07/22/2026
Women Rising in Recovery: An Anonymous Story
I’ve always been a very stubborn and focused person.
I’m constantly on the go, always trying to make the most of every minute of the day.
I’m energetic, I love organization, and I thrive with structure and routine.
I’m always looking for ways to improve myself, and I try to help others whenever I can.
I also enjoy many activities, especially those connected to art and nature.
I have two art degrees that I never fully used to their potential.
But now, with a clear mind, I’m
having fun exploring endless possibilities with my Cricut and heat press. It feels good to be
creative again.
When I do take the time to slow down, I love walking to the water, going for a hike, playing
pickleball, and most of all, seeing my daughters, family, and friends whenever I can.
Overall, I enjoy life today. I can find the positive, even when tough situations come up.
But I couldn’t always say that. What helped me begin my early recovery journey was hitting my "rock bottom".
I had exhausted many options when it came to income, housing, and the relationships in my life.
My relationships with my daughters, family, and friends were strained or nonexistent.
I was tired of being tired.
For over ten years, I kept gravitating back to the same job. It was familiar. It was something I
always returned to.
But when I was let go for drinking for the final time, something in me finally
shifted. A friend asked me what I was going to do.
I remember feeling so defeated. I sighed and said, “I guess I’ll go to rehab.”
It was my first time in rehab, so everything was a new experience. I like to call myself a sheltered, lightweight alcoholic.
I went to War-Wic Manor in East New Market right before it changed to Project Chesapeake. I feel blessed that I got to be one of the last people to experience it in that way.
While I was there, many of the counselors shared their stories. Hearing about their struggles
and their recovery journeys gave me hope.
It made me think, if they could do it, maybe I could too.
Recovery has helped me see that the same parts of me I’ve always had, my focus, my energy, my need for structure, can become strengths when I use them in a healthy way.
Today, I’m learning how to slow down without losing myself. I’m learning how to show up for myself and the people I love. I’m learning how to create again, enjoy life again, and keep moving forward with a clear mind.
Recovery has given me the chance to come back to myself.
The creative part of me.
The focused part of me.
The organized part of me.
The part of me that loves my daughters, my family, my friends, nature, art, and helping others.
I’m still growing.
I’m still learning.
But today, I can see possibilities again. And that is something I’m grateful for.
