Dedicated to Changing Lives

In 2010, I started experiencing debilitating abdominal pain. I was hospitalized a couple of times and eventually diagnosed with endometriosis. A very painful condition that many females live with. The doctors prescribed me hydrocodone to control my pain.

Eventually, the pain got so intense I needed several surgeries, and I was on a combination of hydrocodone, oxycodone, and tramadol for a year straight. I would look at that little pill, and couldn’t believe that it had total control over my entire life. It was exhausting! I was constantly counting pills to get a plan on how I was going to get more to get through the days.

It affected my kids and my husband’s well-being. On days that I was running low on them, I would be so irritable and on edge, I hated myself. I wanted help so bad, but I was so ashamed of myself. The shame and fear of being judged were so high that I almost lost my life to this. My kids would have been left without a mom if this had happened because of the stigma attached to this. I surrendered to God and cried out for help.

My biggest fear was people finding out my secret, but through this recovery process, I have learned to love and accept myself. I have also realized that this disease does not define me as a person. I am sharing my story to give others hope and to be a testimony that recovery is possible.

One-step, one-day, one-pivot at a time. I now feel free and proud of my journey, and I want to guide others who are battling this. I will teach you life-long tools to allow you to rid the shame and guilt that addiction comes with, and you will get back the life you deserve.

Proud Survivor,
Dominique Velasquez