Brighten A Christmas No. 13: Woman has battled mental health and addiction issues
Mental health and substance abuse issues have plagued the mother in the last Brighten A Christmas case of the year.
She wrote her own narrative to get a recommendation for the program. She has a 10-year-old son and a boyfriend of 17 years.
The woman has battled a heroin addiction for several years.
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"I was able to get clean in 2016 and stayed sober for almost five years," she wrote. "In February 2021, my grandmother passed away, and I lost my way again and started using again."
The mom said she has since gotten clean.
"I carry the weight of the world on my shoulders and feel I can do it all alone," she wrote. "... but as I've realized over the last few months, when I don't reach out to people, I tend to fall back into old habits, which are devastating to my sobriety and health!"
The woman was arrested and sent to prison a few years ago. She did not see her son for 18 months.
"He was my biggest supporter then and still is now," she wrote. "My boyfriend has stuck by my side and loves me so much."
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Post-traumatic stress, addiction and treatment
She said her experiences while incarcerated have left her with post-traumatic stress disorder.
An employee from Catalyst Life Services said the woman is going through outpatient treatment.
"The last year, with her struggles and COVID, her family has been faced with financial hardships, causing material deprivation," the Catalyst employee wrote, noting the woman recently found a job. "As an agency, we have encouraged fun and healthy activities that would benefit family bonding."
Those who want to help the family in case No. 13 can contribute cash, checks or gift cards at any of the nine locations of Mechanics Bank. People who want to donate to a particular case should note the case on the envelope.
Barb Stamper, a branch manager at the Mechanics Bank on Ashland Road, is the designated shopper. She takes donations and buys the gifts, along with household products.
Gifts will be distributed Dec. 16-17. People are asked to make donations by Dec. 10. It is especially important for people who plan to mail donations to get them in early, given the issue with mail delivery last year.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
Twitter: @MNJCaudill
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield woman fighting back from addiction, mental health woes
