It was the passing of a dear friend to overdose that was the catalyst for Jade Carne’s own recovery. Sitting in a prison cell, unable to attend her friend’s funeral, Jade made a commitment to recovery. “I felt no hope there in prison, but I ultimately chose to get sober to honour my close friend,” … Continued
“Recovery took a guy who was ready to give up and showed me that I have a life worth living,” says Matt. As someone who assumed he’d “die an alcoholic,” he didn’t have much hope for recovery. “I drank heavily for 20 years,” he says. “When I was 42, nothing would stop me. Not my … Continued
When was the last time that you felt your emotions were completely out of control? At the time, did you have the tools and skills to ensure things didn’t spiral further? We can all think of a time (or many) when we let our emotions get the better of us. However, it is important to … Continued
There are always changes that we can implement which will help us improve the quality of our lives. Whether we want to give up smoking, eat healthier foods, or start a new career, changing how we currently operate is always involved. Changing our habits (especially bad ones) can be very challenging. However, when we understand … Continued
“I just never felt at peace,” Hannah says. “I always felt like the black sheep, the odd one out.” It was this persistent feeling of discomfort that led Hannah to six years of heavy drug use, culminating in a dangerous and all-consuming addiction. “I would find different means of escaping myself and my raw state … Continued
This is the second part in a series taking a closer look at unmanageability. Part 1 is found here. For a moment, think of unmanageability like the classic chocolate factory episode from I Love Lucy. Lucy and Ethel think it will be a breeze to wrap the chocolates as they come down the conveyor belt, … Continued
“The first time I went to treatment was fun, but I didn’t learn too much,” Elliot admits. Prior to Renascent, “my big goal was hitting 90 days,” they say. “I wasn’t able to do it. I was 83 days in when it crossed my mind to have a drink and I gave in. What I … Continued
A stranger at a drop-in centre changed Lynn Evans’ life. “I was homeless, jobless, and using any money I had to support my habit,” Lynn recalls. “And one day at a drop-in centre, a woman suggested that maybe I needed to look at my life from a different angle. I was always waiting for things … Continued
This article is the first in a series to take a closer look at unmanageability. Part two is found here. Unmanageability is a big concept introduced in only five words in Step 1 of the 12 Steps in Alcoholics Anonymous. Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol, and that our lives have become … Continued
By Max M., Renascent Alumni Step 11 of the 12-step recovery program encourages people to reach out to God and to accept that God has a plan for their life. Today, I know this Step is the most important part of my program. But early in my recovery, I told my sponsor “I can’t get … Continued
