Courtney grew up in the hills of West Virginia, but life took a dark turn when addiction entered her world. In 2017, she walked away from everything she knew, deep in the grips of IV drug use.
Looking back, Courtney admits there were moments when she feared for her life—nights when the weight of addiction crushed her spirit, leaving her wondering if she’d wake up at all.
The battle left her with scars—some from violence, others from the endless cycle of picking and using—physical reminders of a time when self-destruction was her only escape.
But the scars run deeper than skin. Addiction had driven Courtney to lose sight of her self-worth entirely.
Reflecting on that time, she said, “I used to thoroughly hate myself, and my decisions followed suit.
Self-sabotage became my actual lifestyle.” It was a brutal cycle, one that seemed impossible to break.
In January 2014, addiction cost Courtney something precious—her daughter.
A courtroom decision stripped her of primary custody, leaving her broken and full of shame.
She wanted to be the mother her daughter deserved, but addiction had robbed her of that chance. Instead of becoming the wake-up call she needed, the loss only deepened her spiral.
The weight of failure and guilt pushed her further into addiction’s grip, leaving her feeling more hopeless than ever.
Her brother Shawn—her rock and a beacon of love—passed away from cancer at just 33 years old.
Losing him was another devastating blow, but instead of driving her into complete darkness, it planted the first seed of change.
His death haunted her, but it also reminded her that life was slipping away—and that she might not have much time left.
Still, it would take more time and struggle before Courtney was ready to fight her way out.
Everything changed on January 27, 2018. That was the day she finally looked in the mirror and saw the reality she could no longer ignore. She woke up, confronted the chaos, and made a promise to herself: she would get clean—and stay clean.
It wasn’t easy.
The road to recovery was filled with moments of doubt and nights when the pull of old habits felt impossible to resist.
But she fought through every craving, every setback, and every moment of fear.
“Don’t ever underestimate your capacity for change. It can completely transform your life. We do recover,” she often says—a message she now shares with others walking the same difficult road.
The transformation didn’t happen overnight. There was real work—work she avoided for so long but finally embraced. As she puts it, “The magic that you are looking for is in the work that you are avoiding.” And in doing the work, she discovered the strength she had been searching for all along.
Today, Courtney is a different woman. Clean and committed to her recovery, she has stepped back into her daughter’s life and reclaimed her role as a mother.
Along the way, she also became a mom to her son, giving both her children the love and stability they deserve. Instead of shame, she carries pride.
Instead of being a warning, her story is now a light for others—proof that no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can rise again.
Courtney’s story has become a beacon of hope for others struggling with addiction.
Through her Instagram, she shares the raw truth about her journey—the pain, the triumphs, and everything in between.
And with every post, she reminds her followers of one powerful truth: change is possible.
Her story is about more than just recovery—it’s about reclaiming the power that was always within her. It’s about facing the darkest parts of yourself and finding beauty on the other side. It’s a reminder that no matter where you come from or what you’ve been through, you can break free from the chaos.
At Leaving Mayhem, Courtney’s journey speaks directly to our core belief: life may throw you into the storm, but you have the power to rise from it. No matter how lost you feel, there’s always a way forward. Her story shows us that the scars we carry can become reminders—not of what we’ve lost, but of what we’ve overcome.
Courtney Instagram: courtnologist
