Going to treatment for drugs or alcohol is terrifying, especially if you’ve never been before. Painkillers and alcohol completely destroyed my life and I did things that I never thought I would do. My name is Chelsea and I am from Pickerington, OH (right outside of Columbus). I went to Pickerington North High School and I never felt like I fit in at all in life. I was always drinking when I was growing up because not only did I feel cool doing it, but inside it made me feel like I was complete. I was introduced to prescription painkillers at the age of 18 and I completely fell in love with the feeling they gave me; much better than how alcohol made me feel inside. I felt like I was finally able to make it through life with these pills by my side. Eventually, the pills stopped working as well and I began to lose control of my life. I began to realized that I couldn’t function without more than a few pills, just to be able to make it through the day without feeling withdrawal symptoms. I was in denial for a long time before I finally looked at myself in the mirror and said to myself, “I’m a drug addict.” As tears rolled down my face, I immediately did anything I could do to get my hands on a pill. I tried to stop multiple times by using suboxone, but after a few days, I figured “I’ll be fine as long as I don’t do the pills like I was before.” It kept getting worse and worse, and I started hurting everyone around me. I wasn’t a “prayer” but I literally prayed for help and to be able to stop what I was doing. I was too afraid to tell anyone or ask for help, because I didn’t want to get in trouble. After another week of attempting to stop my habit, my prayer was answered and my mother caught me in all of my lies. I went into my first treatment the following morning, and I was terrified. They told me I couldn’t drink or do drugs ever again and I immediately did everything I could to get out of that treatment center, because in my mind I just didn’t want to be sick anymore. I had the belief in my head that I would be able to “control” myself when I got out of treatment. I was sorely mistaken, and I ended up going through 5 treatment centers within 6 months.
Treatment Out-Of-State
After my second time in treatment, they decided to send me to a year-long program in North Carolina; I only lasted 28 days in there. I was then sent down to Florida, where I ended up staying. I still had reservations for my 21st birthday, because in my mind I knew I was a drug addict, but there was no way that I was an alcoholic. I ended up drinking and going back into treatment in Florida, and that last time I ended up staying sober. I’ve been sober since September 10, 2012 and I am so grateful for the life I have today. Going to treatment out-of-state and getting away from the people, places, and things that caused me much anxiety when I first tried to get clean and sober was the best thing I could have ever done.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse and needs treatment, please don’t hesitate to call and save a life today. Moving away from your home for treatment is a huge change and can be very scary, but it may be the best decision you ever make for yourself. Call now!
