Recovery is a Personal Journey

What’s up, Sober Nation? I’m Lisa, and I’ve been writing articles for SoberNation.com for awhile. Now I’m going to take over updating this blog. I hope to bring you interesting, insightful, and informative content about addiction and recovery, but to do that, I’m going to need your help…

I want to hear from all of you about what topics you’re interested in and what you want to see here on the blog. Do you have subjects you want to learn about? Points of view you want to discuss? Questions you want answered? I need your feedback! This is YOUR blog, so please don’t hesitate to submit your ideas, comments, etc.

The focus here is on healthy recovery. While I need your help to ensure I’m covering the content you want to read, my main purpose is to help you. Everything I post here will be in line with my ultimate goal: to help you get the knowledge and support you need for a healthy recovery.

Now let me introduce myself a little more… Like I said, my name is Lisa. I’m a writer from New Jersey, and I’ve been in recovery for three years now. I am not affiliated with AA, NA, or any other fellowship or program. I am of the belief that there are many different routes to a successful recovery. I believe that the “right” way to do things is whatever way works for you; as long as you’re staying away from drugs and also trying to improve yourself, you’re doing it right.

I’d like to share with you some of the things that keep me clean and sober. I may not attend meetings or follow a specific program, but I do rely on some things that are personally very important and effective for me:

My Son: I have a two-year-old son, and he is, above all else, the reason I am sober today. As a single mother, things aren’t easy. If the thought of using pops into my head for even a second, all I have to do is imagine my son being raised by someone else, and it goes right away. I am solely responsible for my son’s care and well-being 24/7, which also means I have almost no free time whatsoever to even entertain the idea of using.

“One Day at a Time”: I’m not a member of AA, but I do recognize that many of the mantras are gold. I often feel overwhelmed, and thinking “one day at a time” makes me feel better. It’s a reminder not to get too ahead of myself - that I can only do so much at once. “One day at a time” helps me regain perspective so that I can tackle my problems individually (efficiently).

Counseling: I see a great psychiatrist on a regular basis, and in our therapy sessions I’m able to talk through the negative emotions and pressures I’m feeling. Those one-hour sessions help me clear my head and ensure that I’m focusing on myself for the moment. I struggle with severe chronic depression, and the antidepressants I’m prescribed by my psychiatrist are also tools that have helped me regulate my feelings and keep a level head.

My Support System: I am blessed with a very understanding and supportive immediate family (mom, dad, and little sister), and they help me more than words can express. I’m also thankful to have loyal, compassionate friends and co-workers (special thanks to my friend and Sober Nation co-founder Tim). With the support system I have, I find it easy to ask for and receive help when I need it.

Those four things are the main ingredients for MY recovery. My recovery is my own personal journey, and it may differ greatly from yours. Some things, like a good support system, are factors that can improve life for everyone. I encourage all of you to seek out support when you need it. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me or the Sober Nation community if you want to.

Thanks for being a part of this blog!

Lisa M. Hann is a freelance writer and author who specializes in addiction recovery. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University. She resides in New Jersey with her son. She has been sober since 2010 and is a Caron PA alum. She is the author of "How to Have Fun in Recovery" and "365 Ways to Have Fun Sober" (available in the Kindle store).