After a year at Adult & Teen Challenge Ohio Valley, Lydia Gallimore will graduate July 22, committed to a relationship with God.
Her addiction to alcohol, cocaine and heroin brought her to the facility for help.
“I really was lost and hopeless and I’d been to rehabs before, but nothing worked for me,” Lydia, 24, said.
She heard about ATCOV and liked that it was faith based and a yearlong.
Her addictions began when Lydia was 13. Alcohol and drugs eased the anxiety and depression brought on by trauma. Using the substances made her feel normal.
She believes the God aspect of ATCOV is what made the program work for her.
Upon graduation, Lydia plans to return home to Lansing, Mich., stay in a sober living facility initially and get a job. She hopes to one day work in ministry.
Having a relationship with God gives her freedom. Before she built that relationship, Lydia was depressed.
“Even when I was sober, I wasn’t enjoying life,” Lydia said.
She grew up in a loving Christian home and the family attended church weekly.
“I knew of God, but I didn’t have a close relationship with him,” Lydia said.
At ATCOV, she started staying in the Bible and praying, going to different chapels and churches and learning more about God.
It happened relatively quickly.
“I pretty much surrendered,” she said. “I didn’t really want to go back to rehab. I just wanted a safe place to grow and walk with Jesus.”
Shortly before coming to ATCOV, Lydia was on the verge of suicide.
“I prayed to God and he told me to be still and ‘know that I am God.’ I felt this overwhelming peace and I just gave my life to him,” she said.
Her life is much better now.
“I have more joy and I’m more peaceful,” Lydia said. “I have restored relationships with my children and with my mother and father. Overall I feel better physically.”
Lydia has two children, a girl and a boy, ages 5 and 3. She believes she’s a better mother to them now. She’s able to be there for them, love them and set a positive example.
“Just be the parent God intended me to be and that they deserve,” she said.
