I became a mom for the first time at 22. I stayed sober during my pregnancy, but after my daughter was born, I went back to using. I thought I had things under control, but deep down I felt isolated and ashamed. When I had my second daughter, I went through postpartum depression that I didn’t fully understand. I believed I was a bad mom and kept those feelings to myself. Over the years, my addiction got worse, and so did my mental health. I hit rock bottom at 40 and ended up in the hospital. That experience was terrifying, but it also opened the door to real help. I was finally connected to a peer who had been through similar struggles, and that made all the difference. Now, with four years of sobriety and a better understanding of my mental health, I want to be that person for someone else. I know what it’s like to parent through pain and to feel like you’re not enough. You’re not alone.