Recovery Story of the Month - June 2022

I first met Edward Craig, known to me as “Ed” or “Eddie”, back in 2019. Eddie was a member of my Wednesday morning group. At the time he was working with a primary clinician who is no longer with the agency. When I first began interacting with Eddie in group, he was standoffish and would often sit in the back of the room with his arms crossed, guarded. I would attempt to engage him in group discussion and he either would disregard me, or provide a blunt response.

This is not the Eddie I know today. Today, Eddie is personable, communicative, friendly, and often appears to have a permanent smile on his face. You may be wondering what changed. Well, this is where I’ll let Eddie tell you just that…

“I came to FCA because I was tired of getting sick. I needed help. I couldn’t find any other place, and I was too old to keep doing what I was doing in my past, I needed to change my future and change my life. It wasn’t working for me being out there on the streets. When I first got to FCA I was in a shell, then I had to overcome my fears and started letting things go so I could feel good about myself. When I got sick with pneumonia three times in a row, I knew I couldn’t take it anymore. I needed a backbone to fall back on- and instead of going to the streets I let the support be FCA. I maintain my sobriety each day. I attend individual sessions with Bryn, I attend peer group each week, I do what I need to do. It can be done. After so many things that have happened, it can be done. I am proof that it can be done if it’s wanted to be done. But it’s up to the individual themselves to have the will to do it. Being named FCA’s recoveree of the month is beautiful- it’s a blessing. To know that I made such a big turnaround from the way I used to be to the way I am now. I am a new individual and not like the beast I used to be before. It can be done. If you want it to. And that’s what it comes down to.

You’ve got to have the will the power to not let things get in your way of the things you want to do. To get the sobriety. The difference between a stumbling block and a stepping stone is how you use it. FCA and everyone here is lovely when I come in, they brought me a long, long way. I come in and Bryn and the rest of the staff- I give my blessings to all of you. I love you all."

As a clinician, I have worked with hundreds of clients battling the disease of addiction. This disease is insidious, and often wants the addict to remain active in their drug and/or alcohol use. It takes hard work, perseverance, and a lot of strength to break from the chains that bind one to their addiction. Eddie has done the work, he shows up for his outpatient sessions, he resists temptation within his residence where fellow house members are still actively using illicit substances. Eddie participates in his church each Sunday, where he receives spiritual support against the disease of addiction. Eddie is a different person than the man I met over three years ago, in so many ways. But the one specific way that sticks out to me most is this: Eddie is filled with hope. He has hope for the future, hope that he will find his own apartment, hope he will have a quiet and peaceful home to call his own. Eddie is hopeful to find a romantic partner to enjoy life with, he is hopeful to find more sober friends. Eddie holds on to this hope each and every day, and it pushes him forward during the difficult times.

Eddie is now a continuing care client, but that has not stopped him from exerting the utmost effort toward his recovery. Eddie continues to attend individual sessions with me and attends the weekly peer group. Eddie takes his recovery seriously, and this is why he is successful.