An Abundant Life
My name is Ann, and I’m 38 years old. Growing up, I had a great childhood. I wasn’t rich, but I didn’t want for anything. I grew up regularly attending church. My life seemed to turn around when I lost my dad at the age of 13 due to alcoholism. I tried to cope with it for years, but couldn’t really find a way. My Junior year of high school I was put into a mental facility for depression for 30 days. I graduated from high school and went on to college but ended up quitting because my son was small and it seemed too hard. That is when I started working as a CNT at a nursing home.
I met my husband in 2000 and by 2002 we had two children. Over the next 10 years, he became very abusive in every way. After my second child was born, I began taking prescription pain pills for back pain. Over the next few years I started taking anything I could get my hands on. I left my husband and my life was totally unmanageable. I began stealing from my family, but didn’t seem to care. I lost my children and the respect of everyone around me.
My cousin had been telling me about Teen Challenge for a while, but I thought I was okay. I finally realized my life was so empty and miserable, and I knew either I was going to die from the way I was living or I was going to take my own life. I then decided to come to the Teen Challenge of the Upper Cumberland Crisis Center, and it has changed my life!
With God’s help and the help of all the staff here, the void that I had has now been filled. I now feel that I have a purpose and a second chance at life. I know God has great plans for me and wants to give me an abundant life!