Welcome to SR!! I abused one thing, then another until I got hooked on crack. When I finally chose recovery, I didn't know who I was. I'd lost the career I had, a lot of friends, and the trust of my family.
At over 4-1/2 years in recovery, life is not a piece of cake for me (did a LOT of damage), but it's so much better. I've gone back to school, reconnected with some old friends, found new ones and gained back the trust of my family. I will say, it took a lot longer than a month to figure out who I was without a substance controlling my life, but it was worth it.
Hugs and prayers,
Amy