STARK VOICES
Sobriety By Kelly Zickefoose
day that I do not give in to temptation because every day is a struggle. I look back to October 23, 2011, and I thank God for helping me make the choice I did. I knew I had to get sober because I was at rock bottom, and I had nothing going for me in life. As hard as it was, I knew giving up or giving in was not an option.
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ctober 23, 2011, was one of the best days of my life. If it were not for this day, I would not be the person I am today. This is the day that I chose to become sober--sober from all the drugs and alcohol that I was slowly killing myself with. I knew I was putting myself to the test, probably the hardest test I would ever take in my life. I knew that if I made this choice, I was not just giving up the substance, but I was also giving up the lifestyle and the friends. I really had no idea if I was even going to be strong enough to fight this battle. I saw a physical and mental change almost instantly. I had lost weight from taking multiple drugs, drinking, and never eating. I was mentally drained from never sleeping because I was often up for multiple days partying. I got back on a regular, healthy diet and got my weight back to normal. I was finally able to rest and get more than an hour of sleep a day. I felt 110% better compared to when I would wake up with a hangover every single day. My friends and family always told me how proud they were of me. If I hadn’t made this choice when I did, I would not be anywhere near where I am today. The best feeling in the world is knowing that I overcame a huge obstacle in my life. This
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accomplishment makes me feel as if I can overcome anything this world throws at me because I beat addiction. One of the worst parts of this battle was going through the withdrawal. The first week was the hardest; I woke up every day feeling like I was dying. The pounding in my head and the sharp pains in my stomach felt as if I was being stabbed. I knew this was going to happen; one of the hardest parts of getting sober was knowing that if I took just one drink, one hit, or one snort, that feeling of death would disappear. Through the withdrawal part of my sobriety, the pain was so bad that I thought I was not strong enough to keep going. Through this part of my sobriety, I had an amazing support team that told me I was strong and capable of pulling through this sickness. The one thing that led me to this decision was that my best friend and the love of my life was going to give up his sobriety if I did not stop heading down the path I was on. I thought to myself, “Is it really worth it to lose him over something so stupid?� I realized he was worth more to me than the high I had been chasing for all those years. I know in my heart that as long as I keep fighting and pushing forward, I can stay on the right path. I hope and pray every
Some people look at being sober as a bad thing, but to me it is the greatest accomplishment I have ever achieved. I have realized that I will never reach an end or a destination when I am in recovery. Instead, it will be an everyday journey for the rest of my life. I figured out how strong I really am. I finally woke up and realized that I did not need drugs and alcohol to live my life happy. When I quit, I knew what it felt like to be free--finally free of the one thing that was keeping me from my full potential. Little did I know that this was a battle that would never end, but it is amazing to know that som ething so stupid can no longer control my entire life.
About the Author Kelly Zickefoose is a nursing major in her third semester at Stark State College and the mother of twin girls. An employee of Heather Knoll Nursing and Rehabilitation, she is on track to graduate from Stark State in 2019. Upon graduation, she plans to complete her bachelor of science degree in nursing. She aspires to work in a drug and alcohol rehab facility because she wants to encourage people who struggle with the same things she does every day. Her focus is on sharing her story and working hard to give her daughters a better life.
Vol. 2 - Ed. 1