Recovery Stories

As far back as I can remember I have always had a very selfish streak. It was always all about me. I rewarded myself thinking I'd deserved it at the cost of so many others feelings. I drank to ease my conscience. I progressed as a daily drinker and in the end was free-basing cocaine on a daily basis. I tried so hard to control myself but in the end I'd give in.

I've been a disciple now for almost nine years. I was baptized into the Dallas / Ft. Worth teen ministry at the age of 17. Prior to studying the Bible I smoked half a pack of cigarettes per day for three years. Thankfully, I was able to quit when I saw that smoking wasn't something that Jesus would do. Little did I know that my abstaining from cigarettes wasn't the same as recovery. When I was nineteen I gave into temptation and smoked half of a cigarette. What possible damage could half a cigarette do?

My life before CR was a mess. At the age of 11 or 12, I started drinking and using drugs. It started out with me just drinking. A couple of friends and I would stay out all night drinking. My mother used to get so upset with me. One day I decided to try some marijuana. Some friends and I got some marijuana and we smoked. At first I wasn't going to, but I was curious so I smoked with them. I said I would never use anything but marijuana.

My use began when I was about twelve years old. I began experimenting with marijuana and alcohol. At first I didn't like either one, but I wanted to fit in with other people. I remember the first time I really felt high, I got so paranoid and afraid. I was scared because I felt as if I wasn't going to be normal again. I felt like that the first few times, but after a while I began to get used to it, and began to like it.