Today I am grateful, I am able, I am alive…
My name is Tyler Rice, I am from Harlan, Ky and I am a recovering addict. My story is not one for the history books and is no more unique or special than the next person’s. The only hope I have is to help inspire the addicts still suffering.
I began experimenting with weed and alcohol in middle school. Before high school I was doing pain killers, that brought me to heroin. I knew I was an addict by the time I turned 16. I have dealt with major depression and multiple suicide attempts since high school. I managed to hide it from my family for far too long.
I didn’t have a rough child hood, it was nothing like that. I grew up in a good home with an incredible and loving Christian family. They did their best to give me a good home, food on the table, a vehicle, everything I needed and a lot of what I wanted in life. That goes to show this disease does not discriminate.
The next part of my story is a bit dark. I was a satanist for over 10 years, I wanted nothing else but to cause pain and chaos wherever I went, I was intrigued by the occult at a young age. When I came to The Isaiah House I saw the plot holes of my half hearted beliefs you could say.
My recovery began as a journey to spiritual enlightenment. I work to become a better person each day and grow closer to God. I have my family back in my life and I have to say, life is beautiful today and I no longer feel empty and cold as cliche as it sounds. I never wanted help and wouldn’t have admitted it either way. I regret that it came to my mother getting the call I was in the hospital from an overdose and unresponsive last year.
To those that are reading this and know you need help with addiction, please learn from the mistakes made by others and ask for help before it’s too late.
Today I am grateful, I am able, I am alive…