Joy Burrill kayaking
Growing up in Berlin, New Hampshire, Joy was always striving to make a positive impact. She remembers, “I always wanted to help people. That’s what drove me as a teacher and a counselor.”
Her achievements—from earning the Girl Scout Gold Award to working with youth— reflected her deep commitment to her community, as her early life was filled with purpose and ambition. Like many, though, she also carried the weight of family struggles with alcohol/addiction.
“I always knew I was at risk for alcohol/addiction, but I thought I could outrun it.”
As she moved into adulthood, the pressures of life and the pain of personal loss began to add up. She describes her college years as a time when “drinking and partying seemed normal, just part of fitting in.”
Even then, though, she was aware of a line she did not want to cross. “I was always careful, always trying to keep control,” she says. Later, as life brought both joy and heartbreak—including the birth of her children and the loss of her second child—Joy found herself turning to alcohol not just for celebration, but for comfort.
“I thought I was managing it, that I was just coping with life,” she recalls. “But slowly, it started managing me.”
Despite the challenges, her spirit never faded. She continued to teach, to parent, and to give back to her community, even on her hardest days.
“I could be at a soccer game, cheering for my kids, and no one would know what I was carrying,” she shares. “Addiction hides in plain sight.”
Joy’s turning point did not come with a dramatic fall. Instead, it was a quiet, powerful moment with her daughter in the car, listening to Pink’s song “Sober.”
“My daughter said she wanted to sing that song at her talent show. That was my wake-up call. I realized she was watching me, and I wanted to be someone she could be proud of.”
That moment led her to reach out for help—an act of strength, not weakness. “Asking for help was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but also the bravest,” she says.
Her journey through treatment was not easy, but transformative. “I met people who understood, who didn’t judge,” she explains. “I learned that recovery is about honesty and connection.”
Even as her life changed in unexpected ways, including a new chapter of being separated from her husband and moving away from the community where she grew up, Joy found new meaning. “It hurt, but it also freed me to discover who I really am,” she notes.
Joy is open about her past, not as a source of shame, but as a message of hope.
“Recovery is possible. I’m living proof of that. My kids have their mom back, and I have a life I love.”
For her, each day is an opportunity to grow, to serve, and to be present with her children. “We talk about everything, even the hard stuff,” she says. “I want them to know there’s nothing they can’t come to me with.”
Her life is now filled with gratitude, humor, and a sense of purpose that shines through in every conversation.
“If sharing my story helps just one person, it’s worth it,” she says with a smile. “There’s always hope, no matter where you start.”
If you or someone you know is struggling, you are not alone. White Horse Recovery offers services for those ready to start their journey to recovery. For more information, call 603-651-1441, Ext. 1.