Courtney grew up in a small town in Alabama where her wishes weren’t to grow up and become hooked on Crack or Heroin addicted. However, a traumatic experience led her down the dark path to drug addiction where she thought she was going to die alone, depressed and hopeless.
The trauma started in Courtney’s life where she was brutally raped at just four years old. When she looks back, images of her sitting by the judge in court practicing what she was going to say to reveal the truth about her rapist still haunts her daily.
When going through something so young, you don’t understand how to cope. Which causes mental health issues that last a lifetime. These mental health issues can be things such as bi-polarism, depression and anxiety.
Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders
For Courtney, this trauma didn’t only cause her to turn to drugs and alcohol, she dealt with severe anxiety and became very codependent to men. The rape gave her severe anxiety if she wasn’t with a man at all times, no matter how abusive the relationship was.
“I knew how to lie, I knew how to get what I wanted.” Not only did Courtney believe she needed to be with a man to be happy, she also believed she needed to be on drugs to cope. She didn’t know any other way of living was possible.
At age 15, Courtney’s stepdad was suffering from many health issues where he had to go through open heart surgery. With all the surgeries her stepdad had, there were leftover pain pills she could steal to get high.
Xanax Bars and Painkillers
“They prescribed me pain medication and Xanax.” Her pain medication addiction only flourished when she was in an accident with her friends Chuck and Kate.
Courtney vividly remembers the accident. She remembers the sound of the car hitting trees and spinning out. She remembers paramedics picking pieces of glass out of her mouth and being the only one to survive that was not wearing a seat belt.
This accident didn’t only cause her physical pain, it caused emotional pain and post-traumatic stress. Her post-traumatic stress was so intense, she needed Xanax to cope with the roller coaster of emotions.
A few years after the accident, Courtney got her life together for a while and had two children. However, when they were three and four years old, she became severely addicted to Meth.
If it wasn’t for Courtney’s mother, she doesn’t know if her children would even be alive because in the moment, drugs were more important than anything. On Mother’s Day, Courtney’s mom ended up taking her kids completely away from her which sent her off the edge further than she had ever been before.
To top off her kids being taken away, Courtney’s grandma was also taken away too. Courtney drove thirteen hours to get to her grandmother’s funeral where she was arrested just before the viewing for shoplifting. It still haunts her today that she wasn’t able to see her grandma be put to rest.
Searching For Answers
“It was so dark, I was so miserable.” After the trauma of losing her kids and grandmother, Courtney and her fiancé went to Florida to get drug and alcohol treatment. Upon their arrival to Florida, the treatment they were going too didn’t exist. Which caused them to be homeless, alone and scared, while sleeping on a sidewalk and wanting help they couldn’t find.
After three weeks of being homeless in Florida with her fiancé, Courtney was done suffering. She made some phone calls and found a treatment center to go to in Alabama.
At the treatment center in Alabama, Courtney was lucky enough to be sent to treatment out in Arizona. She was relieved to leave Alabama and excited to start a new life in Arizona.
Finding Answers and A New Life
When Courtney got to Arizona, she knew she was safe. She finally felt like she could live life without drugs and alcohol. However, one thing was missing- her fiancé Brett.
After some time, Brett also made his way out to Arizona after a relapse in Alabama. Their relationship has only flourished because of their sobriety. They both learned how to love themselves and each other- sober.
Courtney’s life has only gotten better through recovery. She has learned how to live without the use of drugs and alcohol, how to cope with emotions and feels like she belongs in this world.
The thing that has helped Courtney most is the other women in the 12-step program. She believes they loved her until she could love herself. She now trusts in her higher power and prays daily to have God remove her defects of character and help her live life on life’s terms.
Courtney’s life isn’t perfect, but she knows it will never get better if she doesn’t keep going to 12-step meeting and continue working with others in the program. Courtney knows she could still be out on the streets and counts her blessings daily that she found hope in a dark place.’
Grateful for 12-Step Programs
She knows without the 12-step program, none of this would be possible- she wouldn’t be alive. She would still be out in Florida, homeless and suffering if she didn’t make the decision to live a better life for herself.
The 12-steps treatment and learning how to love life without the use of drugs saved Courtney’s life, it can save yours too. Start living and fighting against your addiction now. Contact us for resources and assistance. You too can find a way out.
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36 comments
Wow she has been through a lot. Being raped at 4 years old is beyond unimaginable! Do you know if the rapist was every charged and put away in prison? I hope he was put away for life! That is so awful and I can’t imagine the life long emotional roller coaster that stemmed from this. It made me nervous hearing her talk about the car wreck, something similar happened to my good friend when his head hit the windshield, unfortunately he didn’t survive, he was only a sophomore in high school too.
My rapist served 4 years for his charge with me but Ive heard rumors that he had to go back to prison after that for doing it to some other little girl. It’s sad.
I hope he was put away for life. This is pure wickedness. He had got to go back life. Imagine the long emotional. The trauma of that action alone is very bad as a little child.
12-step program is really helpful to a lot of addicted people. But what actually draw my attention was Courtney being raped at age 4 (four). This is pure wickedness. The trauma of that action alone is very bad as a little child. Thanks to God and 12-step program. The are doing well. Congrat to Courtney.
Courtney Story was an interesting and inspirational one. I’m so glad she’s doing well and happy now.
Courtney after you loose your kids and grandmother you concious,i also grateful for 12 steps program help hundred people sober from addict
when you are brutally raped at four, the trauma can hunt you for the rest of your life. knowing how to cope with an issue like this is difficult for a kid. Courtney has gone through a lot..the accident, and then getting addicted to meth..and then having her kids taken away..I’m glad she got her life back through the 12 step program..stories like this make me cry…
Courtney’s story is very emotional and inspirational, raped at a tender age can affect psychologically and can also be traumatic. Thank God she sought for help and she is doing very well in recovery. Detox to rehab thank you for the 12 – steps program it is really a life saver.
What else can you go through today that can make you so sad . Her story alone is so sad that it will make sit back and have a second thought about your life. But it is really great that she could pull through.
12 step program is really helpful. This is very important for all persons who are suffering from drugs and addictions. Thanks for sharing this blog.
The rapist should be jailed for life. Why will you even rape not to talk of a 4year old child. Its totally absurd. Am glad she’s able to recover with the 12 steps program. Thank you detox for initiating the program
Damn. This is really sad. She should have been given proper treatment. I really feel sad reading her story.
Detox to Rehab’s 12step programme is indeed a gift to the world. Who can imagine how people like Courtney would have faired without it. Congrats Courtney for being able to scale through!
Hopelessness isn’t a good idea because it makes people to lose direction. Detox rehab, you doing well.
Rape! I don’t think anything traumatized like rape. Thank God you have been able to overcome this with the help of God through Detox Rehab programme.
Courtney should be grateful to 12 day program organizers for rediscovering her life during strong addiction of alcohol. Their is more to life, we should live and remember their is tomorrow and not destroyed it via alcohol and drug abuse.
I agree addiction starts and ends with you!!!! I know at times life happens and it tosses curve balls which is why addiction or bad things happen. At the end of the day tho it will boil down to what you want to do, If you decide to change stick to it. It is your life and you are in charge.
The only hope of men and women on earth is Jesus Christ our saviour. He has led you out of hopelessness., Kindly accept him so that your recovery will be permanent.
Rape is a very bad criminal activity. i feel sympathy for Courtney to have experienced such incident at a very young age and going into addiction while searching for answers. Glad that she find her way to recovery and the 12 step program really help her.
Thank God she still in her right senses. This is because, the experience is enough for her to be mentally disabled. Your recovery is permanent in Jesus name.
I do agree when you get exposed to certain things at a younger age, it can last a lifetime. I believe parents and anyother person who reads these articles imparts it to other people or their children. Living a sober life is what all humanity need.
Really happy for Courtney for finding recovery after going through such challenges at childhood. Going through such ordeal of rape and looking for answers led to her missing the part to having a good life.
Courtney really went through a rollercoaster of bad events. This is way more than enough to mess with anyone’s mindset. She eventually chose the dark side hoping it would help ease things. I’m glad she didn’t hesitate too much to go for the light when she found it. I wish you all round peace henceforth Courtney.
This is a very pathetic story. Courtney’s life from the moment she was raped at childhood which led to many challenges that she encountered. I am really happy for her life now as she finds her path to recovery through the 12 step program.
Courtney has seen the reason for recovery from drug addiction. Detox is on top of drug recovery.
she went through a lot of hardships early on. But, glad that she recovered.
Thank you Detax to rehab for sharing these type of stories with all of us.These stories are really very much inspirational for many people who are addicted with something and try to recover from that.
This story is indeed pathetic and touching. The dangers of substance abuse outweigh its benefits. In view of this, drug addicts are enjoined to desist from this habit.
It is really sad to hear that she had to endure such things at such an early age. She was addicted to alcohol and probably used it to deal with problems in life, but alcohol never solves problems ever. What’s quite worse is the fact that she was also addicted to pain killers. People must realize that pain killers can be as addictive as other substances. It is good to read that she is recovering and she also found Brett. I wish her all the best!
Courtney ,I admire your courage. I can only imagine how she felt after the rape and the emotional rollercoaster she went through. Your freedom from addiction and getting your life on track is what matters. I am so happy for you.
It gladden my heart to see how 12 step program helped those that are addicted to recover,thanks to detox to rehab for doing the great work and for sharing. Welldone
12 steps programs are progressive and helpful within a short period of time.
It’s a very encouraging article. Thanks for motivating us regularly and it’s really a new boost to start the day.
Courtney’s story is a very emotional one. I dont know where she got the strength from because some other people in her shoes would have lost it. Thank detox to rehab for helping her find her feet again. I am filled with so much joy that she now understands the true meaning of being loved.
Am really happy for Courtney,this is one heck of a story.
Thanks to God and 12 step program she’s doing great now.
No one will deliberately want to go the way of drug addiction… Many factors are at work here just as in the case of Courtney and several others… Thanks to Detox with the 12 step program amidst other programs who are deliberately working on pulling people out of all forms of addiction… Thanks Detox.