For Benjamin, life before recovery felt like being lost in the cold.
“Imagine walking down a winter field on the coldest day with no shelter,” he explains. “You keep walking and walking, and no one’s coming to help. That’s what addiction felt like.
But I’ve learned that if you look to the left, to the right, or above — someone is always watching.”
Benjamin struggled for years with substance use, stress, and mental health challenges. Raised by loving parents and grounded in faith, he never imagined his life would take the turns it did. “Someone like me should never have had any business doing what I did,” he reflects. “But God always has a plan for you. As long as you’re breathing, you have a fighting chance.”
When his employer encouraged him to seek help, Benjamin hesitated at first. “I wasn’t sure I wanted to sign the paperwork,” he admits. “But my employer and the HR team were incredible. As much as you think they’re judging you, they made me feel comfortable and reminded me I wasn’t the only one going through this.”
At Renascent, Benjamin finally had the chance to slow down and face himself honestly. “Treatment gave me time to sit down and be raw,” he shares. Faith became his anchor. “I’ve learned I can’t do anything on my own strength – and trust me, I’ve tried. Reading scripture every day keeps me grounded. It’s not just something I turn to when I’m in trouble anymore.”
Recovery has also given him more than sobriety: it’s given him a renewed sense of self. Today, Benjamin serves in his church, spends quality time with his family, and reconnects with passions from childhood. “I used to love walking in the forest, taking pictures of trees, or watching the sunrise. Now I’m rediscovering that curiosity, almost like being a kid again,” he shares.
Benjamin’s message for anyone still struggling is simple and heartfelt: “You’re not alone. There are billions of people in the world, and everyone is dealing with something. You just have to make up your mind and believe you can come out of this.
And whether or not you’re ready to ask for help, just know that someplace, somewhere, someone is rooting for you.”
