My name is Alyssa and I received my giving key for Christmas. It was one of the most special gifts I have ever gotten and this is the reason why. I have struggled all my life with anxiety and depression. I went through a lot of rough times since a young age and eventually developed multiple addictions in my early teens. For years I had no idea I had a problem until I took a look at myself. I did things I wasn't proud of in my addiction and went through traumas I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. In January of 2014 I made the tough decision to go to treatment for addiction. In early sobriety, I went through more traumatic events. My 60 days sober I lost one of my best friends to suicide. I had previously lost two really close friends to suicide but this one really struck me hard. I eventually went back home and relapsed after almost 7 months of sobriety. I had an ultimatum that I could leave again and go back to treatment or keep going down the spiraling black hole I was headed for. I decided to go back to treatment and now I'm celebrating 70 days sober. I never really appreciated anything I got in my addiction and I always took the smallest things for granted but one thing I learned being in sobriety is it's the small things that make our life worth living. This key is the perfect example of that and I passed it on to someone who I knew was struggling that needed to be reminded that she shines in a way that no one else can. Thank you to my dad and my step mom for not only giving me something so special to me but also for the opportunity to pass it on. I love you both so much!
