My name is Jen H, and I just celebrated 1 year clean!  Today I can say I am a proud recovering addict and grateful to be telling my story in hopes it can help someone else.

On January 14th 2022, I came to Westminster House through an intervention. My husband had found my stash in my closet while I was away.

At age 5 I suffered abuse at the hands of a family member. I never felt like I understood what love was or that I even deserved love. I felt broken and as if my soul was empty, dark and black. I spent my entire life trying to fill that void with anything and everything so I didn’t ever have to feel anything again. Over the course of my life I had become a slave to drugs, I became untrustworthy, I stole, lied and cheated. I had tried to end my life on more then one occasion. My children had been removed from my care, I was institutionalized and I couldn’t see any reason to go on living. I couldn’t feel anything anymore, my body was completely numb. 

My time at Westminster House taught me how it felt to feel safe and loved. I learned how to care for myself, what friendships meant, and how it felt to have faith in and trust others. I felt a connection and I began to feel as though I belonged to a community of people. I learned how to cry and how to laugh again! Westminster House taught me the tools I needed to become a functioning member of society, and how to give back to that society.

Today I have friends and family back in my life. I love to volunteer my time at Westminster House. It brings me so much joy to give back to the community. I continue to attend 12-step meetings and I sponsor other women in the program.

I am so grateful and thankful to Westminster House for helping me get my life back.

-Jen H.