I am so happy to be where I am.  I love who I am…

My name is Tiffany, I am a recovering addict that is just over 3 years clean! I grew up surrounded by addicts and watched a lot of people struggle. I never thought I would share in that suffering and always said “that could never happen to me”. I judged everyone and thought I knew something about addiction… I was never going to end up the same as so many in my family, “Jails, institutions and death…” that is exactly what I saw happening – so of course I would never choose that life, right?

I started making bad decisions with light substances when I was about 23. I got addicted fast…eventually my life started falling apart, so slowly I did not even notice. As far as relationships with my family they were disappearing. I stopped working at a job I was at for almost 10 years because I worked with my mother, and it was clear to her that something was not right. That was my favorite job for so many years, and I let it go to get away from all the questions and concern my mother had for me. I made more and more “friends” and thought everything was fine. I was a functioning addict who was not hurting anyone. I took care of myself, and most of the people (addicts) around me because I was blinded for so long. They were just using me, stealing from me, and lying to me. Eventually I realized what was happening and I tried to get away from it but just found a new crowd and it started all over again.

When I was 27, I ended up in a long-term relationship and had my daughter, Victoria, at 28. She was – and still is – the most incredible and beautiful thing that has ever happened to me. Her father was extremely abusive – physically and emotionally – it took me five years to find the strength and power to walk away from it. That relationship cost me my family and most of the things I had built for myself (or what I had left at that point) but I was able to finally ask for help. I knew everything was NOT okay and something had to change. I am so lucky and thankful that after everything that happened, I still had people that loved me dearly and would do anything to protect us. My family was there for me. When my daughter was four, I left her father. He passed away soon after, around that same time DHHS removed my daughter from my care. Life fell apart once again for me and for her… I was introduced to heavier drugs a few weeks after that. It became a vicious cycle because I was nothing without my daughter, so I would use drugs to feel better… but couldn’t stop using to get her back. I hated myself. After about eight months of depression and severe substance abuse, I was told about Wellspring.  I didn’t know anything about detox or programs, but I knew what I had to do. I was scared but somehow managed to find strength to do the hard thing, the RIGHT thing. I admitted myself to the detox center March 18, 2021, and eventually graduated the Infinity House program on August 17, 2021!

Wellspring changed my life, and quite literally SAVED my life. They helped me beat my court cases and rebuild relationships with everyone around me, including the one with myself. They helped me see where I went wrong and drove me to figure out who I wanted to be. They are how I became a better mother and a better person. Someone people can trust and count on. This program did not just help me stop using drugs and alcohol, I learned so much and grew so much. I have purpose today and am not just a mother or an addict. I never would have imagined, sitting here today, that I would say I do not regret my past mistakes. As painful as it was for so many involved, especially my daughter, I would not be here without those mistakes and that pain. I am so happy to be where I am. I love who I am. None of what I have right now would exist without the incredible staff and treatment I received through the Wellspring Infinity House and Detox center. Today I am healthy and have two amazing jobs, and how many people can say that they love their job? Well, I have TWO that I love! I became one of the Wellspring staff members dedicated to helping addicts like myself find a new way to live, and give hope. I also have had a job at the Bangor Airport for about two years. If I can do it, so can you! I am proud of who I am, where I have been and what I have overcome. I did not do it alone, and I am so excited to see what comes next! Thank you for reading my story, never give up!