BIG NEWS! 🚀 Progress is Progress has officially moved to Substack!

-

 BIG NEWS! 🚀 Progress is Progress has officially moved to Substack!

I’m honestly so excited to share this with you. After over a year of sharing my story, my struggles, my recovery, and the real, raw side of addiction and mental health right here, I’ve found a new home — and I want you to come with me.

Why Substack? Because it lets me reach you directly, no matter who you are or where you’re at. Whether you’re in recovery, thinking about it, stuck in the cycle, supporting someone who is, working in the field, or just curious about what addiction and recovery really look like, you’ll find something here for you.

Subscriptions are FREE. Free means free — for the everyday person who wants the honest truth about addiction, recovery, and mental health. Whether you’re struggling right now, you’ve tried to get help a thousand times, you’re looking for something different, or you just want a “been there, survived that” perspective from someone who’s BEEN on both sides of the desk (yes, I’m a clinical substance use counselor, but I’m also in recovery myself) — this is for you.

There’s also a paid subscription for anyone who wants to go deeper. That gets you access to more in-depth articles, some pro-level insights, and even the chance for personalized recovery coaching sessions with me. If you’re a counselor, parent, teen, advocate, or just someone who wants to dig in, paid subs will have a lot to love. BUT — and I mean this — if you want paid access and can’t afford it, just reach out to me directly. Money should NEVER be a barrier to help, hope, or knowledge. Ever.

This isn’t a profit thing. This is my passion, my way of giving back, and my attempt to be the person I wish I’d had. Subscriptions help keep the lights on, but this is about helping as many people as possible.

So if you’ve ever found value in my writing, if you’re looking for support, or if you just want to keep following this messy, beautiful, sometimes hilarious recovery journey, please subscribe. Join me at our new home:

progressisprogress.substack.com

Let’s keep making progress together — mile or millimeter, it all counts.

With hope (and a little dark humor),
Belle

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm an Addict and I'm Not Sorry

-
Image
I'm an Addict and I'm Not Sorry Let's get real for a second. If you're reading this, chances are you or someone you love has been through the wringer of addiction. And if that's the case, you know that the worst part isn't the withdrawals, the failed relationships, or those awful, gut-wrenching moments of clarity on the bathroom floor. It's the shame. Oh, the shame. It's like someone poured gasoline all over your soul and lit a match. Well, I'm here to tell you something: fuck the shame. No, really. Fuck it right in the ear. You don't need that kind of toxic garbage holding you back anymore. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I'm an addict. I've done some bad shit. I've lied, I've stolen, I've woken up in strange places with even stranger people. But you know what? I'm still a person. I'm still a person who deserves to be happy, to love and be loved, to leave something better than I found it. Look, you can't change...
Read more

To the Next Wave—A Letter to the Ones Who’ve Been There

-
Image
To the Next Wave—A Letter to the Ones Who’ve Been There Let’s be honest: nobody grows up dreaming of becoming a peer support specialist, recovery coach, or harm reduction advocate. Most of us didn’t even dream of surviving. But here we are, standing upright(ish), coffee in hand, and suddenly there’s a new conversation in the field—one that’s about us. Wisconsin’s catching up to what most of us have known for years: people with lived experience are the secret sauce in real recovery work. As of 2025, Medicaid here is rolling out new coverage for peer recovery coach services, which means agencies can finally hire people like you—and bill for your work, not just your war stories. Certified Peer Specialists in Wisconsin (yes, it’s a real title—and you get a certificate and everything) are now recognized professionals using their own histories to walk alongside people still in the trenches. There are even training programs, recertification requirements, and a growing demand for people who “g...
Read more

Ok, I am sober... Now who the Hell am I?

-
Image
  Recovery: The Journey to Rediscover Ourselves Recovery is not just a word; it's a mosaic of personal stories, each tile reflecting the light of hope and resilience. As a former addict turned substance use disorder counselor, I have navigated the tumultuous seas of addiction and now anchor others as they set sail towards the shores of sobriety. Why do we seek recovery? The reasons are as varied as the individuals asking themselves this profound question. For some, it is the pursuit of health, for others, the mending of relationships torn asunder by the tempest of dependency. We embark on this journey because something precious has been lost to us – peace, self-worth, or perhaps the very essence of who we are. At its core, recovery is about discovery. It's a quest to reclaim what was taken from us and to unearth the treasures we've always held within. It's not just about abstaining from a substance; it's about embracing life in its fullest expression. It's ab...
Read more