting married. With my mother's death, I should have been there for my sister. But, because of my addiction, I couldn’t do that for her. I felt destroyed and helpless.

When I tried Bridge for a second time, I was scared that they wouldn’t let me, but they accepted me back with open arms. This time around, I wanted to recover, I wanted to follow God and have a relationship with Him. To make Him proud. I struggled a lot – with my self-worth, with feeling lonely – but the people here helped so much. If I didn’t have the Bridge, if I didn’t have the community here, it would’ve been so much harder for me. I needed the support and the structure offered at the Bridge because when things became hard, I had them to depend on. The people here were my accountability and encouragement that helped me keep moving forward and try to live my life through God. They wanted me to do the right thing.

Before, I thought that a year was too long, but time flew by so fast when you’re in the program. I didn’t want to leave. The program is set to that there’s this balance, where you have enough freedom to go out, but enough structure that you can’t go off and relapse. I felt like it really sets you up for success in the program.

It’s been a year since I graduated as of August, and now I’m working at Second Chance. I love working there, but I still get to be involved with the ministry and be close to my support group. It’s been hard being away from my family, but God is with me and gave me a new family.

Even when I’m struggling, they are there for me, and they want me to succeed.