Living Recovered: Finding Joy and Peace After Addiction

Sandi Alcorn, Magdalene House Resident Support Specialist + Person in Recovery

As someone in recovery myself, I often find myself grappling with the stigma that still surrounds addiction and the lack of education around what it truly means to live a recovered life.

We all had to start somewhere. Most of us have bottoms that aren’t pretty. Early recovery is full of ups and downs. Rehab, mandated meetings, and the struggle to accept when good things start happening. And even as time goes on and things get a little easier, we’re never completely free from those old addict patterns of thinking and reacting. But we keep fighting to be better.

People who haven’t lived this, or “normies,” don’t always understand how our brains work. But we are living proof that it’s possible to come out the other side. The promises are real and they are right around the corner if we keep walking the sober path.

I’m sure many of you have shared your testimony and felt that sting of judgment… or been hit with a weird, offhand comment about your past. I remember once someone told me, “You don’t look like an addict,” as if we all have a certain look. I’m sure you’ve been called a “junkie” and felt that sting of stigma that can feel like your identity is reduced down to your worst moments.

Then there’s the unspoken “hierarchy of drugs,” like one substance is somehow better than another. Some of us had lower bottoms than others, but let’s be real, at the end of the day, every one of us has experienced the darkness, and every one of us has fought to crawl back into the light.

Thank God for that journey.

That’s why I wanted to write this to connect with others living a recovered life.

What brings you JOY and PEACE in your life as a person in recovery?

Are there things you’ve accomplished that once felt impossible? Has your life surprised you in beautiful ways?

Let’s share those moments. Not just for ourselves, but for the ones who are still struggling. You might be the proof someone needs that it’s worth it to stay sober. That recovery is possible. That healing is possible. That life is worth really living.

I’ll go first:

I feel peace and joy every day spending quality time with my children. Knowing that I’m breaking generational cycles and giving them a sober, safe environment means everything to me!

Being present and clear-minded with them is the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.

If you’re reading this and you’re in recovery, whether it’s a week or a decade, I hope you find comfort knowing that you are almost definitely doing better than you were when you were in active addiction. Even if it’s still hard. You ARE doing better. You’re living proof that change is possible.

Let’s keep sharing that light. Drop a comment below and tell us:

What brings YOU joy and peace today? 💛