I recently had the privilege to interview Joanie who works with the Keystone Treatment Center. Joanie was at one time addicted to Meth and other drugs for years.  Now, the Sioux Falls woman lives without feeding an addiction!

"I lost both of my grandparents on my father's side early in my life. Some sexual abuse---a rape---and then I lost my father when I was 19-years-old. There was a lot of trauma along with a lot of grief issues. I eventually turned to drugs and alcohol in my teens.

At the time, that was how Joanie dealt with the stress in her life.

"I just desperately wanted to get away from all of those bad, icky feelings. That was the way to do it. I also married young and had children. I think I used the drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism to suppress the grief. On top of everything, I ended up in an abusive marriage."

And that's when Joanie discovered Meth!

"Being verbally and physically abused, you grasp at any straw of being normal. I didn't know how to be normal without using drugs or alcohol. That's when my spiral started.as I was going through divorce."

Joanie says the Meth took control and wouldn't  let go.

"I used the drug daily. I would do whatever I could to get Meth---most unspeakable things. The guilt and the shame caused the spiral all over again. Probably the turning point for me was when I was overdosing and laying on my living room floor. I could see two of my friends trying to get into my house to save me! From there I had two overdoses. I was also facing legal charges. I thought about suicide. I despised myself and hated to be in my own skin. That of course just fed the addiction. You don't want to feel like that. So you seek more drugs in bigger quantities. Everybody has their rock bottom. I hit many rock bottoms before I came to terms with the fact that I needed help."

And for the past 16 and a half years, Joanie has been in recovery and loving life every minute of every day!

"Oh gosh it's amazing! There is not one thing in my life these days that I take for granted. I find beautiful and glorious moment all the time. Even during the worst and toughest days that I have---there is always something I can find to be grateful for and that's carries me through. It's those moments of gratitude that I go: 'God I've got it so good.' It's so much better than what it used to be."

In other words, Joanie lives with an Attitude of Gratitude!

"I do! I really do!"

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