Meet Julia, an exceptional Beaches Alumni

“My name is Julia, and I’ve been in recovery for almost 19 months. My sobriety date is March 27th, 2018. My experience at Beaches was very unique and critical to my sobriety. I have been to other treatment centers and hospitals to try to start to maintain sobriety. Beaches was the stepping stone I needed. Their program involving a step down method of integrating me back into society, teaching me skills on how to deal with my emotions, anger and how to interact with the world was catered to my personality with the help of the amazing staff. My therapist, the medical staff, and the other clients I became so close with helped get me to a point where I could finally stand on my own.

One thing that has helped me a lot is that I’ve stayed very connected to Beaches and the AA program since discharging from Beaches. I attend all meeting that Beaches holds for Alumni, I attend volleyball every Wednesday with a group of Beaches Alumni, and I take an AA meeting into Beaches detox (Tide’s Edge) every Tuesday. Staying connected to my family at Beaches has changed the direction my life was headed. I have rebuilt my life here in Jacksonville, my true family is not local and it made it difficult. Beaches has softened that and became my family.

When asked why I thought I was being highlighted, my response is this: I would hope that I was chosen because I’m not perfect. I do not have all the answers on how to get and stay sober. I have my experiences in life and my addiction, how I got sober and how Beaches helped me get to where I am today. I try to do everything possible to let everyone at Beaches, staff and clients, know that if you take advantage of the program, it truly can give you a new way of life! I was told the only thing you have to change is everything, and Beaches slowly helped me do that.”