Restore Health & Wellness Center

I no longer want to be another number added to those who have been killed by their addiction. I know that everyone is fighting their own battle and that some people will never understand mine, I barely understand some of it myself. But I am grateful to be alive and to have another day where I can fight for my life, even if I make mistakes. I am grateful for all of the support that restore gave me at my lowest point and for their dedication to helping me realize my addiction and co-existing disorder as it relates to relapse. Restore, helped me to find support in my peers, they motivated me to become invested in my recovery, and that’s what I have done. Addiction can affect anyone, I never EVER thought I would be an IV drug user. I never EVER thought I would live to see the age of 24. And I never EVER thought I would be where I am today but I am grateful for the chance to start over, to continue fighting, and for that I am grateful.

My 23-year-old son is a heroin addict and has been for over five years. He started his heroin use a few months after he was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 1. Before that, he smoked pot and did ecstasy. He is once again in rehab. What can I say that is different from other stories?! He has stolen everything, lied, manipulated.... yet, he's the love of my life and I applaud the people with restore for all their help finding my son the program he needs! They helped me understand the importance of long-term care and relapse prevention because in the past the programs just were not providing structure and that always led to relapse. Thank you Again!!

It all started with pot when I was 13. Some of my friends tried it and I wasn’t gonna say no. By 15 I was using crystal meth and 16 oxy. At 17 years old I was snorting and injecting heroin and a few years later I moved on to smoking crack. I shared needles and got hepatitis. I robbed people, prostituted myself, and ruined my relationships with everyone who cared about me just for drugs. Fun things and loving people weren’t a part of my life when I was using because I would spend every day just looking for drugs. I am 24 and had been using drugs for over 10 years before I got the help I desperately needed. When I came to restore I was scared, lonely, and homeless. My parents wanted nothing to do with me and neither did my boyfriend. I was suffering from suicidal thoughts, just hadn’t acted on them yet. For this I can safely say restore saved my life. I had been in and out of rehab in the past and nothing had helped. I would leave and immediately relapse. It was different at restore. I felt like I was part of something bigger than myself. If I was to relapse I would let down the whole community, both the staff and my peers. Not only that, but I learned how to live my life without substance abuse, which is more important than most people realize. During my time at restore I was given the life skills and confidence needed to take care of myself once my time in treatment had come to an end. Drugs are no longer my crutch and they no longer have to be yours either.

Before I came to restore I had attempted to end my life. I don’t want to get into the details, but my I felt like I had nothing left to live for. All I cared about were pills and heroin. Think about how you would feel when you knew the only things you cared about were slowly killing you. I arrived at restore what seemed like against my will, but I chose to stay. I wasn’t interested in participating at first, but I began to come around. What did it for me was the mental health counseling. Ive suffered from depression for years, but I had never been diagnosed. Little did I know at the time, I would use drugs as a form of self medication. Really I was doing more much more harm than good. Restore did more than help me get off drugs, they helped me stay off drugs. After speaking to therapists and peers suffering from similar issues I was able to get my depression under control. Im no longer weird or misunderstood. I no longer think I need drugs to escape from my life thanks to my experiences at restore.

I grew up having a lot of things and my drug and alcohol use had taken all of that from me. I went from having just about anything you could ask for to having literally nothing. I didn’t even know how to live. I started using when I was 12 years old and I was pretty much a daily user since. I didn’t know the basics of life. I didn’t know a lot and restore was able to teach me those things. The staff is unbelievable, they are amazing people that truly care about not only your sobriety, but your well-being. Everything from the people to the programs and amenities is exactly what I needed when coming through treatment.

For those of you who think its too late to stop drinking, its not. I started when I was 14 years old and didn’t admit myself into treatment until 30 years had passed. Yeah I wasn’t hooked immediately. It took a few years before I became a daily binge drinker. But once that time had come, I still didn’t think I had a problem. Drinking was just a part of my life. Fortunately I was able to stop when I was pregnant and breastfeeding my daughter. Once that time had come and gone I picked up right where I left off. Two DUIs and a custody battle later and I finally got the courage to reach out for help. I couldn’t be more thankful that restore was where I ended up. It was nothing like I thought treatment would be. I wasn’t treated like a crazy person at restore. They didn’t treat me like a criminal. The staff truly put themselves in my shoes and helped me work through problems that I never even realized where there. I am 8 months clean now and I see no going back to my old ways. I still stay active in the alumni programs and speak to staff members when I need an extra push. I don’t think many people get such positive results from their first treatment experience and for that I feel blessed to have found restore. Thank you restore, you’ve helped me be the mother ive always dreamed of being. I never thought it was possible until now.

It was difficult for me to come to restore at first. I thought it was only a place for hardcore drug addicts and I had just started using consistently a few months before my intake. But I have had counseling for sex addiction in the past so I knew I had addictive tendencies and where my drug use could take me. I decided to give it a chance after I found out my insurance covered treatment. The staff were relatable, the programs were surprisingly enjoyable, and I made lifelong friends with people who went through the program with me. If you are unsure if you should begin treatment or not, chances are you should. Its crazy how one decision can impact the whole course of your life. I don’t know where I would be today without restore.

My god has brought me to restore and for that I am forever grateful. Before restore drugs were my way out, my peace. Now that I have found peace through the lord, through the 12 steps, my body and mind no longer craves drugs. My family has welcomed me back with open arms, I am employed, and I am at peace with myself. I owe this place my life.