I became scared of myself and what my disease influenced me to believe. I missed who I was without drugs I just couldn’t handle feeling all the emotions I had. It hurt to hear my friends say they were scared when they saw me calling because they thought someone else would answer saying I’m gone.

Every day I was sure I was going to die but I didn’t. It’s shocking that I didn’t. I’m proud to say today that I am no longer using opioids and haven’t for two and a half years. I am still living with effects of withdrawal—which I have learned through my own research, it is actually called “post acute withdrawal syndrome”.

I have an amazing job again, an amazing wife, family and friends—my recovery is awesome, I speak to others at hospitals and institutions. I have a great sponsor and support. Most of all I’m working on why I became an addict, my trauma, my anxieties and fears. People forget, mental health is a huge part of recovery.

Drugs are cruel, confusing and controlling. They are isolating and manipulative and more often than not you don’t know you have a problem until you stop.

My life was pure chaos. Nothing was controllable or under my own will, the drugs were in control of everything in my life; my decision making, experiences and multiple failed relationships (mainly family).

Addiction took everything from me, my job, my relationship, my car, my apartment, all of my money and belongings. It also took the Matt that I used to be, caring, determined, loyal and honest. I cared about no one but myself and was committed to a life on the streets by early 2018.

I had always heard about Marijuana, but didn’t have a clue what it was until one day I was offered a joint. It was lit up of course, and was told to hold my breath and to do it several times—right there and then I began to smoke as often as I could get it.

I was born in Waterbury, CT 1964, the oldest of 5, in an all Italian/Catholic family. I have continued to live in the great state of Connecticut my whole life and currently reside in Derby CT. I work in healthcare as an administrative assistant for a physical therapy office. My passions are my family, cooking, gardening and my sobriety!

My experience as an addict (to sum up) has been a roller coaster of emotions. I had my first drink at 12 and my first experience with drugs was acid. I was 14. I was the kid who started with all of the hard drugs, I never took a liking to smoking weed.

I was born in Austin, Texas in 1961. I spent my early childhood in Austin. In 1969 we moved 25 miles east of town where I still live today. I own and operate a metal fabrication and welding business. Passions would include cooking, fishing, restoring old things and most importantly helping others.

My drinking career blossomed in my twenties and in time I bloomed into a full blown blackout drunk and I drank my way through my youth, all the way up to 37 years old. I drank until my kids caught on to the game, and they started calling me on my behavior.

Very proud to share that by the grace of God and very hard work I am sober. I work hard everyday to keep the demons at bay and put me in a winning place.

Over the years, my drinking progressed to nearly an everyday occurrence. My three oldest children moved out because they couldn’t take the madness.

I am delighted to present Ashley and Jay’s stories of sobriety. This will be my first story of a sober couple involving two separate souls and paths which converge into an incredible culmination of stories. I admire them as they are each unique and presented uniquely. Their hearts and souls are just amazing.

My true passion is empowering and inspiring others—I AM...... is the way I start helping others to regain their self esteem morning and night I send a word for others to remember the qualities they have forgotten they posses.

My passions are helping other women, my husband and my grandkids. I love kickboxing and hiking.

I am recovering from Codependency, where my happiness was dependent upon my partner's actions and emotions.

My parents used to give me wine at the table from being around 9 or 10 years old—and there was a lot of drinking around in the 1970s—it was considered smart and racy. I prided myself on being able to drink anyone else under the table in my teens

Right from the get go, it was awful. The 9 years I was active in my addiction, my life was ugly and exhausting. It’s not about the actual drinking but what happens before, during and after.

I was drinking in pubs by age 16. I also spent my formative years working part time in a very busy Galway pub. I loved it. And I was a really good and very fast bartender. Galway is famous for its pubs. It was very loose looking back on it. You could smoke hash openly in some bars.