By the time I was willing to admit that I was an addict, I was miserable without drugs or alcohol, and reckless when I had them. I was convinced that life wasn’t even worth living. I had seen the destruction caused by addiction first-hand throughout my childhood. Helplessly, I witnessed manipulation, abuse, and neglect of my siblings taking place in the household, all due to drugs- so, I promised myself that I would never make the same choices.

I began drinking and using drugs at the age of 14. A couple beers and smoking pot eventually turned into blackouts, and chasing my next high, whatever it may be. At the age of 22, I finally asked for help, and entered my first treatment facility in 2017. After a year of countless attempts to remain sober I enrolled in two more treatment programs in 2018. I had never understood the importance of a spiritual life until I found AA, and unfortunately, I didn’t have much of an opportunity to be involved with AA in these treatment facilities.

Luckily for me, after my last relapse, I was given the opportunity to attend Riverbank beginning February 21st, 2020. The Riverbank community has been welcoming from the start, and remains involved in a variety of meetings daily, such as: AA, NA, HA, etc. They offer: yoga classes, meditation, a gym, kayaking, hikes, and the list goes on. All of these options have been crucial to helping me find who I am as a person, and what positively influences my recovery. In addition, the community of staff and residents provide excellent mental support and accountability to my recovery. Today, I’m stronger than I’ve ever been, and constantly
discovering what makes me happy. Reflecting upon my recovery from the beginning, nothing can compare to my experience at Riverbank, or the support that I’ve received here. If you’re struggling with addiction, don’t give up, and be sure to ask for help. Attend a treatment program that offers the resources that you need to get sober. Lastly, when you’re ready, be available to help the addict who is still suffering – you could save their life.

For most of my life, I’ve held on to the illusion that I can figure out any problem on my own. Lock me in a room with a computer and a few books, and even the most complex problems could be solved by my own perspicacity. But as my life grew unmanageable in the throes of my addiction to alcohol, I became hopeless. Numb to life, apathetic, and far too prideful to ask for help. That’s when people who love me intervened on my behalf. First, I tried a 30-day program outside of my hometown, but I only got sober enough to get my wits about me. The fog cleared and I returned to my old way of handling everything by myself. After a few meager attempts, my family heard about Riverbank through recommendation on the web.
Now, mind you I’m from Texas, so I had no idea what to expect from New Hampshire. I packed a couple ponchos, my cowboy hat, my snakeskin boots, and began a real earnest attempt at sobriety. The first thing about Riverbank that stood out was the staff. Unlike other treatment facilities I have tried, my mentors are all in recovery and are nearly all are from the Riverbank program itself. This offered a unique insight and instant relatability because at any point in the day, I could pull aside my peers and verbalize my thoughts and emotions. This helps me tremendously by allowing me to recognize and acknowledge the small things that bother me accumulate into larger problems that I cannot handle. From there, the emphasis on meditation and processing gives me the tools to manage my thoughts and emotions before they become overwhelming. Daily meditation, physical activity, and cooking are what remind me that sober life is a good life, and Riverbank set me up with those tools and the power to make life enjoyable. I am filled with gratitude.