Alli S. Heals in Recovery

Hi there! My name is Alli, and I am a grateful recovering addict.

I knew I had a problem years before I stepped foot in Mountainside. I thought I could ‘fix’ or ‘control’ my using and tried everything. In time, I became withdrawn from my own life. My relationships with family and friends were suffering, and I no longer recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror. I was broken and defeated, with no idea what this gift of desperation was about to give me.

On June 21, 2020, I surrendered to my addiction and began taking my life back.

My first two weeks at Mountainside felt like summer camp. I had laughed more than I had in years. There was something so validating about being surrounded by people who thought like me and understood what I’d been through. My last two weeks welcomed the hard work of looking within – looking at what I covered up for almost 10 years. This is where the healing began.

Upon leaving, I decided to take the suggestions of the Mountainside staff seriously and do the next step correctly. I went to local meetings and started growing my sober network. I brought my family in on my recovery and began living an honest life. I got a great sponsor I look up to and learn from every day. Before I knew it, the days started adding up and I was fortunate enough to celebrate my first miracle year with my family and close friends. My relationships are stronger than ever, and my heart is so full of gratitude.

I have been so inspired by this journey and those I’ve met along the way. This has not only encouraged me to stay clean, but to go back to school and become a Certified Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor to help the next person. If someone would have told me a year and a half ago that all this was waiting for me once I asked for help, I wouldn’t have believed it! I am so proud to be a part of this community and owe a lot of it to Mountainside!

Thank you for reading, and best of luck on your journey!

– Alli S.