Recovery Stories from The Arena Recovery Community Center and more.
My name is Kelli, and I am 34 years old. I was born and raised in a small town called Albany, GA. I could not have asked for a better childhood. When I got older, the real trouble started. I started out dabbling in prescription pain pills, which eventually led to IV drug use. I overdosed about 7-8 times in 6 months, lost everything I had, and had to rebuild my entire life, which eventually led me to the Arena. I have almost 5 years clean now and two beautiful children. The arena has helped me stay grounded, given me tools to use in recovery, a sober network, and taught me how to stay clean. Getting clean is the easy part, but learning how to live life on life’s terms is the hard part. The Arena has given me and my children a safe place to lay our heads every night and live in peace. For that, I am forever grateful. I have met so many amazing people since coming to the Arena. People just like me who want the same things I do. Being around other addicts in recovery is what has helped me stay clean. They understand me and help me through my everyday problems. I am forever grateful for the Arena, and everything they have taught me, and given me and my family. The Arena is a wonderful place. I am so grateful to everyone I have met along the way. Thank you for all the love and support along my journey. We can only go up from here!
My name is Mamie Gartin and I am a person in long-term recovery. Celebrating over three years of substance-free living marks a profound transformation in my life. What once felt like mere survival has blossomed into a life brimming with purpose as a developer and peer support coach. My journey through homelessness, family separation, and the complexities of the criminal justice system underscores the power of recovery and the unwavering support of community. Deeply indebted to the lifeline my recovery community provided, I now proudly serve as a peer support specialist at Recovery Bartow. In this role, I am dedicated to extending that same vital support and connection to others navigating their own paths, offering tangible proof that healing and a fulfilling life are not just dreams, but achievable realities. My story stands as a testament to the incredible human capacity for change, and together, we can rise and cultivate a future rich with hope and possibility for all.
My name is Kat Wells. After nine years of alcohol addiction, I reached a pivotal moment where I knew- enough was enough. During those years, I lost custody of two of my daughters, faced arrests, lost several great jobs, and sank deeper into depression. My last night intoxicated, I was contemplating suicide, and I knew I needed help. That moment changed everything!
From the very beginning, everyone at The Arena RCO had been welcoming, relatable and supportive- I was greeted before I even walked inside! They’ve helped me find housing in a sober environment and supported me in both short and long-term goals. I have rediscovered joy through activities with others on the same path and have built indispensable connections that offer me encouragement, accountability and hope.
For the first time in many years, I can honestly say that I’m sober, thriving, and genuinely happy. I’m deeply grateful to The Arena RCO and everyone walking this journey with me for their strength, wisdom, and unwavering support.
My name is Josh Bradley. The air used to be thick with the weight of my past, a fog I couldn’t seem to walk through. My days were a blur of self-destruction, and the idea of a “future” was a cruel joke. Then I found The Arena. It wasn’t a magic cure, but it was the lifeline I desperately needed.
From the moment I stepped into my first N.A. meeting there, I felt a shift. The peer support was incredible. It wasn’t just people talking; it was people truly listening, sharing their own struggles and victories with a rawness that resonated deep within me. They understood the language of addiction, and more importantly, the language of recovery. They were a testament to the fact that I wasn’t alone, and that healing was possible.
But The Arena is so much more than just meetings. The sheer amount of hard work that goes into planning their events for recovering addicts is astounding. From sports tournaments, Floating the river to adventure outings, they create spaces where we can rediscover joy, build healthy relationships, and just plain have fun without the shadow of our old habits. These events are crucial for me, providing a safe and vibrant community that fills the void my addiction once occupied.
Honestly, The Arena has helped me become a better man. They’ve been consistently there for me, celebrating my small victories and offering a steady hand during my inevitable stumbles. They’ve helped me see that a brighter future isn’t just a fantasy, but a tangible reality I’m actively building. I’m learning to be accountable, to be kind, and to embrace life with an enthusiasm I never thought possible. The Arena isn’t just a place; it’s a family, and I’m eternally grateful for every single person who makes it the incredible force for good that it is.
Hello. My name is Matthew Williamson. I have been living a clean and sober life, free from any mood altering substances for over 2 years now. Having been trapped in addiction for most of my adult life, I have been through the ups and downs of getting clean and relapsing many times. I’ve been to prison and rehabs several times and never had much long term success. Recently, I lost my children to DFCS and was back in jail, again. That was 2 years ago. Through my faith in God and my commitment to my recovery my life has been transformed into something I never could have imagined. I am currently about to graduate from the Cherokee county Drug Court program. My wife and I successfully completed our case program and got custody of our children back. During this process I met people from The Arena. I cannot say enough about the support and care that I have received from the people here. Having a safe place to come and be myself and share my struggles and successes with others has meant the world to me. Over time I have developed a recovery family. Not only has The Arena become a place for me to grow in my recovery, but through their support I am currently working on getting my peer support certification so I can work with others who need to see that we do recover. I love The Arena and am passionate about becoming a part of what they do for our recovery community. If you are in need of help and suffering from addiction…COME AND SEE!
My name is Taylor Bennett I am a recovering addict. I’ve been sober a year in half from meth, fentanyl, heroin, and pills. I came to the arena to get sober it was a Friday morning and I was scared. I knew it was time. By 8pm that evening I finally gave it all to God and detoxed. The arena still never left my side without them I wouldn’t have made it as far as I have today. I was homeless when I started getting sober. I now have my own home, car, and my children. I was 13 when I became an addict I was 26 when I found my new life of sobriety. We do recover
My name is Darius Martin. I have been in recovery for 7 and a half months. I have 3 kids, 10, 5, 3. I played college football, got hurt my first game and became addicted to pain pills for 10 years. I left college and got back in the street life at home and that’s when all the legal troubles started. I also started dabbling with crack and meth, so I turned into someone nobody even noticed. I would have sober spells here and there but could never stay clean, I ended up still receiving my BA degree in criminology and masters in education. My father let me branch off of his concrete business but I ended up losing that and my home but I know God will give it all back thanks to the unwavering support of family and The Arena!
My name is Brandy and I’m 34 years old born and raised right here in Bartow County. I had a rough childhood moving from home to home. I grew up with no sense of stability. Both parents were addicts. I started experimenting with drugs at a very young age by the time I was 17 I was addicted to pills. I have two beautiful children that I lost custody of when they were only two and 3 1/2 years old and all because of my addiction I eventually began using needles in and out of jail and prison Got clean relapsed again got clean and relapsed again because I wasn’t working a program. I wasn’t taking my recovery serious now I have 404 days clean, I’m in my children’s lives again and I give all the glory and thanks to the Arena for having a safe fun but so serious about recovery place to go also wanna give a shout out to the Drug Court program for holding me accountable and also the Goodneighbor Shelter if it wasn’t for these three places I wouldn’t be where I am today
Hello my name is Dacon and like so many people, my journey to sobriety started in a place of despair and hopelessness. I was filled with the need to self medicate myself to forget and suppress the trauma of abuse. This was due to years of my feeling and being treated as though I were “less than,” believing that I was not worthy of love or respect!
In my desperate search for a deeper connection to life, I realized the substance abuse and self hatred behavior was a substitute. What I truly craved was a true meaning to my life and a significant relationship with something greater than myself. I found this through a real connection with God!
Through this journey the dark shadow that loomed over my life suddenly became a guiding light to self acceptance. I finally understood that I had been ignoring this for so long. The love of God and His almighty grace was indeed the light that would save me from my despair and hopelessness.
Today I stand in my present state with thanks to Him. I look back at my past in awe of how far He has brought me and look to my future with excitement. I know that with God in my life, there is nothing that I shall fear and nothing I cannot overcome.
