ADDICTION STOPS HERE.
Recovery Stories.
Justice's Story:
Finding Self-Love Through Grief and Recovery at JourneyPure
A Life in Crisis
When Justice F. lost her brother in September 2022, the foundation of her world crumbled. Her subsequent journey through grief, addiction, and ultimately recovery demonstrates how tragedy can either destroy or transform – the difference often lying in finding the right help at the right time.
“After that I questioned everything. I questioned my existence and I fell in love with a bottle,” Justice shares candidly. Alcohol became her constant companion, a daily necessity to numb the overwhelming pain of loss. “I just wanted to numb everything and just be dead to the world, really.”
The turning point in Justice’s spiral came through the eyes of her children. “One day I looked at my kids and realized that this was not how I wanted to live,” she recalls. This moment of clarity helped her recognize that alcohol had moved beyond coping mechanism to controlling force: “I no longer wanted the battle to control me because that’s what it was doing.”
Taking the brave step to enter treatment at JourneyPure marked Justice’s first experience with rehabilitation. Like many newcomers to recovery, she arrived carrying deep-seated fears about the process. “My biggest fear was that no one understood what I was going through, and no one really cared. People were just there to do their job,” she admits.
A New Beginning
However, these fears quickly dissolved as she discovered a community of understanding and support at JourneyPure. “That’s not how it is at all,” she emphasizes, finding connection with others facing similar struggles.
Perhaps the most profound lesson Justice learned in recovery was about the importance of self-love. “I still struggle on a daily to put myself first, but that’s the first thing I had to realize that I had to do was love myself in order to love others, including my kids,” she shares. “I had to put myself first and learn to love myself.”
The transformation in Justice’s life since embracing recovery has been remarkable. Now over a year sober, she has built a stable and fulfilling life. “I have a great job. I have my own place now and my kids are thriving,” she reports with pride.
Her message to others struggling with addiction carries the weight of personal experience: “Everyone has struggles. Everyone deals with stuff differently, but addiction is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to deal with in my life, and you are not alone.”
The Road to Recovery
Justice’s story powerfully illustrates that recovery is possible even in the wake of devastating loss. Her journey from numbing grief through alcohol to finding genuine healing demonstrates the importance of professional treatment in transforming tragedy into growth.
“There are people out there that understand and that want to help you,” she assures others who might be struggling. “You just got to put yourself first. That’s the first and foremost thing that you have to do is understand that you do deserve to live better and live a full life. You deserve to be the best version of yourself.”
A Message of Hope
Her experience shows that with proper support, it’s possible to process grief and trauma without surrendering to addiction. Justice’s transformation from questioning her existence to embracing her worth serves as a beacon of hope for others facing similar challenges.
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, particularly in the aftermath of loss or trauma, know that healing is possible. JourneyPure’s comprehensive treatment program offers the understanding, support, and professional care needed to navigate both addiction and grief. Call us at 615-410-9260 to begin your journey to healing and self-discovery. Like Justice, you can learn to love yourself again and build a life worth living.
