The 12 Steps of Screwdriver Salvation: When Life Has You Completely Screwed  (Because I believe in Ancient Aliens and Universal Energy) 

Step 1: We admitted we were so monumentally screwed up that we couldn't unfuck ourselves with an entire hardware store's worth of tools.

Step 2: Came to believe that something - literally ANYTHING - could be more functional than our current disaster of a life. Enter: The Screwdriver. Our unlikely hero.

Step 3: Decided to stop being the stripped screw in the universe's toolbox and surrender to something that actually knows how to make progress.

Step 4: Did a brutally honest inventory of our shit. Turns out, we've been a pretty janky, misaligned mess - kind of like that IKEA furniture you tried to assemble after three glasses of wine.

Step 5: Admitted to our Screwdriver, ourselves, and another human being exactly how royally we've been screwing up. No filter. No bullshit.

Step 6: Got ready to have our Screwdriver of Destiny remove all these spectacular character defects. Because clearly, our DIY approach to life has been a total catastrophe.

Step 7: Humbly asked our Higher Power (aka this magnificent screwdriver) to patch up our broken-ass self. We're talking serious life renovation.

Step 8: Made a list of everyone we've accidentally or intentionally hammered into the ground. Time to start fixing those relationships - one careful turn at a time.

Step 9: Made direct amends wherever possible, except when doing so would cause more damage than a drunk electrician with a power drill.

Step 10: Continued to take personal inventory and when we realized we were being a total tool, we admitted it immediately.

Step 11: Sought to improve our connection with the Screwdriver of Understanding. Meditation, prayer, whatever - just stop being so disconnected.

Step 12: Having experienced this spiritual awakening (aka learning we're not the most important screw in the universe), we tried to carry this message to other lost souls. Spread the gospel of getting your shit together.

Serenity Prayer: Remix
Universe, give me the patience to accept the screws I can't turn,
The badass courage to wrench the ones I can,
And the wisdom to know when to call a professional.

Because sometimes, recovery is just admitting you're too damn broken to fix yourself - and that's okay.

Join clinician Belinda Bickford and I in redefining substance use disorder treatment through personalized approaches. Our latest blog explores how to meet clients where they are and why it matters. Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/gjD8w9d4 #SubstanceUseDisorder #MentalHealthProfessionals #TreatmentApproaches

When Rock Bottom Has a Basement: A Real Talk About Community-Based Recovery in Wisconsin

Let's face it - if you're reading this, you're probably not having your best day. Maybe you're the one fighting the battle, maybe you're watching someone you love wage war with addiction, or maybe you're a professional wondering why your coffee maker isn't dispensing vodka yet. Wherever you're at, pull up a chair. We need to talk about something that's actually working in the world of recovery: community-based support.

"But wait," you say, "isn't community support just a fancy term for awkward church basement meetings and stale cookies?" Not anymore, friends. Not anymore.

The Revolution Is Local (And It's Not Taking Insurance)

Here in Wisconsin, we're doing something different. While the rest of the country is still arguing about whether addiction is a moral failing or a disease (spoiler alert: it's neither - it's more like that one relative who shows up uninvited and refuses to leave), we're building a recovery ecosystem that actually makes sense.

Take WisHope Recovery Center, for example. Founded by Peter Brunzelle, a guy who's actually been there (yes, really), WisHope was created because, as Brunzelle puts it, "there wasn't a place where one could go for treatment that supported multiple pathways to recovery." Translation: They figured out that not everyone gets sober the same way. Mind-blowing, right?

The Northern Woods Are Getting Wiser

Up in the Northwoods (where the bears are more understanding than some therapists), things are changing. Vilas County and its neighbors are rolling out innovative programs faster than you can say "just one more time." Here's what's actually working:

1. The New Digital Frontier
   Remember when we thought technology was just for doom-scrolling and drunk-texting our exes? Well, Oneida County just launched CredibleMind, a 24/7 online mental health platform that's actually free. Yes, FREE. As in, costs nothing. As in, you can get help without selling your kidney on the black market.

2. Community Support Programs (CSP)
   These aren't your grandmother's support groups. Modern CSPs offer coordinated professional care that treats you like a whole person, not just a collection of poor life choices. Revolutionary, I know.

3. Recovery Housing Revolution
   Wisconsin's using $2 million in opioid settlement money for recovery housing. Because apparently, having a safe place to live is kind of important for staying sober. Who knew?

For the Families (Because Y'all Need Help Too)

Let's be real - watching someone you love battle addiction is like watching someone try to parallel park for three hours. It's painful, it's frustrating, and you desperately want to take the wheel but can't.

The good news? Wisconsin's community-based recovery programs are finally including family support that doesn't suck. WisHope, for instance, integrates family programming because they understand that addiction is a family disease (like male pattern baldness, but with more drama).

For the Professionals (Put Down Your DSM-5 for a Minute)

Hey there, treatment providers! Yes, you with the eye twitch and the coffee addiction. Wisconsin's community-based approach is changing the game, and here's why you should care:

• Multiple pathways to recovery are now supported (because shocking as it may be, not everyone's journey looks the same)
• Integration of mental health and addiction services (because apparently, people can have more than one problem at a time)
• New resources like CredibleMind that complement existing treatment (and don't require more paperwork - you're welcome)

Breaking Boundaries: Technology Meets Recovery

Enter IGNTD (pronounced "ignited") - a game-changer in the recovery landscape. Founded by Dr. Adi Jaffe, a UCLA-trained psychologist and world-renowned expert on mental health and addiction, this isn't your grandpa's recovery program. Dr. Jaffe, who has personally navigated the challenging path of addiction, created something revolutionary.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections is turning heads by partnering with IGNTD for Regions 5 and 6 in Northern Wisconsin. Why? Because recovery doesn't clock out at 5 PM. This digital platform provides 24/7 support, breaking down the traditional barriers of treatment accessibility. Clients now have access to personalized tools, group sessions, and individual coaching - all from their phone.  P.S. one of your favorite bloggers just may also be an Accountability Coach for this amazing recovery app and platform to! 

The Stigma Stoppers: Why Community Matters

Let's get real about stigma. It's the invisible monster that keeps people from seeking help. The more we talk, the more we normalize, the more we break down those walls of shame and judgment.

Recovery isn't a linear path. It's not about being perfect. It's about being human. For the person who's been fighting for 25 years, for the newbie terrified of their first meeting, for the family member watching a loved one struggle - we see you. We hear you.

Clinical professionals have a critical role to play. Every dismissive comment, every raised eyebrow, every moment of judgment perpetuates the cycle of shame. But every moment of compassion, every open conversation, every supportive gesture chips away at the stigma.

Community-Based Recovery: Your Turn

Here's where you come in. We want to create the most comprehensive list of community-based recovery resources EVER. So we're asking:

What recovery resources exist in YOUR community?

Drop them in the comments. Share them on social media. Tag us. Create a thread. Whether it's:

• Local support groups
• Online communities
• Workplace wellness programs
• Faith-based recovery initiatives
• Peer support networks
• Innovative digital platforms

If it helps people heal, we want to know about it.

The Bottom Line (Because We All Need One)

Recovery isn't just about stopping the use of substances - it's about building a life worth staying sober for. Wisconsin's community-based approach is doing just that, one person, one family, and one slightly dysfunctional but well-meaning community at a time.

Need Help? (Because We All Do Sometimes)

• Wisconsin Addiction Recovery Helpline: 211
• CredibleMind Oneida County: oneidacountywi.crediblemind.com
• WisHope Recovery: wishoperecovery.com
• Crisis Line: 988 (Because sometimes you need to talk to someone who isn't your cat)

Remember, recovery is like Wisconsin weather - if you don't like what's happening right now, wait five minutes. It might get worse, but eventually, it has to get better.

And hey, if you're still reading this, you're already doing better than you think. Keep going. We're rooting for you, even if we're doing it awkwardly and from a distance.-Belle- 

When Your College Assignment Becomes a Blog Post (Because Why Not Double-Dip?)

So here's the deal - I've got this assignment for my final semester at Ottawa University where I'm supposed to reflect on my "college journey." insert eye roll here But you know what? This is actually kind of perfect for the blog because holy shit, what a ride it's been.

Picture this: 2015, middle-of-nowhere Wisconsin (specifically Lac du Flambeau reservation), and there I am - a high school dropout with more issues than National Geographic - deciding to take an EMT course. Why? Because it was free, and free is my favorite price point. Plot twist: I actually passed it. Mind. Blown.

Let me tell you about EMT training, because that shit was wild. Imagine a bunch of adults crawling around on floors, strapping each other to boards, and aggressively pumping on dummies. It's like BDSM meets healthcare, minus the safe word. But it introduced me to the special brand of dark humor you only find in emergency medicine. There's something about regularly asking "So... is anyone else hungry?" after particularly graphic trauma scenarios that bonds people for life.

That success went straight to my head, and I thought, "Hey, maybe I could do more school!" Classic mistake, right? Started chasing a Medical Assistant degree because apparently, I hate myself. Spoiler alert: Got taken down by a typing test. Yes, you read that right. A TYPING TEST. In an age where autocorrect practically writes our grocery lists, some sadist decided perfect typing speed matters. To whoever invented typing tests: I hope both sides of your pillow are warm. Forever.

But here's where it gets interesting (and by interesting, I mean tragically hilarious). I switched to substance use counseling courses because - get this - I thought I could "fix" my then-husband. pause for collective laughter Yeah, because that's totally how addiction works. Oh, and let's be real - I was also in it for that sweet, sweet financial aid money. Single mom survival tactics 101, am I right?

Speaking of being a single mom - holy shit, what a juggling act. There I was, trying to balance work, school, and kids, failing spectacularly at times. My solution? Material gifts! Because nothing says "Sorry Mommy's always working" like throwing presents at the problem. Spoiler alert: had to actually learn how to parent eventually. But watching my kids emerge from dysfunction into these amazing human beings? Worth every sleep-deprived moment. Special shoutout to my oldest who rocks the autism spectrum and can info-dump like a champion - you're basically a walking Wikipedia and I'm here for it.

The real kicker? I'm sitting in class one day, thinking I'm absolutely crushing it (narrator: she wasn't), when this professor drops this bomb: "You have to be healthier than your clients." Well, shit. Talk about a reality check that feels like getting hit with a baseball bat wrapped in truth and wrapped again in "get your life together."

Let's talk about online learning because that deserves its own special circle of hell. My dog ate my homework - literally ate my computer cord. I've lost more assignments to tech failures than I care to count. I've bought computers, lost computers, had internet, didn't have internet, and pulled out enough hair to make a small wig. To all my classmates whose discussion posts I've read at 3 AM: some of you are secret geniuses, and some of you... well, I'm genuinely concerned about how you found the power button.

The real fire under my ass came when I was working in residential treatment and realized my in-training license was about to expire. Nothing quite motivates you like the threat of career death, am I right? Four years of intense work in residential - loving it but feeling like I'd been put through an emotional wood chipper - and I wasn't about to let it slip away.

But you want to know the real gag? This high school dropout, this former addict from the backwoods of Wisconsin, now owns a house. Has a car that actually runs. Works not one, but two jobs she actually loves (shocking, I know). I'm talking patient-centered outpatient treatment where they actually let me have autonomy (dangerous, I know), and this cool gig with an online recovery platform called IGNDT where I get to be an accountability coach. Plot twist: I'm actually good at this stuff.

The most unexpected thing I've learned? That I'm not a failure. I know, weird right? Turns out all that stuff about core values and dysfunction we learn about in counseling hits different when you're unpacking your own baggage while helping others with theirs.

None of this would've happened without my significant other - the real MVP who's been holding down the fort and consistently telling me I can do this while I've been slowly losing my mind over the past six years. Having someone actually proud of you? That shit hits different when you're not used to it.

So yeah, this is technically a college assignment. But it's also a middle finger to everyone who said I couldn't do it. It's a love letter to second chances. And it's proof that sometimes the most messed up starting points lead to the best stories.

P.S. - To my professor who's reading this (because hi, this is also my assignment): See how I reflected on my journey AND maintained my brand voice? That's what we call efficiency. Or rebellion. Maybe both. Also, thanks for making me write this because turns out, I've come a pretty long way from that person who thought a typing test was going to end her career.-Belle-