“Coming to ARC & choosing recovery was the best choice that I have ever made. This place gave me the accountability and structure I needed while figuring out who I was as a person and learning how to live my life clean.”
My date of arrival was on Thursday February 9th. I have been in recovery for 10 months now. My recovery started the day I was arrested! I am meeting my treatment goals by following the rules, doing my homework, and continuing to live my life by doing what is right. Some of my goals for the next phase are to continue to work and be accountable for my actions. The most important skill I have learned to avoid substance abuse is to allow the Holy Spirit to lead me in everything I do. This allows me to see my life for what it really is. Some high-risk situations and people I have identified are putting a finger on my past, such as having a lot of cash on me, and friends that I had while using. My skills in helping me avoid those situations are never carry a lot of cash on me and stay away from those old friends. I think about the consequences before they happen or before I act on them. Anger is a high-risk emotion for me. Since being at ARC, I have accomplished to pick up an exercise program, got some new clothes, and I have learned more about my addiction. Thank you.
Stuart
My name is Sam, and my date of intake is September 28th, 2016. I have been in recovering since July 27th 2016. I am meeting my treatment foals by praying, attending groups, completing assignments, going to meetings, and seeking others advice if I am craving. My goals for the next phase are to continue in sobriety, begin to save money, and obtain a driver’s license. Skills I have learned are seeking others advice (like staff and peers), learning to accept things I cannot control, try to work with time management, paying more attention to my feeling and relationships with others. Some high-risk situations are depression, being around old friends, and dealing with situations I cannot change. Skills I have learned to help avoid these emotions are better communication, honesty, and playing the tape forward. High-risk emotions to me are isolation, anger, loneliness, and fear of failure. Since being at ARC, I have accomplished employment, stayed sober, regained pride and self-esteem, and found other means of dealing with issues other than substances. I want to thank all the staff at ARC for taking me in when I was at rock bottom, and then moving my life around.
Sam
I am Bart, and I am still recovering from drug addiction, emotional damage, and spiritual disconnection. My intake date was November 11th, 2016. I am meeting my recovery goals by being honest and following the rules at ARC. I am staying clean and my life if falling into place like they said it would at AA meetings. My goals for phase 2 are to find a job on day shift and get my driver’s license back, buy a car and concentrate on my son’s life financially and to spend more time with him. I realize that a false sense of serenity has always been my number one trigger for using drugs, so when I feel confident I am closer to a relapse then I realize. I try to be quiet and stay humble. Being around addicts, whether sober or not can be a high-risk situation because I never know what someone else might be going through. Talking about drugs is risking and unnerving. I do not like sharing or listening to war stories and avoid story-time and story-tellers. Confidence is a high-risk emotion and so is being happy in the wrong company. I’m trying to avoid relationships because sex is a high-risk situation. I go to meetings and listen to the old-timers who have some wisdom. I try to make some sober connections. I have reestablished a solid connection with my son and his mom, and I think they are beginning to trust me. I have clarity of thought and confidence in being sober now. I have started working and enjoying being employed for the first time in years. Thank you to the ARC staff for putting me up and to all my brothers for putting up with me.
Bart
I entered ARC on March 23rd of last year. My time here, over the last year, has gone quickly and I’ve seen this program grow and evolve from the beginning. Before making it here, I found myself at the Salvation Army, Clarke County Jail, and the Diversion Center. I have been in and out of recovery for most of the last 8 years. My clean date is December 7th, 2015. Completing 1 year of sobriety has been difficult, but rewarding. The education I have received from ARC and other facilities, plus real-life experiences, equipped me with the ability to deal with every day challenges. I’m working on my treatment goals daily, and I’m making final preparations for transition to independent living. One of my biggest foals for 2017 will be to complete Drug Court and eventually my probation in September. Once I’ve completed these, I’ll be actively looking for better employment and resume my career. My time hear has gone by quickly. For those of you in early recovery, I encourage you to invest in this program. One year of your life is worth it when you can complete it with your head held high and your family behind you. Avoiding alcohol abuse is actually easy right now. I have a wide network of support at a level I have never had in the past. I have always found it difficult to accept help from others, but I know this is impossible on my own. I have identified some high-risk situations in my life, but I am trying to accept the fact that avoiding them all together may not be possible. Life on life’s terms is in my face every day, and I need to cope, adapt, and understand what my triggers are. By far, the biggest high-risk emotion I continue to deal with is when I interact with my ex-wife and my son. I have made great progress with both of them over the last year. Finally, I again want to express my gratitude to all those who make ARC possible. Athens isucky to have this place and it is getting noticed. Our families, as well as the court system, are aware that recovery is possible.
Dale
My date if intake is 5/11/16. I have been in recovery for 1 year. I am meeting my treatment goals by going to meetings, praying, talking to my sponsor & my network of sober peers. My goal in my next phase are to learn more about myself and the reason why I used for so many years & to learn more coping skills to help me live life without the use of drugs. I’ve learned to talk about my problems instead of keeping them inside and I’ve learned to play the tape all the way through when I’m tempted to get high. Some high-risk situations for me are going out at night, hanging out with old friends. Some high-risk people are my ex-wives and my old using buddies. I avoid high-risk situations & people by identifying them & staying away from them. Some high-risk emotions for me are anger, loneliness & depression. Since coming to ARC I have started a new job and started mending some important relationships in my life.
Cory
