Blue Ridge Christian News
March 29, 2026
Mitchell County
Hello, my name is Britney Stines, and I struggled with alcohol and prescription drug abuse, codependency, and self-harm. I was born to two teenage parents in April of 1994. My father left shortly after and moved to Florida. My mom met a man, and they had my sister and brother—three kids by the age of 19. My mom was an alcoholic, which led to a chaotic and neglectful childhood. DSS was involved numerous times. When they broke up, she dropped the three of us off with my memaw and left. My memaw was my favorite person in the world, so I was fine with this arrangement.
My memaw was often sick, and my step-grandfather was a mean man. In an effort to keep him away from her, I took over many of the household duties, which included taking care of my siblings. My step-grandfather eventually turned his anger toward my sister and me. He would often leave us with bruises that lasted for weeks. I started the 6th grade in this home, and I struggled. I had a really hard 6th and 7th grade years. I was placed on probation and went to truancy court in the 7th grade for missing so much school. It was shortly after my memaw passed away on March 17, 2006. I had lost my best friend, and I was heartbroken.
A few days later, the night before her funeral, my step-grandfather molested me. I spent the funeral in a daze. I didn’t know it was possible to cry so hard. I spent the day begging various family members to let us stay with them afterward. When I look back over various events of my life like this one, I find comfort in this verse: You keep track of all my sorrows, you have collected my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book. (Psalms 58:8)
Shortly after the funeral, it was determined that we would live with our mother again. I was very parentified over my siblings by this time; my mom was fine with that. She was still a daily drinker, and it was obvious she had begun to abuse other substances. I met her dealer on occasion. He had a very distinct voice. My mom treated me more like a friend, and even though I was only 13, she let me drink with her. I really enjoyed the mind-numbing effect alcohol had. I eventually started the 8th grade, and I was eager to get middle school behind me.
I had laid out of school one day and was reading in my bedroom when I heard my mom and her dealer conversing in the living room. The next thing I knew, he was in my room. My life wasn’t the same after that day. My mom traded me for drugs, and I hated her for it. I swore I would never be like her in any form. I would never hurt my children like she allowed someone to hurt me. My school attendance got worse, and we were eventually placed at Crossnore in Avery County. We were there from February 2008 to August 2008. We moved in with Pierce and Deena Brigham the weekend before I started the 9th grade. They were the type of family I thought only existed in movies. I think God put them in my life to give me a taste of His unconditional love. What they got in return was a hurt, angry, and confused teenager. I was very actively cutting myself, drinking with my friends, and lying about boys.
My mom was still working on a plan of reunification, and for some reason, I felt loyal to her. It was a struggle releasing control of my siblings and living with new rules. I ran away when I was 15 and got sent to Broyhill, a group home in Haywood, NC. While I was there, my mother relinquished her rights to all three kids. I felt like a used car she just gave away. I decided I was done fighting for a woman who didn’t want me when I had a family who clearly did. I moved home in time for the 11th grade. I flourished in the 11th and 12th grades and graduated from Mountain Heritage High School in 2012.
It was the summer after high school that I met the father of my children. Lilly Marie was born on my 19th birthday. We got married in 2015. My son Michael David was born in 2017. It was a long, hard road, but I graduated with honors from ETSU in 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Human Services. I started my dream job as a child welfare social worker directly after that. I wanted so badly to be the opposite of my mother; it was at this point that I felt like I had succeeded. I would drink socially but didn’t feel I needed it for escape. However, after a few years of being overworked both at work and at home, I was struggling.
In June of 2023, we separated, and I moved the kids and me in with my parents. Even though they were a tremendous amount of help, I continued spiraling—the drinking increased. I was also going from relationship to relationship to find my worth.
After an argument with my parents and another move to crash with family, I was almost at my breaking point. The life we all knew was seemingly over, and I felt I was the root cause. I could feel myself inching closer and closer to the chaos of my own childhood, and I didn’t know how to stop it. So I did the only thing I could think of and removed myself from the picture. I met a man and moved to Hickory the day of my son’s 7th birthday. I haven’t seen my children since. Jimmy was abusive, to say the least. But I felt I deserved it. I had received two DUIs, both after serious arguments we had. My mom had gotten DUIs also, and I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony because I had become the one thing I didn’t want to be.
I spiraled downward into a horrible darkness where the guilt and the shame were all-consuming. When I look back at where I was a year ago, this verse rings true: “For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the light” (Colossians 1:13). After a few days of building tension, I was afraid for my life, so I texted my brother, who drove an hour and a half to come get me and bring me home. I spent the next five months trying to drink my life away before I violated probation and went to jail for four months. I honestly figured I’d be dead before I would have to worry about that.
I attempted to take matters into my own hands and stole some of my mom’s medication; I figured it would be enough for an overdose. I was wrong. After that, I left for the weekend, and then my parents told me I could no longer stay with them. They would help me find somewhere to go, but I needed help.
I know God had His hand on this situation when I called Jessica at Never2Scarred; she agreed to take me the next day. When I arrived at Never2Scarred, I was defeated, tired, and at rock bottom. Jesus said, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). That’s exactly what He’s done since I’ve been here at Never2Scarred. I had surrendered to the enemy and believed the lies he was flooding my brain with. I was a liar, a manipulator, a horrible mom, an addict, an awful daughter, and an even worse sister.
However, on November 11, 2025, I gave my heart and my life to Jesus Christ, and now I respond to a new set of labels. Some of my favorites are:
I am forgiven. “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7).
I am a special possession. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness” (1 Peter 2:9).
I am justified. “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).
I am a child of God, who was bought with a price, and I have been made for more.
On February 20th, I will have been sober for four months. While I have not had any communication with my kids yet, I know God is working toward restoration in ways I can’t even see. I know He has a plan for all things, and I trust Him in that. During this time of waiting, He is molding me to be the godly mother my children deserve. I look forward to helping them learn their new identity in Christ as well. I am thankful God chose to save my earthly life, but most importantly, I am thankful that He sent His Son to save my eternal soul
