Michelle

Senior firsthand Guide
Nashville, TN

Before becoming a part of firsthand's team in the fall of 2022, Michelle worked as a men's case manager at a halfway house. Having herself spent two and a half years there learning how to navigate life anew, Michelle emerged hoping to help others.

Michelle spent nearly twenty years addicted to opioids and heroin. Growing up in a turbulent, abusive household and enduring traumatic experiences often resulted in her seeking solace in drugs, starting when she was just 14.

Before finding herself in the halfway house, Michelle left her abusive husband and began living on the streets, where she spent more than two years.

After an overdose, Michelle spent over a week in the ICU at a local hospital. Upon her release, she went straight to jail for (buying/selling?) to undercover agents whom she thought were her friends.

However, her turning point came when she found herself in recovery court, where intense discipline, regular drug testing, mandatory counseling, and a strict adherence to rules marked the start of her healing.

The recovery court process begins with a court coordinator. This person serves as a guide, giving clear instructions about what one needs to do and how one can do it. For Michelle, the coordinator placed her in rehabilitation and subsequently in a halfway house.

In addition, individuals in recovery court must attend numerous classes. These are designed to educate, help people understand their condition, and provide them with tools to manage it more effectively.

Once a week, participants must face a judge. If the program's rules are broken, the consequence is jail. Despite the stringency, the recovery court blends in a strong element of support - counseling. While Michelle acknowledged she initially resisted this aspect, it played a substantial part in her healing process. Counseling provided a platform for her to express her fears, doubts, and feelings, letting her unravel the tangle of emotions she had accumulated over the years.

It was only during her time in recovery court that Michelle started recognizing the importance of mental health and accepted the idea of medication.

Above all, Michelle healed through the love and support she received from her recovery court coordinator and the woman running the halfway house. They saw her - the woman beneath the layers of guilt, shame, and addiction. They believed in her strength, and their belief fueled Michelle's journey to self-love and recovery.

For Michelle, the recovery court pathway led her back to knowing who she truly was. It enabled her to peel away the layers of past trauma and substance use, to meet her genuine self again.

Her history of overcoming adversity empowers Michelle to connect authentically with the individuals she serves at firsthand. Whether it's holding their hand during their darkest times, providing a listening ear when they feel unheard, or offering a story of hope when despair seeps in, Michelle is there. She reinforces through her work the idea that every individual is deserving of hope and help. Her conviction is that no one should ever feel like they have to face their struggles alone.

The motivation behind her work at firsthand lies in her empathy towards people in distress and her own challenging journey. This empathy, coupled with her personal experiences battling drug addiction, surviving domestic violence, and tackling mental health issues, enables her to double as a source of comfort and a beacon of hope, transforming her pain into a purpose — to light up a path for others who find themselves in similar darkness.

Michelle loves loves serving her community, cherishing her family, and nurturing her relationship with God. Her two daughters, now 17 and 20, contribute significantly to her sense of purpose and fulfillment. She is in a healthy relationship with a loving partner.

Michelle is living proof of the fact that recovery from addiction is possible, even under difficult circumstances. Today, she proudly holds a CPRS (Certified Peer Recovery Specialist) certification.