Aaron's Lived Experience
By SMART Recovery USA on
Aaron Adkins loves everything about being in recovery. He lists the support he gets from his SMART Recovery peers, the practical tools he uses to address negative thinking, the understanding and insight he gains from being a meeting facilitator, and, perhaps most especially, being able to give back as a mentor to other facilitators. “It’s been a wonderful way for me to understand how I do what I do…being able to teach something just kind of takes me to the next level.”
Certainly, the level Aaron exists on today is much higher than when he was struggling with his addictions. There were two arrests for driving under the influence, job losses, financial ruin, visits to the emergency room and multiple mental health crises. It didn’t matter...
Markita's Lived Experience
By SMART Recovery USA on
Markita Renee is thriving. Now four-plus years in recovery, she runs OOAK Services LLC where she is a recovery coach, motivational speaker, and facilitator. In addition to that, Markita works part-time as an employment specialist for the state of Connecticut’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, facilitates two SMART Recovery meetings, and loves being a great mom to her daughter Si’miaya. And how all of this came together still amazes her.
It was just a few years ago that Markita’s life was a swirl of chaos and longing. In 2014 she lost all contact with her son after he was taken by his father, in 2015 she and her daughter became homeless, and during this time she was under court supervision for a felony charge. All these...
Kristal's Lived Experience
By SMART Recovery USA on
The drunk driver crossed the line and changed Kristal Field’s life forever. She was seriously injured and her best friend was killed. She required opiates for pain relief and struggled for the next ten years, crossing her own line at some point from taking opiates for pain management into full-blown abuse. Kristal lost herself in a cycle of misusing opiates and her life became focused on feeding the addiction. It all came to an end with her 2013 arrest for possession of narcotics. That’s when the rebuild started.
Because it was her first arrest, Kristal was put through a diversionary program that included being sent to Narcotics Anonymous (NA) meetings. Nobody mentioned other options like SMART. Kristal says she had trouble with the idea...
Life Beyond Addiction - Monica Forbes
By SMART Recovery USA on
Monica Forbes is a person in long term Recovery, a Nationally Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialist and an Idaho Certified Recovery Coach Supervisor, as well as a Certified SMART support group facilitator. She currently serves as the CEO of Recovery United, Inc. which operates and supports Recovery Community Centers, a Recovery Coach program and the Peer Supports Academy.
Life Beyond Addiction - Reginald Warren
By SMART Recovery USA on
Reggie Warren woke up one day and decided he'd had it with using. After years of addiction and the problems it caused in his life and his family, he went to treatment and found solutions. One of the solutions that made the most sense was SMART Recovery because it helped him take a good hard look at the things and people the he most valued in life and how important it was to keep them. Listen to Reggie's amazing story now!
Life Beyond Addiction - Eboni Jewel Sears
By SMART Recovery USA on
Eboni Jewel Sears speaks frankly about her sexually maladaptive behavior and how she began to use SMART Recovery several years ago to overcome it. She also became a SMART Recovery facilitator and hosts a weekly meeting on the issue for others in recovery, especially vulnerable teens and young adults..
Life Beyond Addiction - Holly Paulsen
By SMART Recovery USA on
Holly Paulsen's experience in the U.S. military was fulfilling but also stressful. A common phrase in the profession is "Drink About it Don't Think About it." This led to consequences in her own life but also led her on a path to recovery that included SMART Recovery.
Life Beyond Addiction - Christopher Sullivan
By SMART Recovery USA on
Hello! My name is Christopher Sullivan and I am recovering from my father’s alcoholism. The countless nights of grief and regret, of feeling like I could have prevented my father’s passing if I was more knowledgeable on addiction, led me to seek help from SMART recovery. SMART is helping me to fully understand what he was going through and discover ways in which I can help those who are experiencing what he went through. What was once complete ignorance on the topic of addiction, is now a sense of understanding and acceptance. I still have a ways to go in terms of learning about addiction and recovery, but I just know SMART will guide me through my life beyond my father’s addiction.
Please note: although SMART actively seeks to refrain...