Joe Hartwell, Alumni Relations Liaison
Greetings, I’m a recovered alcoholic and drug addict.
I took my first drink when I was 14 years old, and although I got very drunk that evening, becoming violently ill, not remembering anything that happened that night, and swearing off alcohol at 14 years old, I found myself drinking the very next weekend. Now, that being said, I did not have that same horrific experience the next time I drank. As a matter of fact, I was able to control the amount that I drank and actually enjoyed it.
Alcohol was a social lubricant for me.
Being a very shy, introverted youngster, alcohol gave me liquid courage. When I drank, all my anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, feeling of not being a part of, and not being good enough, to name a few, would melt away. As the years went on, I would try drugs recreationally, and alcohol and drugs became, what I thought at the time, a normal part of my life. I managed to become a very successful business man and enjoyed a high standard of living.
But there always seemed to be something missing in my life, a feeling of discontentment.
I can’t put my finger on the exact year, month, or day it happened, but at some point, I started to lose control of my drinking and using. I would wake up telling myself, this had to stop, but I had crossed over into a realm of this illness in which I started drinking and using against my own will. I became completely powerless over alcohol and drugs. Due to the progressive nature of this illness, once I started, I couldn’t control the amount I would take, even when not drinking or using I couldn’t manage the decision not to do it (loss of control and loss of choice). My family and friends did not know what to do with me, I resigned from the company I worked so hard to be successful at. I became physically, mentally, and spiritually bankrupt. This went on for years.
In August of 2012. I was dropped off at Origins Recovery Center a broken man.
There the doctors and nurses helped me detox and recover physically. My counselor helped me work through my trauma and grief. The kitchen staff prepared wonderful meals for me. My community of brothers, and the 12-Step RA staff, helped guide me through the 12-Step spiritual program of action. They showed me how to access a Power in my life that not only restored me to sanity around drugs and alcohol, but enabled me to develop a new relationship with my Creator and become others centered. The life I have today is full of joy, peace, and happiness.
My name is Joe Hartwell, Alumni Relations Liaison, and I am an alum of Origins Recovery Center.
If you or a loved one suffers from this progressively fatal illness we have a way out. God Bless!
Origins Recovery Center is a well-known care provider offering a range of treatment programs targeting the recovery from substance use, mental health issues, and beyond. Our primary mission is to provide a clear path to a life of healing and restoration. We offer renowned clinical care for addiction and have the compassion and professional expertise to guide you toward lasting sobriety. For information on our programs, call us today: 561-841-1019.
