UGM Aftercare Manager Mike Doggett walks with residents as they transition out of our programs and back into society. He knows that if they can maintain their sobriety for 5 years, their chances of continuing in lifelong recovery are close to 85 percent. Sometimes, however, he has the discouraging job of facing repeated incidents of relapse.

"I keep fighting voices in my head that say I'm not enough" -Lauren Daigle.

You may notice we’ve changed the name of the annual event we used to call "graduation," and here’s why: The former name gave the impression that recovery is something that ends. But we are more concerned with people’s continued success and ongoing growth than in their completion of a program. Even as we celebrate the amazing work God has done in people’s lives, we know that especially during this first year on their own, they are vulnerable to relapse because they aren’t surrounded by the constant support and accountability they get while living at UGM. Here, Aftercare Manager Mike Doggett, who helps people about to leave the program make a plan for their lifelong wellbeing, speaks from experience about the need for continued support in ongoing recovery.

Editor’s note: If you’re like me, you can probably think of at least one habit you’ve tried to break that keeps resurfacing , leaving you frustrated. “Why did I watch Netflix all day? Why am I out at 11 p.m. getting a McFlurry? Why did I choose this bad thing over the other, better, smarter, healthier thing?”

By Barbara Comito, UGM Director of Marketing & Communications

Alcohol has dominated Jill Connor's life for the better part of 15 years. She has been through five separate treatment centers, but her sobriety never stuck. In part 1 of this interview, she shared the struggle. In this half, she discusses what she believes to be different this time around and the tools she is learning in UGM Women's Recovery. The interview picks up where she left off - relapsing on her first overnight pass and the accountability meeting required to re-enter the program.

Editor's Note: Jill lost her battle with alcoholism on August 28, 2018.

Relapse on Repeat

By Barbara Comito, UGM Director of Marketing & Communications

Sweet. That's the first word that came to mind when I met Jill Connors. She has a gentle voice, a kind, round face, twinkly eyes. When she sat down next to me in the waiting room, I didn't realize she was my interview. I was supposed to talk to someone who had been relapsing repeatedly for 15 years, and for whatever reason, Jill did not fit the image in my head.

The following is a conversation with former UGM Men's Recovery Counselor John Dunne on how relapse relates to recovery. 

By Jina Doggett, Director of Women's Recovery at Anna Ogden Hall

In the second part of this series on relationship addiction, UGM LIFE Recovery Counselor Yvonne Wilhelm answers questions about how this type of addiction differs from others, why it's difficult to overcome, and more.

Falling Down and Getting Back Up

By Darlene Willis, recovery resident at the UGM Center for Women & Children

“Life is not about how many times you fall down. It's about how many times you get back up.” - Jaime Escalante