Posts tagged addict
I'm A Miracle with Dorris Walker-Taylor of Thistle Farms

Dorris Walker-Taylor is a survivor of sexual exploitation and addiction, as well as a graduate and now employee of the program that helped save her, Thistle Farms. Dorris landed at Thistle Farms after twenty-six years of addiction. She attributes the women at Thistle Farms for loving her back to life. 

Dorris grew up with her parents in a lovely neighborhood where everyone knew each other. When she was twelve her world shattered—a troubled family member severely injured her mother and killed her father. 

Dorris tried to numb her feelings through marijuana. Once marijuana didn’t have the same effect, she started using cocaine. Dorris was addicted to cocaine, lived on the streets of Nashville and was in and out of jail by the time she was an adult. 

Dorris talks of her mom’s home as a praying home. When Dorris returned home at her mother's request to sing in a choir reunion. Dorris obliged and sang, "You're Looking at a Miracle" by Lemmie Battles.

Dorris  had no idea that her mother's prayers, coupled with this request for her to sing, would change her life just as the song said: miraculously. 

The tagline of Thistle Farms is “Love Heals” and they believe love is the most powerful force for change in the world. Thistle Farms was founded in 1997 by Becca Stevens and helps rescue women from human trafficking, sexual exploitation, addiction and abuse. 

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After Alcohol: Finding Joy with Rachel, Member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

Rachel's husband was going to leave here and take their children with him. While Rachel had been deceiving her husband and hiding the extent of her drinking for some time, her recent car accident couldn't be explained away. She was caught.

In this Easter podcast, Rachel looks back on this moment as a gift from God--this was the "rock bottom" she needed to finally get help.

As Rachel engaged in the work needed to become and maintain sobriety, she discovered a greater joy than she could have ever imagined possible. 

Rachel has been an active member of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for five years. 

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My Son's Addiction to Drugs and Alcohol

Jean Heaton knew something was wrong with her son and asked God to show her what it was. Two days later she discovered her family needed help with substance abuse.

Jean talks about how drug and alcohol addiction is a family disease. Jean, her husband and their son all sought help. They "tackled it from every front they could."

What Jean learned was this meant surrendering her son and the circumstances they faced to God.

Jean shares numerous pearls of wisdom she has learned through the years it took for son to become sober.

Jean is the author of, "Helping Families Recover from Addiction: Coping, Growing and Healing through 12-Step Practices and Ignatian Spirituality."

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