Katie Roby 34 9 / 21 / 2015 • Sober Nation

Name: Katie Roby

Age: 34

Sober Since: 09 / 21 / 2015

Sober For: 8 Years & 213 Days

What it was like?

Living in active addiction was the most depressing state of being I can imagine. I knew I was slowly killing myself, but I didn’t know how to stop. I lived in a constant state of fear, anxiety, paranoia and self-loathing. Towards the end, I didn’t even want to live anymore. I saw no point in continuing to live the life I was living, but I knew of no feasible way to a better one. I had no hope for the future.

What happened?

In a moment of clarity, I asked for help. I admitted my struggles (reluctantly at first) and became desperate enough to follow the suggestions that were given to me. One step at a time, and with a lot of encouragement and support, I dug myself out of the hell I had been living in and began to create a new life.

What it is like now?

Life in sobriety is better than anything I could have ever dreamed of. Every day still presents new challenges, but I now have the strength, tools and support to face my challenges with courage and hope. I have rebuilt relationships, made new and lifelong friends, and found a joy in everyday living that I had never before experienced. I have learned how to be humble and honest about my struggles, and through this, I have found I can be a support to others who are like me. Instead of focusing on everything that is wrong with my life, I have learned to incorporate gratitude into my daily routine and appreciate the little things in life. It’s true what they say: “it’s not happy people that are grateful; it’s grateful people that are happy.” Getting sober has (and probably always will be) the best (and hardest) decision I have ever made in my life. My sobriety is more important to me than anything else; because without it, I truly believe I would have nothing. If anyone reading this is still struggling with addiction, please believe me when I say there IS another way to live. There IS a solution. Just ASK for help. ❤️