The holidays are here again, and it’s always a time that I reflect on how grateful I am for everything I have in my life today because of the program of recovery, especially my family and friends.

During my addiction, I became completely isolated from everything and everyone, and the holiday season was a time of the year that I would always dread. Forced family time (if I could even show up for it), faking being happy and lying about what my life was really like. I was miserable, waiting for the moment I could leave to go drink at home, completely alone. Most of the time I would make any excuse not to be around family and friends at all.

Almost four years ago my life changed for the better right after the holidays, for which I am eternally grateful. I came to the Hanley Center at Origins and was given a spiritual solution to begin my life as a sober, recovered alcoholic.

While I was in treatment at Hanley, my parents had the opportunity to attend the family program and get the information necessary to understand the disease of addiction, which became a turning point for us all. They began to understand that if I simply had a choice, I would have much rather spent time with them instead of drinking myself into a blackout oblivion alone day after day. Thanks to the amazing family counselors on staff, I was given a chance to repair some of the damage my drinking had caused and my family was able to heal while I was in treatment, a gift I will never be able to repay.

Today I am able to be a part of my family again!

I get excited whenever I get a chance to go back home to Dallas, and I relish every moment I get to spend time with my parents. I am able to stay in the present moment instead of constantly itching to be somewhere else, which is an absolute blessing.

-Kellye DeBerry, Alumni Coordinator, Hanley Center at Origins

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