12-step recovery groups can be found all over the world. They started as AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) and have spread and branched out to over 200 separate volunteer led groups that use the 12-step program to help folks recovery from many addictive or compulsive behaviours. Due to the anonymous nature of the groups, there are a lot […]

I want to be open and honest, so here’s where I’m at …. It’s good for me to write this as it’s cathartic …it helps me, but I hope that it also helps you to understand me, what I’m experiencing as a carer and why I think like I do. Annoyingly, I often get upset […]

Naomi courageously shared her story of overdosing from opiate drugs, how her live was saved by naloxone and someone willing to use it, and the time she witnessed someone else overdosing and having life saving naloxone administered to them. https://youtu.be/bWT3x1d5gyYhttps://youtu.be/IKoFcvR_2jw Naomi’s full story of overdoses and naloxone below: (4 minutes, 42 seconds) There are places […]

I sit and stareAt the books on the shelf.Words make sentences.Sentences make stories.So many stories.I sit and stareAt the books on the shelf.Where’s my story? – STORIES Everybody needs a release and for those with mental health issues, that need is even greater. I’m no different and I found my release in the shape of […]

“Yarn Bombing couldn’t have found me at a better or lower point in my life. It’s seen me through some really tough times and the beauty of it all was that it was always me putting the work in without even realising it. I quickly discovered that having a crochet hook in my hands would […]

Leila shared her story with us yesterday at our Unlocking Wellbeing event! You can read her story below.

A volunteer who does great work with The SUN Network and other organisations that work to help those with addiction recovery.   (click on image to enlarge) He made this today to help with moods and says you can send your family/friends a copy and rather than talking you can just tell people a number and […]

**** TRIGGER WARNING:  suicide and other mental health challenges shared here could be triggering ****** What goes up, must come down or must it… Many of you may have read my ‘rubbish road to recovery‘ blog. A story of alcoholism, drug addiction and depression. My journey to sobriety by means of community work and a […]

M’s Story (trigger warning: details of emotional abuse follows, make sure you are safe before continuing) I took up painting in lockdown. I found a set of paints while tidying my cupboard that I had bought from Poundland and never got round to using them. I collected round flat stones suitable for painting on while […]

Hi, my name is Naomi and I have lived experience of an eating disorder. This Eating Disorder Awareness Week, the charity Beat are focusing on eating disorder specific education and training for medical professionals, mainly GPs. Beat says that the average GP gets less than 2 hours of training in eating disorders across their whole […]

John reflects on his years using, his overdose and life made up of both relapses and recovery.   So many #SUNAddictionRecoveryStories start with trauma, and John’s was in his twenties when his father died. See and hear him tell his story in his own words here which we hope will help others in addiction and their […]

Christy is enthusiastic, energetic, and full of life and hope.  He must have seemed like a different person when he was homeless, had lost his business, and all hope.  But he talks about it here, sharing his happiness and a passion that he found coming out the other side of addiction into recovery. *** TRIGGER […]

Mark’s shared some of his photos previously, which he takes while cycling with a friend enjoying architecture in the city where he lives, taking care of himself by getting some fresh air while learning. Here’s some new one’s he’s sent.  Enjoy. To find support for addiction recovery, reach out and get help. Change Grow Live, […]

TRIGGER WARNING:  honest talk about suicidal thoughts below may be upsetting The alarm goes off, snooze, 5 more minutes. I close my eyes, my head pounding, a deep feeling of emptiness, hate for the world that I have woken up. Why couldn’t I have gone quietly in my sleep? Another day…… Another drink…… Early years […]

In December I was honoured to record part of Karim’s story of how he found himself in addiction, and the amazing story of his recovery. With his permission, we’ve published 11 clips of him talking in his own words, online.  Anyone can share these videos to learn about addiction, break down some of the stigma […]

JH shared part of her addiction recovery story and she brought so much encouragement and inspiration from many challenges in her life.  Alongside the tough story is so much positivity. “I never thought I’d get away from the drugs as they’d been a part of my life since I was ten years old.”   She shares […]

Scott worked in the military and never noticed a problem with his drinking.  Then he changed careers and started a job that was very stressful and where he saw trauma regularly.  This seemed to be linked to him having a drink to unwind after a tough shift, which escalated until he was drinking all night […]

Every one of our lives have been affected in huge ways in the recent months.  Hope might be more important than ever.  So I’m very proud to share with you that our addiction recovery stories are ready and ‘live’.  In about a year doing this job I’ve met so many people with really tough stories, […]

When talking to people about addiction, there’s a lot of stigma and misunderstandings.  There are many studies and insights into addiction and recovery, but I think there’s nothing quite like storytelling.  So we are going to profile and make available a number of people’s stories of addiction and recovery. The aim is to bring hope, […]