It took me 20 years in addiction before I was able to get clean. I guess this goes to show that it is never too late! I tried so many times to do it on my own but every time I would go back to using. Eventually after damaging all the close relationships I had and feeling totally alone I decided enough was enough. I felt hopeless at the start but through meetings I met new like minded people who gave me hope and inspired me to do better. Slowly I began to rebuild relationships and made new friendships along the way too! I will be forever grateful for all the new people who have come into my life and to god for not giving up on me. This is my life now and I own it. There is no better feeling. Don`t give up no matter how long it takes there is light at the end of the tunnel and I am living proof. Much love friends

I was 14 when I first used a substance.  Glue. I was young and immature and didn`t realise at the time that this would be the beginning of many years of abusing my body. At 15 I started smoking weed and this became really regular. I`d smoke it any chance I could and spend every penny I could get on it. This led onto ecstacy and acid. I would go out every weekend and take it. Weekends led to days and soon enough I was addicted to cocaine, and had no sense or reality.  My addiction nearly killed me. It cost me my friends, family and left me in a place of isolation. I joined the 12 steps eventually as it was either that or die. I am so glad I did. There I met people with the same issues as me but also the same ambitions and goals. If I was to give anyone reading this any advice it would be to surround yourself with people who want the same as you and want the best for you. I am a year in now and going strong. Taking every day as it comes. There is hope don`t give up.

My name is Katie. I`m 29, I am a survivor of sexual violence, and for years I coped the only way I knew how through addiction, avoidance, and self destruction. My life became about surviving each day, not truly living it.Recovery changed everything. It gave me the tools to face my trauma, take back control, and rebuild a life I once believed was out of reach. It taught me accountability, self-worth, and how to sit with my pain instead of running from it.Becoming a mother deepened that journey. Even through postpartum depression, recovery became my anchor guiding me back to myself when I felt lost. It showed me that healing isn't about being perfect, but about choosing growth, again and again.Today, recovery has given me more than sobriety it has given me peace, strength, and a sense of purpose. I am no longer surviving. I am living, healing, and becoming everything I was once told I could never be.Let this be your message of hope, there is a beautiful life outside of survival mode. ❤️

My name is Tash, I'm 26 years old. My battle with drugs started at the age of 13. It started with me smoking weed and very quickly evolved into anything I could get my hands on. I fell in love with the escape, I chased and chased the feeling of complete oblivion. I didn't want to die but I just didn't want to be "here". I struggled from a very young age. I wat to say maybe 7-8, with mental health issues and trauma and the only thing that made all of it go away (temporarily) was drugs. So all of that mixed with the life of a teenager, turned my world upside down very quickly! I was in and out of hospitals from the ages of 15-22 from either overdosing, treating the damage that drugs have done, or the rapid decline of my mental health because of drugs. I went into psychosis for a few years as a result of everything and I was in severe danger. But I got help, I didn't think it could get any worse and I stayed clean for about 10 months, and I was doing really well. Little did I know, it could get worse, much much worse. I went back out and for 3 years life was a complete disaster. I hit a wall and I thought "this is it, this is my life now" and I didn't think I had a way out. The only thing that got me out was nearly dying and ending up in hospital with a very serious health condition. I nearly lost my leg and I nearly lost my life. I lost a toe but I can deal with that. So after all of that life got really good I was clean, I had my life back my family, my friends back, and made a load of new friends and I was actually happy for once in my life. I had a couple of slips around that time but I had great support and I could manage. Until I couldn't. Until alcohol out of all things caught me. I was never much of a drinker, but by God I made up for all those years of not drinking very quickly. It started off small and ended up where I couldn't open my eyes In the morning without drinking a bottle of whiskey. I was hiding it from everyone and living a lie. Again. And for 2 years drink almost took everything I gained away. I was living in fear every day and I started using again while drinking and life got very dangerous again. But thankfully the support I had built before drink was still there and everyone came together and dragged me back up, blood sweat and tears!! And I am forever grateful for every single one of them because at this very moment I am 4 months sober!! And I wouldn't have done it alone. The most important part of my sobriety at the moment is people, and being able to talk to people. Going to meetings, learning about addiction and valuing my life. I do still struggle most days but thanks to all of the supportive people in my life right now I know I am not alone !! I want to be able to live my life and to live it sober, I want to make memories because believe me I have wiped most of them clean. I am so glad I am doing this as a young woman and I hope to God it sticks because life for me right now is a miracle and it was a gift I was given so I'm going to try and put it to good use!! Thank you for reading, have an amazing day !!

Hello everyone I'm going to tell my story. I am currently in recovery and doing so well. I will start with saying I hit rock bottom about 3 years ago I lost my business lost my daughter and lost everything I had in my life all over cocaine. I've been so blessed to happen on this woman who helped me every step of my recovery I've built bridges I never thought I would I have my daughter back in my life. Not build my own business quite yet but it's early days still. I want to tell anyone that's starting out in their recovery journey that it's seems impossible but day by day it gets easier and is so worth it. Healthy and sober is a complete different life. I've met this woman and would not be here today only for her. I'm so grateful to have her in my life she's the love of my life. So for anyone that's struggling reach out and keep going don't ever give up. I thought there was no light at the end of the tunnel but now I've never been happier keep going guys ✌️

Hello my name is AnnMarie i`m 37 years of age i`m from Dublin Ireland ❤️ I came into being an addict back in 2018 when my children where taken into care due to domestic violence. I used cocaine constantly. 2 years after that my father passed and my addiction got worse 😭😭 I lost friends, family, everything in that same year. I tried to take my life twice in 6 weeks. Things got worse as I entered another abusive relationship, and the addiction got heavier. I was drowning in the debts of it and my ex partner tried to murder me in April 2025, which has left me with a hernia on my brain. I now live with this daily constant pain and numbness. I am on pain meds after pain meds😭😭 this went on till November 2025. I woke up and realized I couldn't do this anymore. So I fought hard and now i`m 17 months into recovery and thriving in life i`ve moved to Donegal now and live with my mum and have an amazing partner ❤️

Three relapses. That's the truth of it.In the beginning, the rooms helped me. They gave me structure, something to hold onto when everything felt like it was slipping. But somewhere along the way, they started to bring me back—not forward. Back to days I don't remember, and days I wish I could forget. Back to the version of myself I don't recognise anymore.I became someone I never thought I'd be. Drinking until I lost myself completely. Saying things, doing things, showing parts of myself that should have been protected. Then it escalated—cocaine, blow, whatever was there. Before I even realised what was happening, I was gone. A three-day bender, completely detached, ending up asleep on a random person's couch in someone's ma's sitting room.The shame of that... it stays with you. It's heavy. It's the kind of memory that creeps in when things get quiet.But that's not where my story ends.I'm sober now. Back on track. Not perfect but present.I'm happily married. I have five kids who know me as I am today, not who I was in those moments. I'm studying criminal law in a private college and helping others in ways I once needed myself.That didn't happen by accident. That happened because I chose to come back. Again.Recovery isn't clean or easy. It's messy. It's humbling. It will bring you to your knees if you let it but it will also give you a life if you fight for it.And I did fight for it.Life does come back but only if you grab it. Only if you decide, even after everything, that you're not done yet.Because the truth is, not everyone gets that chance.I did.And I'm not wasting it.S xxx

Recovery is a gift. Before you get there it comes with pain and misery, suffering and affecting our love ones, but it doesn`t always have to be like that. My experience  went from prison to trying to take my own life, recovery, guidance from a sponsor and the 12steps. Eventually I got everything back. My family,  I went back training, gained a peace of mind and I am able to care and love for others today. Recovery is a gift when you grab it hold onto it. Work for it 7days a week, 24hrs a day. Same as we drank and used. The best gram I ever took was the program. You`re not alone ❤️🙏

Two years ago, I was lost. I`d lost everything, my business, my child and my self worth. I thought I would never be better. I had no hope for a future for myself. Today, I am clean, happy and have gotten back everything I lost. I am so glad and grateful to be here. Don`t ever think you have no hope. Take the first step and ask for help. I promise it will be worth it.

Hi! If you are here, i`m guessing you`re not feeling so good? Or maybe you`re just curious? Either way, it`s ok :) If you are feeling a little lost right now, that`s ok too! So many of us have been there, you aren`t alone. Remember you are capable of so much more than you could ever imagine. You just have to want it. I believe in you <3 x