What Recovery Day Means to Me: Andy

[Transcript]

There are many lives and many paths to healing. The mental health professionals that I worked with on my journey helped light the path for me. My name is Andy, I’m a member of the Recovery Ambassador Council for ERC and Pathlight.

My path before treatment, before ERC and Pathlight, before recovery, was all darkness. I certainly wasn’t heading in the direction of healing – more likely the opposite direction. And these individuals dedicated their lives to teaching people like me how to live life better.

You know, I was completely lost. The helped me move towards the light, towards healing, towards recovery. I was lost and they gave me a map. They showed me how to read it. And they kind of walked with me for the first little bit.

I will be forever grateful for every single mental health professional that I came into contact with in my journey for just the selfless act of doing what they do.

For all of you out there, thank you. Happy Recovery Day, everybody.

About Recovery Day

On Recovery Day we celebrate the hard work of seeking recovery & mental health. Recovery Day’s theme, “Many Lives, Many Paths to Healing” allows each of us to celebrate where we are on our own mental health journey. Some of our paths feel barricaded by trees and roots, while others of us see more clear trail markers to our destination. And yet here we are to celebrate another year. 

The path of you. The path of me. The courage that it has taken to continue on this journey and those who have supported the path to recovery along the way.