My name is Matthew, and I am in lifelong recovery.
A little over two years ago my life was completely different from where I am at now. I always turned to drugs and alcohol to fix the feelings I had my whole life, and a way to shut my mind off. I wasn’t able to be a son, a boyfriend, or an employee. I came into treatment in the summer of 2016 and knew something had to change. I lost my job in the laborer’s union, and I had a child on the way. That’s when I heard about GateHouse, and it seemed like the thing I needed to make a real change in my life, to be able to be there for myself and everyone in my life.
“TWO YEARS AGO MY LIFE WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FROM WHERE I AM AT NOW.”
When I got to GateHouse, I decided to listen and take suggestions, and my life changed. I got a sponsor, developed a fellowship, and threw myself into the work. I found people in the program that helped me find work so I could start saving for my daughter who was on the way. I started helping the other guys in the house and bought into the fact that I had to give it away to keep it. I went through my ups and my downs in the house, and the guys I lived with were always there for me, just like I was there for them.
After my daughter was born, I got my own place with my cousin who is also in recovery and started practicing those things that I learned at GateHouse on the outside, and by result my life is amazing today. I am able to be a father to my daughter, a son to my parents, and a leader in my job back in the union. I am able to help others who are going through the same struggles that I did, and that is one of the greatest gifts I have been given.
Thank you for reading
Matthew O.
GateHouse Alumnus
