- Friends & Family
- Mental Health
I am so grateful and excited to have found Heroes in Recovery. I feel like I’ve been living the mission for a while now, and it feels good to make it “official”.
Almost every member of my family has been touched by addiction or mental health issues. Being an advocate for each of them, in their place of healing (and also an advocate for myself) has been tough work. Being honest and real about those challenges has been critical to my own healing. Simple changes, like the language we use when talking about these issues, can help normalize this human experience.
My daughter, a high school junior, periodically has days that she cannot face a school day, due to her anxiety. Calling in her absence as “she doesn’t feel well” or “she must have that bug everyone is getting” is not honoring her reality. Calling the school office to say she has a therapist appointment rather than a “doctor’s appointment” feels empowering. We need to allow our young people to see asking for help as normal. Being a daily advocate for her to live her best, most authentic life feels like necessary parenting.
Running has always served as a celebration of a healthy body, a mental challenge, and at times even a healthy escapism. It’s been a personal outlet I could tap into to relieve stress, expend anxious energy, and feel powerful in my body. I have been enjoying a sober life for two years now, while working through the issues that trigger my stress and depression. I registered for the Heroes in Recovery Virtual Races, and will be running each in dedication to my family. The joyous lives we have each built are celebration indeed!