Service Array:
Individual Skill Development and Enhancement
I was born and raised in Menomonie, Wisconsin. For much of my childhood, I bounced back and forth between my parents who both struggled with mental illness and addiction. I rarely felt secure in my own environment and didn’t know how to cope with the instability and dysfunction. I’d often lash out in fits of rage and felt out of control of my own emotions. I ultimately resorted to negative ways of coping and began using drugs at a very young age. This only exacerbated my existing depression, anxiety, and anger.
Despite all the consequences, like getting arrested multiple times as a teen, I was convinced that drugs were the only thing helping me. I didn’t quit using drugs for the first time until I had to stay in a women’s shelter after being released from jail the week I graduated high school. This was the first time I started to see how drugs were destroying my life and well-being.
Despite this first wake-up call, I went on to struggle maintaining my sobriety for the next several years. I then took an even deeper nosedive when I was 20 after losing my father to suicide. Not knowing how to cope with this loss, I turned back to hard drugs and began drinking heavily. This led to several more arrests, a brief jail sentence, probation, and a serious personal injury.
While I can’t say I’m proud of my past actions, I can say that I’m truly grateful for the last time I was arrested. I was ordered to start working with an AODA counselor and a mental health therapist. This was the first time I truly addressed my own addiction, processed my childhood trauma, and learned healthy ways to cope. I was reminded once again that continuing down this path was only leading to further destruction in my own life and hurting those around me.
Even after finally being able to maintain my sobriety, I continued to struggle with crippling amounts of shame. I truly believed that everyone in my small town knew my past and already had their minds made up about me. However, with the help of my amazing support team, I was able to eventually realize that the old saying is true – our past does not define us. I’m drawn to this line of work because I want to help others understand that no matter what we’ve done, we are all valuable humans that are worthy of living the most fulfilling lives possible.