From Addiction to Recovery to Counseling Others
Raymond Larrow, BHN Recovery Counselor, Hope Center
“It’s never too late,” is a mantra Raymond shares with those striving to make a positive change in their lives, or, in his case, serves as a reminder of how things used to be. Now a recovery counselor at BHN’s Hope Center, Raymond Larrow provides support to individuals recovering from an addiction.
A native of Holyoke, Raymond’s first job was at a local Friendly’s, and, over the next several years, his hard work led to a managerial position. It was at that time that Raymond was introduced to alcohol, and due to the fast-paced, high-stress nature of his job, he began to drink excessively. After getting married, Raymond eventually took a job as a supervisor at the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail center, which lasted for ten years. By this point, however, Raymond’s alcohol use had turned to alcoholism.
In Raymond’s words, “It was time for me to shape up and ship out,” and he agreed to seek treatment at a recovery facility in Vermont. The day he went remains a vivid memory for him: “My wife drove me to the treatment facility in Brattleboro, and I was sitting in the passenger seat with our three-year-old and six-year-old on my lap — I’ll never forget how that felt.” For Raymond, this moment played a large role in his recovery process, and still does to this day. “I got active,” he says, “I listened and I learned while I was in recovery.” Raymond successfully completed his recovery program in Brattleboro and returned home to his wife and kids.
Soon after, and following his “It’s never too late” mantra, Raymond decided he wanted to finish his education, and enrolled in classes at Holyoke Community College (HCC), taking courses at night, over the summer, and online. At HCC, Raymond’s recipe for success mirrored the attitude he had during his recovery; “Even though I was the oldest student in class, I sat up front, asked questions, and did my homework. I was very active — action is the magic word for almost anything.” Eventually, Raymond received a certificate degree in Alcohol and Addiction Studies.
With a “new lease on life,” as Raymond puts it, the completion of his degree led to a job at BHN’s Hope Center, a program he volunteered at while completing his degree. Raymond was involved with the Hope Center in its infancy, serving as one of its first guest speakers when there were only three individuals being served. Today, the Hope Center is a 30-bed facility providing 14-30 days of stabilization services. Raymond now helps over 30 individuals, many in their early-to-mid twenties battling various addictions. “Now, being on the other side of addiction, I can be the one to pass on wisdom, knowledge, and hope. When you’re battling an addiction, the hardest thing to do is take things one day at a time, but when you do, the things you love gradually come back into your life.” Raymond especially loves “medallion days”; “I love seeing the excitement” when individuals are awarded tokens commemorating a sobriety milestone.
Raymond’s wife and six children, and his passion for serving others in the position he was once in, provide a solid support system for his continued sobriety. “I feel an overwhelming sense of inner peace. I take joy in the simple things in life now,” he says. In addition to his work at the Hope Center, Raymond continues to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, visits the West Springfield Monastery nearly every morning, and volunteers at Holyoke CareOne for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. Back at the Hope Center, when asked about what the future holds for him, Raymond responds, “This is a job I can see myself doing for quite a while.”
