Meet Amanda D. (Silver Chip #267), whose story is one of resilience and healing. Born and raised in Raleigh, Amanda experienced trauma during her childhood but it was ultimately the disease of addiction that drove her to the use of illicit drugs and alcohol. A brief stay in a wilderness camp during her mid-teens provided structure for a short period of sobriety but upon exiting, an abusive relationship led her deeper into addiction and hundreds of miles from home in Georgia.
Throughout her 20s and early 30s, Amanda lived in survival mode and was constantly navigating legal trouble in multiple states.
Near-death moments, like severe car accidents, left Amanda asking God what she had to offer and why she was spared just to return to a life of pain and struggle. After two months in jail for the last time, Amanda walked through the doors of Healing Transitions for the first time. She walked in with hope and found more than recovery, but her purpose for life. She formed lifelong relationships, began teaching classes, and started sponsoring other women.
Today, Amanda has been sober for over six years with a sobriety date of March 26, 2019. Once she completed the Healing Transitions program, she returned to her rural community in South Georgia as an invaluable resource for those in their recovery journey. Recently, she started Drug Addicts Anonymous meetings locally, and in her second job teaching at an intensive outpatient program facility, she often refers to the Recovery Dynamics principles she learned at Healing Transitions. Additionally, she serves on the advisory board for the local Accountability/DUI court and as a secretary at a women’s recovery house.
Through her time at Healing Transitions Amanda finally found the reason why God spared her so many times.
“Before I got sober, I was completely incapable of having meaningful relationships with other people,” Amanda reflects.
Now? Amanda is a loving daughter, bonus mother, girlfriend, and recovery leader in her community. “The opposite of addiction is connection,” says Amanda.
Though Amanda lives far from Raleigh, in a home she owns, she visits often, spending time with both her family and the community at Healing Transitions. She is now in a healthy relationship and continues her journey in sobriety, grateful for the life she has regained.
Bonus: Read Her Father, Charles D.’s, Perspective on Her Recovery Journey!
One of the most detrimental consequences of addiction is the fracturing of relationships as someone spirals further into isolation. Nobody understands this more than Amanda D.’s father, Charles.
He reflects on Amanda’s childhood, describing her as “a joy to be around” and the kind of girl where “everything came easy to her – school, music, friends.” However, once addiction took a hold of Amanda, the daughter Charles knew slowly faded away.
What seemed like a small dip in the road for the two of them quickly grew into a massive obstacle as Amanda fell deeper into addiction. Reminiscing on that period in their lives, Charles describes the feeling of watching as a parent as “helpless” and “useless.” His baby girl, once so happy and full of life, was quickly losing control of her life and slipping into one of danger and chaos.
Though the Amanda Charles once knew was disappearing because of addiction, his love for her grew only stronger. Addiction often leads to isolation but Charles was not going to let go of his daughter easily—”I never wanted to sever ties with her, even at the worst and lowest times.” Even in the peak of her addiction, Charles stood by Amanda’s side and consistently offered love and support.
As a father, desperate to help his child, Charles enrolled Amanda in a recovery program. At the time, however, Amanda was not ready to commit to the journey and ultimately did not complete the program. He cautions, “remember that you will be ready to help long before they are ready to receive it.”
Things changed for Amanda after her final visit to jail, when she decided enough was enough and decided to pursue recovery. Charles drove almost ten hours, from North Carolina to Georgia, to pick up his daughter from her court appointment and take her to Healing Transitions. This time around, with Charles’ unwavering love and her newfound commitment, Amanda completed the Healing Transitions recovery program.
Now six years out from her time in Healing Transitions, Amanda and Charles remain as close as ever despite the distance between their homes in North Carolina and Georgia respectively. The father daughter duo talk frequently and visit each other as often as possible.
“If it wasn’t for Healing Transitions, I wouldn’t have my daughter back and I’m not sure she would even be alive,” says Charles. And for any parents out there, who are currently in Charles’ shoes, he offers this advice:
“Keep the lines of communication open, be sure they know they can reach out and how much you love them, because you don’t want to miss the chance to get them the help or support they need when they’re ready.”