Recovery is happening:
Recovery on a Mission
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My journey towards freedom from addiction did not begin with Recovery is Happening, but I couldn't be more grateful that that is where it ended up. My struggle with alcoholism began a few years after I had gastric bypass surgery in 2012. By 2020 I had gotten my first DWI and was ordered to complete intensive outpatient treatment. I went to a local program where I felt like I was participating in adult day care... I did manage to sustain 17 months of sobriety, but then I fell into old patterns. My drinking was done in secret. I was a high functioning alcoholic right up until I wasn't. I ended up getting my second DWI in April 2023, and my third in November 2023. As a consequence, to DWI number two I again found myself being assessed for chemical dependency while sitting in a room at the Southeastern Regional Crisis Center... My mental health and my chemical dependency go hand in hand. When my mental health is poor, I want to drink, when I drink, my mental health suffers.
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After a particularly horrible evening, I finally decided to attend inpatient treatment. When I got out, I went to Recovery is Happening's Intensive Outpatient Treatment program in Austin, MN. I transitioned to the program in late June 2024 and knew on my very first day that things were different here. I knew that this was the type of programming I was looking for all along. My counselor, Angie, was amazing. She brought the most refreshing combination of real-world lived experience and education/skills training to the table. You could trust what she said because she had lived it... She encouraged us to share our experiences with each other so we could learn from each other and understand that we REALLY were not alone in our struggles.
At the same time, I began receiving Peer Recovery Services from Mackenzie, who worked directly with me. She provided emotional support, practical advice, and consistent encouragement to stay engaged with the recovery community. Mackenzie encouraged me to attend community meetings and was always there to show she walked her talk. This was my first recovery experience where I felt like we were expected to build a recovery community that we WANTED to be a part of. The Peer support was a game-changer for me. It gave me a level of connection and accountability that I had not experienced before.
While I was loving my group in Austin and felt like it was immensely helpful, my living situation was rapidly deteriorating. After another particularly horrible evening, I contacted Mackenzie and shared my concerns. She worked closely with Angie and others to help me navigate these challenges and supported me through every step. Their collective support during this time made all the difference.
At the same time, I began receiving Peer Recovery Services from Mackenzie, who worked directly with me. She provided emotional support, practical advice, and consistent encouragement to stay engaged with the recovery community. Mackenzie encouraged me to attend community meetings and was always there to show she walked her talk. This was my first recovery experience where I felt like we were expected to build a recovery community that we WANTED to be a part of. The Peer support was a game-changer for me. It gave me a level of connection and accountability that I had not experienced before.
While I was loving my group in Austin and felt like it was immensely helpful, my living situation was rapidly deteriorating. After another particularly horrible evening, I contacted Mackenzie and shared my concerns. She worked closely with Angie and others to help me navigate these challenges and supported me through every step. Their collective support during this time made all the difference.
- Recovery is Happening
