For years, Eric’s life looked like success. He was a high-performing executive and athlete with an active social life and large network. But beneath that polished surface, things were slipping. “I was pretty good at hiding things,” he says, “until I wasn’t.”

Eric grew up in a home where there was always food on the table, but not always peace. His father’s temper left him determined to prove he was tough. “I was tall and skinny, very self-conscious. I overcompensated by being ‘the athlete with an edge,’ he shares.” What began as teenage rebellion – smoking marijuana and drinking to fit in—followed him into adulthood.

By university, a hard drug had entered the picture. What started as weekend use turned into something else entirely. “By my early thirties, I was using during the day to stay alert after a night out,” Eric recalls. “I thought I was managing it, but the truth was, it was managing me.” As his girlfriend, mother and colleagues took notice, his double life began to crack.

One morning, after Eric came to a leadership meeting “looking like a zombie,” his boss called him in. “I thought it was a meeting about company problems,” Eric recalls. “Instead, he asked me when the last time I’d used was.” That conversation changed everything. Familiar with Renascent from a family friend and with the support of his employer, Eric decided to pursue treatment.

“It was realizing I could have lost everything – and seeing that I hadn’t yet.” Knowing the counsellors were all in recovery themselves also helped him trust the process. “Before Renascent, I knew nothing about the 12 Steps. Learning about them enabled me to see what the possibilities were for me, and they helped lay the groundwork for my future success.”

After 35 days, Eric left treatment determined to rebuild. Quickly overwhelmed by the demands of his life, however, “I told myself I could have just one beer, one bump,” he says. “But three days and ten thousand dollars later, I knew I still had a problem.” The relapse gave him the gift of desperation and, with it, a true willingness to change. He found a sponsor, dove into the Steps, and joined a strong home group. “The fellowship became my lifeline,” he reflects. “People with years of recovery showed me what was possible.”

Over a year later, Eric says his life is full in ways it never was before. “My mom doesn’t lose sleep over me anymore,” he shares. “I’m in the best shape of my life, I sleep, I hydrate, I actually show up.” The highs aren’t as extreme, but neither are the lows. “I used to need drugs to shut my brain off. Now, I don’t need to escape my own life.”

Asked what keeps him going, Eric pauses. “Progress, not perfection,” he says. “Some of the best people I know have been through hell and come out the other side. They inspire me to keep growing, and to help others do the same.”