By Barbara Nicholson Brown
Addiction defined my life for 24 years. Much of my existence revolved around getting to the next drink, a desperate scramble to recall lost hours, and the crushing weight of shame and fear. I was a shell of a person even though I somehow functioned. There was nothing genuine or sincere about me, the charade had to stop or the drinking and substance use was going to kill me.
Surrender came only when I faced the imminent loss of everyone and everything I held dear. In that moment of hitting bottom, something changed. Was it grace? I felt a profound shift, a divine intervention, a gift of unearned assistance.
My Higher Power granted me a second chance, and I’ve never looked back. I know I am an alcoholic and addict, and believe that anyone who finds their way out of addiction’s darkness has been touched by the same grace. We are on this road together!
-Barbara
“Our vision has always been to restore lives and empower people to thrive beyond addiction,”…
Defensiveness Defensiveness is a familiar response early in recovery. It is an attempt to hide…
Honesty — it's the absolute essential ingredient to maintaining my sobriety. When I was using,…
Zimmerman has worked at Meadows for nearly a decade, specializing in young adults. Submitted photo…
What was the A-HA moment that led to the creation of I AM Teen Strong?…
Host a dinner party or have a movie night in your own backyard. " Back…