My name is Angela Shuff, I am a woman in active and sustained long-term recovery from substance use disorder and behavioral/mental health issues. My recovery journey began in October of 2018 when the way I had been living finally landed me in jail. After getting some sobriety under my belt, I realized how badly I needed to change my life, so I decided to take advantage of the new opportunities I saw in front of me. With all the determination I could muster, I dove into recovery and began my journey of change and healing. I was done with the life that I had been living, but I needed a lot of help to find my way out of it and into a life that I didn’t want to escape from.

In 2020 I became a participant of Advocates for Recovery Colorado and I fell in love with the amazing community of people involved with AFRC and the culture of recovery and advocacy that blossoms through this organization. I eventually transitioned to the role of volunteer and at the beginning of 2022, I was hired as a Peer Recovery Coach for AFRC Sterling, and I have since become a Certified Colorado Peer and Family Specialist. Today, I feel blessed to help others find their Purpose, Drive, and Passion and to bring Recovery Support Services to rural Colorado.

In my free time I enjoy being with family and loved ones, taking long walks, being creative with macrame and embroidery, and spending time in relationship with God.

Connection is the opposite of addiction, and the connections I have made in my recovery bring meaning and fulfillment to my life in a way that I never thought possible in my addiction. I am grateful I found the courage to push outside of my comfort zone and take control of my life. By doing that, I discovered I can bring goodness and value to places where I once caused chaos and destruction. By doing that, I regained the trust and respect of my loved ones, and most importantly myself. For me, every day in recovery is a new chance in life; a chance to rebuild, a chance to be reborn, a chance to make new choices with a clear mind, a mended heart, and a present spirit.