Harmony Recovery has been providing addiction healthcare services in Estes Park since 1969. We would like to offer these stories from our alumni to show the humanity, strength, and perseverance of those working to recover from addiction. Often stigmatized and misunderstood by society, people on their path to recovery are managing a chronic illness which is a unique journey for each individual. Here is one such story. — Shane Hudson, CEO, Harmony Recovery
The beginning of my life wasn’t much different from many others. I had a loving family, friends, two younger brothers who looked up to me, a roof over my head, and food on the table. From the outside, things seemed great. But something was never quite right. As far back as I can remember, I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin. I thought people were always talking about me (I know — it’s wild to think I was that important). I just felt like I was never good enough and that people didn’t like me.
Then, at the age of 14, I found my solution — or so I thought. One fateful night, I smoked some marijuana, drank a few beers, and got high for the first time. I thought I had found all the answers to the world and finally understood why people used substances in the first place…