It was Nicole’s employer who first encouraged her to seek addiction treatment.
“I was drinking at work; missing a lot of work. They recommended I go to rehab and though I wasn’t ready, I went,” shared Nicole.
Nicole’s journey to that point had been challenging.
“I was minimizing my addiction and making excuses. I was young and thought that young people drink. I lost custody of my eldest son and I didn’t realize that my drinking to blame. I had toxic and abusive relationships.”
A regular in the rooms of recovery, Nicole did not feel ready for recovery. She vividly remembers the day her father dropped her off at Renascent Graham Munro Centre.
“My Dad cried. I’ve never seen him emotional a day in his life,” said Nicole. “I really did feel supported by the counsellors in treatment. I just know I wasn’t ready. I knew I would be drinking immediately after I left treatment. I only attended to get work off my back,” she added.
It would take Nicole many years, and another stay in treatment followed by relapse, before she was ready to fully commit to recovery. Feeling empowered to leave an abusive relationship, Nicole took steps toward recovery.
“I had some support from friends and family and I stopped drinking. January 29, 2024 marks two years of sobriety,” she shared. “I have had no contact with my ex. He was charged with assault and criminal harassment, and has a no contact order. I knew that if I kept drinking, I could never get away from him.”
Nicole has since chosen to surround herself with activities and people who bring her joy and support her wellbeing.
“I focus on a lot of the self-love practices I learned at Renascent. I make sure I prioritize self-care. Even if I am not going out, I put on make-up and nice clothes. I go to the gym, eat healthy, read inspirational quotes, give back and help others,” shared Nicole. “I was struggling with a food addiction and I was in denial about that too, and I’ve since lost 75 pounds.”
When asked what advice she would share with people who are new to recovery, Nicole says, “Love yourself. Believe in yourself. Stay positive. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.” A huge proponent of self-love, Nicole has gotten a tattoo that reads, “Don’t forget to love yourself.”
Nicole agrees that it can be challenging to cultivate self-love. “It’s really hard sometimes to love yourself. You’ve just got to do good and stay true to yourself. Try to stay positive and avoid negative people.”
Having completed a year and a half of intensive trauma therapy, Nicole feels hopeful about her future.
“I love my family,” says Nicole who is newly married with a blended family of four children. “I love my job and plan to go back to school to become a life coach. Life does get a lot better when you get sober. You aren’t losing anything. It gets better.”
