RISE Housing and Support Services is observing National Recovery Month during the month of September by celebrating the people in RISE Programs who are successfully maintaining their mental health and sobriety.
“Our mutual love of music is a very therapeutic part of our friendship. We spend a lot time listening to music together. It helps us cope.”
Two of these individuals and best of friends, Kendra and Lee, both are sustaining their recovery while residing in the PSAP Recovery Apartments. A program where PSAP recovery counselors and care managers, together with the support of families, help residents make the healthy choices needed to sustain mental health and substance use recovery.
Kendra and Lee are excited to celebrate their sober lifestyles. As Kendra explains, “my sobriety makes me have better mental health, better self-esteem, and healthier relationships with others, especially with my family.” Lee agrees that life is much happier life now that he is sober, “my life is predictable. It is stable, and no longer full of the chaos and heartache that it was when I was drinking and drugging.”
“We’re both grateful that our families want to spend time with us.”
And the celebration extends to their families as well. Kendra says she is grateful for her sobriety because her family members respect her. “My parents and grandfather, who have seen me at my worse, are proud of me. I owe it to them for all they have given me to maintain my mental health and sobriety.” Lee echoes her feelings, “I have learned gratitude. I’m grateful my family wants to spend time with me and that my daughters trust me to be around my grandchildren.”
The friendship that Kendra and Lee share is also a very important factor in their recovery. Kendra enjoys Lee’s sense of humor and he enjoys her energy and spirit. As Kendra says, “Our mutual love of music is a very therapeutic part of our friendship. We spend a lot time listening to music together. It helps us cope.” And they are secure in the knowledge that they can call each other any time to ask for help or to talk through their frustrations. Kendra says, “Lee helps me so much. I call him all the time.” Lee responds by saying, “helping her helps me.”
“Knowing counselors are available 24-Hours makes me feel safe.”
Kendra and Lee each started their recovery journeys as residents in RISE Community Residences where they began to take their first steps towards obtaining sobriety and regaining mental health stability. They both accredit much of their success in their recovery to the patience, understanding, and guidance of their counselors while in the community residences. Once their lives stabilized and they felt ready, they each moved into the less intensive and more independent PSAP Recovery Apartments where they met and became friends. Both are currently working towards obtaining permanent housing either independently in the community or in a supportive housing program.
Kendra explains, “the structure of the RISE programs and knowing that there is staff available that I can reach out to when I’m struggling makes me feel safe.” She says that in the past when she was struggling with things that cause her stress and anxiety, she would drink alcohol. “I know now that alcohol is only a temporary fix that in the long run will only cause me more problems.” Instead, she now utilizes the coping techniques she has learned to manage her feelings in these types of situations.
“I’ve learned to be grateful each and every day.”
Lee says that with the help he has received, from RISE housing programs and Care Management, he has been able to overcome the trauma of his past. “I’ve learned to forgive myself, forgive others, and to be grateful each and every day.” He feels that being in a program where he is accountable to others, but is not judged when he fails, helps him continue to make good choices, even if he does stumble along the way.
The achievements Lee and Kendra have attained in their mental health and substance use recovery, the friendship they’ve developed, and the respect they’ve earned from their families is wonderful. They are to be congratulated for their hard work. RISE is honored to a part of their story.