Alumni Spotlight – Ayana B.

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Why did you decide to get sober, or what turn of events lead you to Clear Behavioral Health?

I was at a point in my life where I realized that if my life didn’t take another direction it could slowly be going towards the end of it. I was no longer hurting myself anymore. I was hurting everyone I loved and cared about as well. The first step was getting sober and stepping out of the life I was living and starting one that would help me move towards a better future where I could build relationships again with my family and build my life again.

How has your perspective on life changed since beginning recovery?

I don’t have to be scared of everything anymore. I thought that by having low expectations and not taking chances I didn’t have as big of a chance to get hurt or fail but it kept me in the same insanity loop. I have changed my perspective to one of just because I don’t know how to do something doesn’t mean I am going to fail at it.

What are you looking forward to most now that you are in recovery?

I am looking forward to going back to school and pursuing forensic anthropology and continuing to be there for my family and travel and do all the things I couldn’t do before I got sober.

What have you learned about yourself in recovery?

I learned that I am the biggest obstacle in my life. I would always blame my problems on other people because I couldn’t take a look at myself and what I was doing so I would blame everyone else and direct all the attention and problems towards other people but really I was the common denominator. I had to be the one to change.

If you could reach out to someone new in recovery, what advice would you give to them?

It is going to be really uncomfortable, boring at times and extremely challenging but lean into your support system, your Higher Power and take all the suggestions even if they don’t seem right at the time. Just know that you will get through it even if it doesn’t seem like it in the moment.

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