AJ Celebrates 6 Years of Recovery

AJ Diaz • March 8, 2021

This past Thursday marked 6 years of continuous sobriety. Now, depending on who you ask, some might say that they can’t even conceptualize being sober for that long and others will say that I am just getting started. As I sit and reflect, I think that both statements are true. 


Much like New Years, a sobriety date is a time where natural reflection comes into play. Every year of being sober, this week is always a bit…well its odd. I have so many mixed feelings and emotions that at times, it can feel very hard to sift through. It is almost as if I am unable to understand what is going on in my head and my heart. During this week and the week leading up to it, I reflect on so many different things. I look at the year past, I look at the entirety of my sobriety and I also look back on these particular two weeks. After all, the two weeks leading up to today don’t just mark a changing of my life, it also marks a time when things were…well, let’s just say things weren’t so hot. As I look back, I think that is the genesis of the mix of feelings. On one hand, there is so much gratitude that I am filled with. There are no words that I could string together that would adequately describe how grateful I am for my sobriety and the many things that it has given me. On the other hand, I am filled with immense sadness in looking back on where I was 6 years ago. Being here now, it is hard to fathom that my life was once very hollow. There are other parts of that sadness – shame with actions that I took and people that I hurt and frustration with myself that I let things get so bad. As I sift through this mountain of feelings, I go back to the two separate voices – “I can’t believe you have 6 years, I can’t even imagine that” and “Ahhh, you are just getting started.”


They’re both right. I look back to where I was 6 years ago, and I remember vividly being in a treatment center and hearing people say “I’ve got 30 days today” and thinking to myself “THIRTY?!?!” I couldn’t comprehend how that person got to that point. Then, there are days like today where a lot of those 6 years feel like they happened so fast. So many things happened to get me to this point – so many people helping me, so many people being kind to me, supporting me and loving me. None of this happened without that supporting cast. It was also that supporting cast that pulled me out of the mud and helped me to realize that I am worth it and that not only was I deserving of the help that was being offered but that I would be able to turn the tide of what was happening in my life. When I think about the other voice, the one that says it’s still early, I immediately think about the position that being sober has put me in. Getting sober has given me the opportunity to really show up – for friends and family and most importantly, for myself. It has allowed me to create a life that I want to be a part of. It has allowed me to be present for the people that I care about accomplish things that I always wanted to accomplish. I look at these 6 years and what they have given me and I really can conceptualize those people who say that its early. If sobriety has given me this much in 6 years…what else does it have in store for me if I continue to walk this path?


I always find it interesting when two opposites are true at the same time. Yes, it is still early for my recovery. To me, that just means that I have so much more wonderful growth to experience. Yes, I can’t believe it’s been 6 years. It allows me to look and see just how far I’ve come and all the work that went into it. I will end here – no matter if you have 10 minutes, days or years…bravo and I can’t wait for all you have in store. 

Jason's Story - From Rock Bottom to New Heights: My Journey of Recovery and Reinvention

By Jason Ertrachter • February 4, 2025
With over a decade of alcohol and drug abuse, it became clear I could not drink responsibly or consume in moderation. Upon further review, I came to understand I was never able to drink responsibly and was predisposed to consume in excess. Moderation is a construct I still don’t understand. Alcohol, drugs, sugar, ego, all things I love to indulge in. At 25 years old, weeks before the pandemic, I found myself being escorted by security from my beloved office in a sought-after industry in a glamorous part of Los Angeles. Pursuing a career in talent management, the late nights, weekly drinking, daily drug use culminated in the unavoidable fear, anxiety and sense of calamity that led me to recovery. I asked myself, “What was the common denominator between lost jobs, friends lost, arrests, hurt feelings and selfishness?” People, places, things were always changing, but the one constant in my story was me with drugs and alcohol. Walking into the West Hollywood Recovery Center on Monday February 5th, 2020 at noon was not my first meeting. It was, however, the first meeting at which I listened and actually took suggestions. Meetings as a teenager, and again in college when my drug use got bad, were simply to get people off my back. As I look back, I understand that I actually needed to get out of my own way, not have those who loved me off of my back. I am grateful to have gotten sober during a time when the world shut down and so many struggled. I had nowhere to go, no outside distractions to challenge my commitment. I fully emerged myself in meetings and all that AA had to offer for young people. There were thousands of virtual meetings at every hour of the day, but more importantly, rooms and outdoor meetings in LA that never missed a beat. There was an underground community of meeting makers that continued to go to in-person meetings, masks on, hugs and fellowship. I found that the work of early recovery far outweighed the isolation. I left the entertainment industry with two years of sobriety. New career opportunities opened up pretty quickly for me. Transitioning into the startup and tech sales world, I was able to move back home to New York and be closer to my family. As my sobriety continued, new career paths continued to present themselves. When I was introduced to Matt and AJ, I was immediately impressed with their mission and welcomed the opportunity to join the team. I am confident that the combination of my personal and professional success, as well as my CARC, CRPA certification, made my decision the perfect one for me. Having hit my stride in my own recovery, I now see that that my purpose is to help others. It is a purpose I do not take lightly. I bring the same energy and focus that has helped me to get where I am today to other individuals and families alike looking for a better way.

Stephanie's Story - My Journey to Addiction Recovery and Giving Back

By Stephanie Myers, CPRS • January 29, 2025
My name is Stephanie Myers, and I am excited to be part of the incredible team at You Are Accountable . As difficult as my journey prior to recovery was, I am grateful for every step along the way. My recovery journey began five years ago through what I believe was divine intervention. At my lowest point—mentally, physically, and spiritually—I was led to a 12-step recovery program. Most of my life was spent seeking relief from my internal and external struggles. During my teenage years, I thought I had found a solution, but my addiction only progressed, leading me to the depths of despair. My addiction compromised my morals, diminished my integrity, and left me with a profound sense of hopelessness. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, I realized that everything in my life had to change. I became willing to do whatever it took to shift the trajectory of my life. Gradually, I connected with others who understood my pain and had found their way to recovery. I dedicated myself to internal work and began to fill the spiritual void that I had been attempting to fill with substances. Today, my life is filled with purpose, love, and more beauty than I could have ever imagined five years ago. It is my passion to help others realize that there is hope on the other side of addiction. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, I strive to help plant the seed of recovery and help others grow along their path to recovery.

Brittany's Story: Overcoming Addiction to Find Hope, Healing, and Purpose

By Brittany Pealer, CRPS • January 28, 2025
My name is Brittany, and I’m honored to be part of the team at You Are Accountable . My journey to recovery has been filled with struggles, lessons, and, ultimately, transformation. For years, I lived in the utter hopelessness of addiction, believing there was no way out. A "normal" life felt completely out of reach, and even as a child, I never felt like I had a true purpose. Throughout my active addiction, I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle. I would put one substance down—whether through treatment or court-ordered intervention—but almost immediately, I would pick up another. Each time, I restarted the same painful, destructive cycle, convinced that I could never break free. It wasn’t until I realized that recovery is an inside job that things began to change. Changing people, places, and things (and substances) can only do so much for so long; true recovery requires doing the hard work within. My turning point came when I became pregnant with my first daughter. For the first time in my life, I found a reason to fight for something greater than myself. That moment marked the beginning of my journey to recovery, and through that journey, I discovered the life I never thought was possible. Today, I’m blessed with an amazing job, a beautiful family with two incredible daughters, and an active role in my recovery community. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and Recovery Coach, I am passionate about helping others find hope and healing. I understand the challenges of breaking free from addiction, and I’m living proof that it’s possible to create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection. Recovery has given me everything I once believed was out of reach, and I’m honored to walk alongside others as they embark on their own journeys to freedom.
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