The Power of Encouragement in Addiction Recovery

Katie McKenna • September 13, 2021

The Power of Encouragement in Addiction Recovery

Never underestimate the power of an encouraging word- John C. Maxwell


Can you think of a moment in your life where someone said something to you that was so profound, it seemed as if they were saying the exact right thing at the most perfect moment? Hearing those words, you suddenly knew you had the courage to make it out of a really tough spot?


I had a moment like this years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday and reflect on it often.


I got sober in a women’s program in Providence, Rhode Island. Jenny was the director of the program and I deeply admired her. Shortly after I arrived at the program, Jenny took the time to sit me down and connect in a heart-to-heart conversation. Like most people just arriving to a treatment program I was a hot mess: frazzled, terrified, and feeling horrible as everything I used to numb myself was wearing off. Jenny’s presence however, soothed me. She was so composed, and the calm she emanated made me feel like everything was going to be okay. That feeling was such a relief and I wanted more of it.  So, I got into the habit of always observing her. Jenny was a true boss babe, always well-dressed and professional. Jenny was kind, she was calm, but Jenny was tough!  She didn’t take anyone’s crap! There were other times where she would crack jokes that genuinely made me laugh out loud. In my mind, Jenny was a perfect combination of class, sass, and sophistication. She had my respect.


New Levels, New Devils


The program I was in had 3 phases, the first phase in Providence took me about 5 months and then I was ready for the next phase, which would take a year in a much larger center in Dover, Pennsylvania. The Dover center was planning on having a graduation for those who had completed the second right around the time I was due to arrive there. The Providence home decided that we would all take a road trip to Pennsylvania, both to drop me off and to attend the graduation. This was exciting to me, and I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for me in Pennsylvania.


When we got to the home in Dover, the first thing I noticed was how gigantic it was. The building had a huge kitchen and cafeteria, and there were 2 floors of bedrooms, which were the size of dorm rooms, except they were crammed full of as many twin beds and bunk beds that would possibly fit. There were women everywhere. In addition to the women, there were also tons of kids running around as well since children were allowed to stay with their moms during this phase. So many people, every face unfamiliar. Chaos erupted in my brain, my stomach dropped and panic set in. Fear! Anxiety! I can honestly say this was the most intimidated I have ever felt in my entire life.


“What the heck am I even doing here? I’m going to get beat up.”


These women were loud, boisterous, street smart and had that rough and tumble appearance. There I was feeling like this weak, shy, wimpy mouse of a girl completely overwhelmed and paralyzed with fear. A hamster wheel of doubt began rolling over and over in my mind … “I don’t fit in at all!” “They’re all going to hate me” “I won’t have any friends or anyone to talk to” “I can’t be here for a whole year… I’ll die of misery!” and on and on. All I wanted to do was run out of there and never ever come back.


Stormy Seas


The ladies from the Providence House stayed overnight while I got situated in my new room, which I hated. I feel asleep, scared and miserable. That night I dreamt I was inside of a ship in a stormy sea, rocking back and forth and up and down. Nothing of significance happened in the dream, I was just on a ship rocking around in enormous waves- but it was so vivid and realistic I was convinced it carried some sort of message for me. Later that day, Jenny and I took a walk around the grounds of the center, just her and I. She wanted to know how I was feeling about transitioning to the next phase.


I wanted to leave. I wanted Jenny to see that this wasn’t the right place for me. What I truly wanted was permission to give up on myself because I was just too scared. I simply could not see myself being able to go through the rest of the program with all these intimidating women.


“I don’t feel like I can do this,” I said to Jenny. 


“ I don’t fit in. I’m nervous … plus I had a bad dream last night.” I proceeded to tell Jenny about my dream.


Jenny pondered my dream, and said to me, “So there was a storm, but you were safe inside the ship, right? Nothing bad happened to you, right?”


“Yeah.”


“Well maybe your dream is telling you that even though storms may come in your life, and maybe right now feels like a storm… you are safe. And you’re going to be okay.”


“I just don’t feel like I CAN do this Jenny!”


Jenny stopped walking and turned to me. “Listen, I know you, and I know you can do this.”


I think I can


Somehow at this moment, Jenny’s words penetrated deep into the core of my being. Those simple words, “I know you can do this” caused an image to flash in my mind of the capable woman Jenny saw me as. I had an epiphany, enabling me to fully receive her words as the absolute truth: I CAN do this! Jenny was seeing something in me that I was refusing to see, or that fear was blinding me to. Despite the stormy sea of turmoil inside me, I still knew that I could do this. Jenny did know me, and I knew she was sincere. I valued her opinion and perspective. I had only been choosing to focus on my fear, but in reality, I was still safe. I was still safe even while I was being hammered with a storm of self-doubt. I was empowered to see myself the way she saw me. I knew that if I gave up right then I’d be throwing away an enormous opportunity to grow, heal, and move forward. If I gave up then I probably would have gone home and went back to my old ways of drinking, partying, and destroying myself.


I know I can!


And so, I did it. I stayed for the whole year, completed the 2nd phase, and graduated from the program, and Jenny was there to see me graduate. I remember reflecting on everything as I was graduating and laughing at how scared I was when I first got there. The funny thing is that I ended up LOVING each and every one of those ladies, we had WAY more in common than I originally thought. By the time I graduated I did not want to leave! The third phase of the program was completely optional, but I chose to do it, which meant I would become staff for one of the program’s homes in New Mexico. By that time, I knew that I could handle challenging situations, thanks to Jenny. 


You never know how your words could affect someone in a pivotal moment in their life, either for good or for bad. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a situation I thought I couldn’t handle and I can hear Jenny saying, “I know you can do this.” Ever since then I have always tried to live up to her image of me, and I am so thankful she encouraged me exactly at the moment I needed. It genuinely changed my life. 

Jason's Story - From Rock Bottom to New Heights: My Journey of Recovery and Reinvention

By Jason Ertrachter • February 4, 2025
With over a decade of alcohol and drug abuse, it became clear I could not drink responsibly or consume in moderation. Upon further review, I came to understand I was never able to drink responsibly and was predisposed to consume in excess. Moderation is a construct I still don’t understand. Alcohol, drugs, sugar, ego, all things I love to indulge in. At 25 years old, weeks before the pandemic, I found myself being escorted by security from my beloved office in a sought-after industry in a glamorous part of Los Angeles. Pursuing a career in talent management, the late nights, weekly drinking, daily drug use culminated in the unavoidable fear, anxiety and sense of calamity that led me to recovery. I asked myself, “What was the common denominator between lost jobs, friends lost, arrests, hurt feelings and selfishness?” People, places, things were always changing, but the one constant in my story was me with drugs and alcohol. Walking into the West Hollywood Recovery Center on Monday February 5th, 2020 at noon was not my first meeting. It was, however, the first meeting at which I listened and actually took suggestions. Meetings as a teenager, and again in college when my drug use got bad, were simply to get people off my back. As I look back, I understand that I actually needed to get out of my own way, not have those who loved me off of my back. I am grateful to have gotten sober during a time when the world shut down and so many struggled. I had nowhere to go, no outside distractions to challenge my commitment. I fully emerged myself in meetings and all that AA had to offer for young people. There were thousands of virtual meetings at every hour of the day, but more importantly, rooms and outdoor meetings in LA that never missed a beat. There was an underground community of meeting makers that continued to go to in-person meetings, masks on, hugs and fellowship. I found that the work of early recovery far outweighed the isolation. I left the entertainment industry with two years of sobriety. New career opportunities opened up pretty quickly for me. Transitioning into the startup and tech sales world, I was able to move back home to New York and be closer to my family. As my sobriety continued, new career paths continued to present themselves. When I was introduced to Matt and AJ, I was immediately impressed with their mission and welcomed the opportunity to join the team. I am confident that the combination of my personal and professional success, as well as my CARC, CRPA certification, made my decision the perfect one for me. Having hit my stride in my own recovery, I now see that that my purpose is to help others. It is a purpose I do not take lightly. I bring the same energy and focus that has helped me to get where I am today to other individuals and families alike looking for a better way.

Stephanie's Story - My Journey to Addiction Recovery and Giving Back

By Stephanie Myers, CPRS • January 29, 2025
My name is Stephanie Myers, and I am excited to be part of the incredible team at You Are Accountable . As difficult as my journey prior to recovery was, I am grateful for every step along the way. My recovery journey began five years ago through what I believe was divine intervention. At my lowest point—mentally, physically, and spiritually—I was led to a 12-step recovery program. Most of my life was spent seeking relief from my internal and external struggles. During my teenage years, I thought I had found a solution, but my addiction only progressed, leading me to the depths of despair. My addiction compromised my morals, diminished my integrity, and left me with a profound sense of hopelessness. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, I realized that everything in my life had to change. I became willing to do whatever it took to shift the trajectory of my life. Gradually, I connected with others who understood my pain and had found their way to recovery. I dedicated myself to internal work and began to fill the spiritual void that I had been attempting to fill with substances. Today, my life is filled with purpose, love, and more beauty than I could have ever imagined five years ago. It is my passion to help others realize that there is hope on the other side of addiction. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, I strive to help plant the seed of recovery and help others grow along their path to recovery.

Brittany's Story: Overcoming Addiction to Find Hope, Healing, and Purpose

By Brittany Pealer, CRPS • January 28, 2025
My name is Brittany, and I’m honored to be part of the team at You Are Accountable . My journey to recovery has been filled with struggles, lessons, and, ultimately, transformation. For years, I lived in the utter hopelessness of addiction, believing there was no way out. A "normal" life felt completely out of reach, and even as a child, I never felt like I had a true purpose. Throughout my active addiction, I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle. I would put one substance down—whether through treatment or court-ordered intervention—but almost immediately, I would pick up another. Each time, I restarted the same painful, destructive cycle, convinced that I could never break free. It wasn’t until I realized that recovery is an inside job that things began to change. Changing people, places, and things (and substances) can only do so much for so long; true recovery requires doing the hard work within. My turning point came when I became pregnant with my first daughter. For the first time in my life, I found a reason to fight for something greater than myself. That moment marked the beginning of my journey to recovery, and through that journey, I discovered the life I never thought was possible. Today, I’m blessed with an amazing job, a beautiful family with two incredible daughters, and an active role in my recovery community. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and Recovery Coach, I am passionate about helping others find hope and healing. I understand the challenges of breaking free from addiction, and I’m living proof that it’s possible to create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection. Recovery has given me everything I once believed was out of reach, and I’m honored to walk alongside others as they embark on their own journeys to freedom.
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