Posted by Ghost Girl – Aug 12, 2022

… left: me, completely broken, 93 pounds, living on the streets, living in fear, in pain, addicted to meth and heroin, and ready for my life to finally end. I had endocarditis twice from using, and I had a hole in my heart. My mom took that picture when she went to rescue me.

Right: I took this picture tonight. Didn’t care about angles. Just wanted to show my happiness. 9 months clean. I fought hard for months in the hospital, survived heart surgery, gained 40 pounds, got a place to live, and I have my family and my two cats that help me. I’ve posted the before pic a lot but my story is important:

Recovery is possible and it is worth it!

Amber Hoffman

Quora Forum

Girl you’re wonderful..!! ✨💜

Your Recovery is All in Your Head

From BC3

Everything one needs to succeed in recovery can be found within themselves. What’s happening inside the brain of someone who is using drugs or alcohol? It isn’t the substance that makes them feel different, it’s their very own neurotransmitters. Drugs only amplify how these neurotransmitters can make someone feel. This is why we call the brain a “pharmacy”. These transmitters, also known as endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, amongst others, help create our sense of well-being, contentment, excitement, motivation and joy. But drugs eventually hijack these important neurochemicals and make one’s ability to create them naturally extremely difficult, if not impossible. That is how addiction begins.

A Unified Diversity

We all take unique pathways along the journey of life, but our destination is the same. The same can be said to be true of recovery. There are many different recovery methods one may choose and different individual goals they may have. Rather than think one method is superior, studies show that meeting an individual where they are at and working with their own personal goals is more helpful than any one single approach. Significantly, emotions affect our decisions and our healing, as Neuroscience informs us.

Just Say Yes

Healing is more about embracing the good habits than it is about avoiding the negative ones. With persistence, and overtime, the balance begins to shift towards health. Within each part of the holistic approach to recovery (mind, body, spirit) there are many techniques and habits one can use to increase the body’s ability to make those feel-good neurochemical like endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin again, without the use of drugs or alcohol. Equally important in recovery is having a safe space with support from either friends, family, or community, and the most important aspect of this support is the belief that someone can succeed.