Autumn Hoskyns has been in recovery from Substance Use Disorder for four and a half years. Three years ago a FAVOR Recovery Coach met her mother-in-law in the hospital to help her get into a residential treatment program which is when Autumn first heard about FAVOR. When Autumn took the Certified Peer Support Specialist training through FAVOR she met more staff and that reignited her interest in FAVOR. She started attending in-person and Zoom All Recovery meetings and that spark turned into a burning passion for the FAVOR mission. It was the “family connection she missed in her early recovery that she could not find elsewhere. She found community and no stigma at FAVOR.”

Autumn facilitates All Recovery meetings at both the Anderson Center and on Zoom. She also does facility outreach for FAVOR. Asked why she volunteers for FAVOR, she said, “You get to help people overcome the same challenges I had. It is gratifying and a beautiful thing to see the light come back on in someone’s eyes. Seeing FAVOR be there in their journey is just awesome. I love FAVOR and what it does for the community.”

Volunteer Coordinator Roy Dessloch had high praise for Autumn. “Her spirit of volunteerism and enthusiasm for FAVOR and recovery is infectious. Autumn exemplifies the FAVOR mission in all she does. We are very fortunate that she found us and is a huge asset to our community.” Thank you, Autumn, for all you are doing for so many!

In her own words, Ordo shares: “The road to sobriety is hard, and I don't intend to sugar coat any part of it for you. In this book I will take it back to the beginning. My life was that of a hardcore weekend binge drinker, one blackout night after another. I welcome you into my rock-bottom moments, my losing all control, and my putting my life back together, piece by piece. Sober as F*** is a personal memoir of my first two years of sobriety, but it is not only about becoming sober from alcohol. I was forced to face and accept many sobering realities about myself along the way when I put down the bottle. Everything in my life had to be broken down to nothing in order to rebuild it from the ground up. I would have to acknowledge my unhealthy relationships with men, come to terms with depression and anxiety, and to realize that I had been drowning all of my issues and emotions away, one swig of vodka at a time. In the beginning of my sobriety, I looked for support in many places. All of the books and stories I found never fit what mine looked like. So, this one is for all the people out there with stories like mine, looking for reassurance that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel. I was so desperate to find that kind of reassurance during my journey, so I hope my story can be that for you. To the weekend binger, to the young woman so desperate to feel love, to the one losing all hope that things can get better... This one is for you.”

Ordo has written several books and has a fantastic podcast and meaningful blog and even has a 28-day workbook. She is a younger person, who found sobriety earlier than some of us and she is truly thriving in her recovery. She talks about her recovery loud and proud and she makes no apologies. She found her true, authentic self and is making the most of it with thriving business ventures.

Ordo does not pull any punches about where she was and how she saw herself. She dug deep in her self-discovery and renewal. Her podcast and blog are geared toward those still struggling and those who are finding their way in this recovery “thing.” She wants to help continue to reduce the stigma of addiction. While she is a millennial and sometimes leans toward that group, her messages are spot on about mental health, boundaries, self-care and lifestyle changes. She emphasizes self-worth and loving yourself, learning to love yourself again. She shares and shows that it is possible, this recovery “thing.” 

I am grateful for people like Sarah who have the courage to write their stories for us all to be able to learn and grow. I am thankful for FAVOR to provide this community of support for all of us going through this recovery “thing.” I believe we all are striving to be Sober as F***…one day at a time.

Beth Holladay-Edwards

What a great Naloxone Awareness Day event! WE gave out nearly 100 boxes of Narcan today which equals LIVES SAVED! Thank you to everyone who stopped by the table and a big thank you to Walmart in Easley for letting us set up!