My Story

Hello! My name is Staci, and I am an alcoholic in recovery.

Every single day, I am grateful to "My God" for giving me the courage to make that first call for help. My drinking, which spanned twenty years, had taken over my life. I measured my days by the number of bottles I consumed, feeling sick when I drank and even sicker without it.

That call to the Hazelden Betty Ford Treatment Center in Center City, Minnesota, changed everything. I was accepted into their program and spent a total of six weeks in varying degrees of residential treatment.

Sharing "My Story" in group therapy was one of the most emotionally draining experiences of my life. Shortly after that day, I was discharged and began the journey back home. As I drove, I could feel "Slick" - the sly voice of my addiction - lurking and plotting ways to pull me back into the darkness.

I was scared, and rightly so. The odds were not in my favor. I lived alone and was returning to the alcoholic haven I once called home. Yet, despite my fears, I felt an unshakable determination to fight for my sobriety.

My family and employer offered unwavering support, for which I am forever grateful. I cleaned my home and immediately got to work. I joined the waiting list for a local intensive outpatient program (IOP), bought recovery books like Staying Sober by Terence Gorski and Brene Brown's inspiring works, and found a personal counselor certified in Gorski's methods.

I also had my relapse prevention worksheet from my treatment, though I hadn't had the chance to review it with my counselor or share it in group therapy. My insurance didn't allow a longer stay and I couldn't afford private pay.

I knew I had one chance to get it right, so I embraced my determination, quirks, and perfectionist tendencies to create something meaningful. I took my Hazelden Toolbox, my relapse prevention plans, a couple books, and guidance from my counselor (Dr. John Cannon) and got to work. What emerged was my personal "MYRRA" - My Relapse Prevention and Recovery Action Plan. It's a Staci thing, like how I name my travel itineraries "IRENE".

I am thrilled to share that my sobriety date is June 13, 2023. Each milestone medallion reminds me of how far I've come. People often ask, "How did you do it?"

Here's how: with the help of "My God", my support system, and MYRRA. MYRRA gave me the framework to rebuild my life. It helped me stay emotionally balanced, reset when I needed to, and weave recovery into my daily routine. Through MYRRA, I rediscovered hope, confidence, and - most importantly - joy.

For a long time, I struggled with the last step - being of service to others. Then it became clear: my journey, my story, and MYRRA could be my way of giving back. I decided to combine my experiences with technology to create a meaningful resource for others. That's how www.MYRRAplan.com was born - a place where fellow addicts in recovery can create their own personalized MYRRA Plan.

To anyone reading this: please know you are not alone. Recovery is hard, but it's also worth every ounce of effort. If MYRRA can offer you even a fraction of the hope it gave me, then it has served its purpose.

Disclaimer: I am an alcoholic in recovery, not a doctor or attorney, and, no, I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.