I did not write this, but I feel it is important to get this information out there… 

'Eye opening for those that don’t know or view addiction as a lack of morals or lack of will power.

Did you know that addiction is classified in the DSM-5? It’s a mental illness that lives in the brain stem: the same brain stem that serves a critical role in regulating certain involuntary actions of the body, including heartbeat and breathing. Addicts feel that they need their drug of choice (DOC) the same way they feel they need to breathe.

Did you know that our society treats addiction as a moral issue and pawns it off on law enforcement to “control”? The average stay in jail being 365 days or less. Where addicts are left to detox alone ?

Did you know the detox process can be violent and result in death if not monitored by medical professionals?

Did you know the addict is many times released, and at that time, their serotonin levels are at their lowest, leading to a high crime rate and a higher chance in relapse. It’s a pun to say that this is criminal but that’s exactly what this really is ....criminal.

It takes an average of 14-16 months of sobriety for an addict’s brain to balance serotonin levels to that of a neuro-typical brain. Did you know that?

Did you know that most insurances will only pay for 30 days of treatment for an addict? Please get mad about that. I’m begging you ...get mad about that.

Did you know that 136 people die everyday from opioid overdose? That’s one person every 10.58 minutes. By the time you’re done reading and processing this post, someone will have died from an opioid overdose.
Someone’s child.
Someone’s spouse.
Someone’s parent.
Someone’s brother/sister.
Someone’s friend.
Someone’s aunt/uncle.

Let that sink in.

Did you know that the two biggest factors that “make” an addict are
(1) Genetic Predisposition and (2) Childhood trauma. There’s not that “one hit” or that “one decision” that will make an addict. You never really know who is or is not an addict before they ever even pick up. It’s NOT a moral problem. I repeat, addiction is NOT A MORAL PROBLEM.

Just for a minute let’s take this in a little bit of a different direction. Did you know that the BRCA gene for breast cancer has a 5-10% genetic predisposition rate? People every day undergo testing and life changing surgeries to avoid it but addiction genetic predisposition is over 50%.
O V E R 5 0 %. Let that sink in.
You still think addiction is a moral problem? A parenting problem?
Too bad there isn’t a surgery to remove addiction huh ?

If there’s one thing an addict would say….it’s that they’re still in there. (I know because I’ve asked.) The person that you knew and loved is still in there.

They are not their disease.

THEY ARE NOT THEIR DISEASE.

Addiction is a disease. Much like diabetes. It has to be monitored everyday. For the rest of their lives. And it’s HARD. It takes support and unrelenting diligence. Like cancer in that it can always reoccur.

The blaming needs to stop. We need to do better.
The paradigm needs to change.
Insurance benefits needs to change.
Public awareness needs to change.

Period.

The next time you hear someone say “ they have a choice “ or you hear others refer to addicts as “ a junkie“ start by educating them because that really is how this works.

You can make a difference you can change things. It starts with educating yourself and then spreading that knowledge one person at a time.
Be a part of the change.'

#wedorecoverchallenge
 

First and foremost… 

You need to get sober for you. 

You need to stay sober for you. 

You need to believe in your ability to not pick up a drink or a drug. 

First and foremost…

You need to believe in you. 

You need to stand up for you. 

You need to not give up on you. 

First and foremost…

You need to take it one day at a time.

You need to put one foot in front of the other. 

You need to look where your feet are. 

Because now we GET to do all of these things. 

We get to be alive. We get to have real friendships, real relationships with our loved ones. We get to prove to ourselves that we are worth it. We get to do all of these things and then some. But we don't get any of this if we do not stay sober and clean. That becomes our most important job on a daily basis. Because without sobriety… without recovery… we are right back where we started… in the place we tried so desperately to get out of. And we fought hard to be here. We deserve to be here. 

First and foremost… WE DO RECOVER. 

*Kristen*

I’ve never been much of a “planner.” I’m more of a fly by the seat of my pants person.

If I plan too far ahead, I start to feel trapped, and that scares me.

However, I have never felt trapped in sobriety. It’s almost become a comfortable place to be because it literally is taking things one day at a time. That’s all I can do because that’s all I have. Today.

For some, that’s a strange concept, not thinking or planning ahead. For me, it’s the only way I have known my whole life. All any of us have is today; the day right in front of us that we are living.

When you’re in active alcoholism you are literally trying to just survive the days. Many of them you don’t even want to do that. Once you get sober you realize how much you really want to LIVE. Really live. Live in the moment, live in the day.

For me, I feel like so much time was wasted away quite literally by being wasted. Being a blackout drinker, sure you make memories and you have moments, both good and bad, but most mornings for me I had no recollection. I only had the pictures and the text messages to remind me what had happened. That’s really no way to live but that was my life for 20+ years. Now, I make memories and I have moments and I remember them. I hold onto them close to my heart so tight. Because now I am actually finally living. I’m seeing clearer, I’m appreciating even the smallest of things. I feel alive.

So you see, I can’t be a planner. I can’t be worried about years down the road because I don’t even know how much time I have left. I want to be in the now and focus on the NOW. It’s what I have and who I have right in front of me that matters most. There is so much more to learn, to see, and experience. And I have so much more love to give.

*Kristen*

‘People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.’

I have realized more than ever that the struggles, the emptiness, the failures, and the pain that I go through can all be a blessing in disguise. It is all of the difficulties that will truly teach us what really matters most in life and encourages us to be the absolute best version of ourselves.

Today, I am filled with GRATITUDE. 

That statement may seem contradictory, but believe me when I tell you, it could not be more true. In my past I always lived having regrets, or continuously beating myself up over my flaws, my flubs, my mistakes and imperfections. But those things are exactly what have made me, me. If I never experienced the highs and the lows, I would more than likely be less of a person. I needed to struggle and I needed to fall. And let me tell you, getting back up again should be your proudest moments. It means you're still here. Your heart is still beating. You never stopped fighting for yourself. The low moments don't make you any less of a person. They, in fact, just make you human.

One of my favorite quotes, by Roy T. Bennett, is, “Be thankful for everything that happens in your life; it's all an experience.”

And I am 1000% thankful. Because at the end of the day, it's worth it. All of this. We're here for our journeys. We're here to climb our mountains. Don't forget where you came from, ever. Use whatever pain and suffering you've experienced to fuel your desire to grow stronger; to become a better you. You're never done learning.

I started “Remember Your Why,” along with my podcast, in the hopes that, as I share more of my story and talk to so many others who are so brave to tell their story, if I can reach even one person and make a difference, it will be worth it.

Sobriety has taught me to fully embrace my story, all of it. The good & the bad, the dark & the light. When it is hard and when it is painful. It all means something. I hope you'll be able to take something positive away from it. And I would love to hear your stories as well. Join me as I continue on my journey... Let's do this together!

"I owe myself an apology

For all the times

I tore myself apart.

When I neglected my own needs

Lowered my standards

Berated myself

And put myself down.

For the self-sabotage

I continually inflicted upon myself

And the times when I apologized

For being who I was

And expressing myself authentically

And I owe myself

The permission to start anew.

To forgive myself

For the battles I fought

That weren’t mine to fight

For all of the love

That I failed to give myself

And for the times when I failed to realize

That rather than being broken

I was worthy of value, respect

And beautiful, brilliant things in life

And that how I treated myself

Dictated how others would view me

And in turn, behave toward me

So by showering myself

With love, kindness, forgiveness and respect

In turn, I could pave the way

For others to do the same."

-Tahlia Hunter-

If you have any amount of sober time under your belt you have already come further than you probably expected. And you should feel proud of that. But keep in mind that more loss, more lows, and more heartbreak will be on the horizon. Life doesn't get perfect just because we get sober. We will constantly be in a cycle of pain, recovery and peace. In that process we will be forever growing and learning. That's the beauty of sobriety, and life- we never stop growing. We can always become a better version of ourselves. We learn what is important and what is not. We challenge our minds to steer away from the destructive thoughts, and lean towards the positive outcomes. 

The process is what's important. It's the work and the time and the effort you've put in. It's how you've healed. Each and every one of us is worthy of the beautiful process that is our becoming. Embrace it all. Each and every obstacle. Every high and every low. It all matters in the healing process. And remember, all we have is today. Look where your feet are… and there you are. 

*Kristen*

But Did You Survive?

The mornings waking up not remembering what happened, what you said to people, what you did.

The days that were a struggle to make it through.

The nights you wished you weren’t alive.

The dark thoughts that would seep into your head every night.

The times you looked into the mirror with tears streaming down your face wishing you were anyone but you.

The moments you felt less than everyone else around you… not belonging.

The torment that swirled within you on a daily basis.

The cuts you made just to feel something other than being you.

The drugs you took to escape your very existence.

The alcohol you drank to lose yourself completely.

The times that shattered you into a million pieces.

But did you survive?

Yes, you did. You’re still here. You made it through all of those times you felt deep in your core you would not. You did that. Honor that. Respect that. Remember that every time those thoughts come creeping back in wanting to tear you down and break you. Struggle is inevitable. Pain is necessary. It’s how we learn; how we grow; how we change.

Whenever you are feeling on the brink of fight or flight, remember you have survived everything that’s been thrown your way. Hold tight to that notion because what is on the other side of the ugly, are some pretty beautiful things that teach us profound lessons.

The good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful. Life is all of that. Look back at the whole of it and ask yourself, but did you survive?

I did. And I am grateful.

*Kristen*

Remember WHY you started.

Remember WHY you keep going. 

Remember all of those who said you'd fall.

Remember that every bit of pain you feel will build a stronger you. 

Remember that you're worth fighting for.

Remember what you're doing it all for. 

Remember your WHY. 

*Kristen*