Finding Strength, Community, and Six Years of Sobriety
At 15, Nadine found herself struggling to adjust to a completely new world. Leaving the familiarity of a small private school and stepping into a large public high school felt overwhelming. Her confidence faded, and anxiety took hold. Was she talking too much? Not enough? Did she say the right thing? On a constant, unending loop, she worried about being judged or about saying the wrong things.
“I didn’t realize the anxiety behaviors I was having weren’t typical. I thought everyone felt nervous all the time.”
To fit in, she turned to substances, something to help quiet the anxiety enough to be able to make new friends. But what started as a way to cope quickly became something heavier and less manageable. Her parents began to notice Nadine wasn’t herself, so they made an appointment for an assessment at Youth Eastside Services.
At YES, Nadine attended counseling and joined supportive recovery groups like YES’ Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Group and Seven Challenges. There, she met with other peers and learned the language for what she was feeling and that she wasn’t alone in feeling it. She discovered that anxiety doesn’t define someone’s worth and that recovery is a journey built on support.
Her road wasn’t a straight line. There were moments when the weight felt like too much, and through a referral from YES, Nadine spent four months in an inpatient treatment program. When she returned home during the early days of the pandemic, YES was there to help her continue building her recovery through telehealth support.
She kept showing up. One day at a time.
Now 23, and recently graduating from YES services, Nadine celebrated six years sober. She continues therapy and advocates for the care that helps her thrive. She has grown into someone who knows her story matters.
“I feel a lot more confident advocating for myself and understanding what kind of care I need.”
Nadine’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. With the support of caring community members like you, YES could be there year after year, as she uncovered her own strength.
Today, Nadine shares her resilience so that others can find their own:
“Groups like YES help show you that you’re not alone, and that there is a way forward.”
* While the client story told here is true, the name, image, and identifying information have been changed to protect the client’s privacy.
HELPING YOUTH LIKE NADINE
None of this would be possible without the support of our donors. Their generosity helped Nadine find safety, support, and the space to heal.
You, too, can be a lifeline in a young person’s life today by making a gift to provide families with hope for a brighter tomorrow! Whether you donate $5 or $500, every gift will make a difference in the life of a child or youth seeking hope and recovery.
Thanks to donations like yours, no youth is turned away because they can’t afford to pay for services.
