My story begins with a loving and stable upbringing in the Bangor/Brewer area of Maine. I was raised in a home filled with warmth, care, and a strong sense of security. While my parents weren’t wealthy, we were comfortable, and I never went without. Throughout my childhood and adolescence, I was consistently loved, supported, and made to feel valued.

Even though I had what many would consider the “perfect foundation” for self-love and confidence, I still never truly felt good enough or like I belonged. There was always a sense that something was missing. In high school, I tried substances for the first time, and that moment marked the beginning of a downward spiral. It only took one use for the chemical imbalance in my brain to take over completely.

When I walked into Wellspring Women’s House, I was a broken, hollow soul; a scared little girl trapped in a grown woman’s body. For 11 years, I had used any and every drug I could find to numb my emotions and escape the false reality I had created. By then, I had spent nearly half my life in active addiction, and I truly didn’t believe there was another way to live. I was convinced I would die an addict, and my children would one day visit my grave instead of me. I had been through psychiatric hospitals and other treatment programs before, but nothing ever worked. I had tried to quit on my own – detoxing on my parents’ couch, clinging to external motivators like my children, pressure from DHHS, or court-imposed bail conditions – but none of it was enough. Nothing stuck.

On June 6, 2014, I was arrested on drug charges, yet again. This time, the judge and my mother both refused to bail me out. I was forced to sit in that jail cell and endure the painful detox from the substances I had used to numb myself for years. When I was finally released in August 2014, I knew something had to change. I immediately applied to Wellspring Inc. and was accepted into the Women’s House in Bangor. On September 2, 2014, I walked through those doors and began the first day of my new life.

During my time as a client at Wellspring Women’s House, I discovered more about myself than I ever thought possible. I came to realize that I lacked basic daily responsibilities, essential life skills, and most importantly, self-love. With the support of the counselors, I began to confront and process the deep, unresolved trauma I had carried for years. I fully immersed myself in the program, taking in everything I could: from the group sessions and “super chore” structure to the outside agencies that partnered with the center. One of the most impactful parts of the program was its design: I wasn’t locked away. Instead, I was given the chance to re-enter the community, to learn and apply coping skills in real-world settings. This freedom allowed me to attend meetings and begin building meaningful relationships within the recovery community, relationships that remain some of the most important in my life today.

On January 21, 2015, I proudly graduated from the Women’s House program. Afterward, I continued my journey by attending aftercare sessions weekly and participating in Alumni Days. Wellspring Women’s House will always be a home to me, and for that, I am forever grateful. Since completing the program, I’ve connected with countless individuals who, like me, found lasting recovery through Wellspring Inc. The impact this program has had on my life is immeasurable. I’ve experienced profound transformation and healing—my family is back in my life, and they no longer have to live with the fear of losing their mother, daughter, sister to addiction. Thanks to the support of an outside agency that visited Wellspring, I was able to complete a FAFSA application and go on to earn a degree. Today, I’ve built a meaningful career in the field of substance use disorder treatment, turning my past pain into purpose. I’ve also developed and sustained healthy, intimate relationships both within and outside of the recovery community. I am a productive, thriving member of society, not because I was “fixed,” but because Wellspring gave me the space, support, and tools to grow into the woman I was always meant to be.