Title: Breaking Chains, Building Bridges — Why I’m Finally Telling My Story

 Hey everyone —

My name is Megan, and this is the beginning of something I never thought I’d do: putting my story out there. Not just the good parts. Not just the healed parts. All of it. The truth, the struggle, the fight, and the fire.

I’m a mom of four. That alone could tell you a lot about me — I love hard, I work harder, and I will do anything for my kids. But behind that title is a woman who’s walked through some of the darkest, most chaotic chapters you can imagine. I’ve been in and out of jail. I’ve served time in prison. I’ve battled addiction that nearly took everything from me, including my life.

But it didn’t stop there.

My story begins even earlier — with childhood trauma, bouncing through foster care, abuse, and pain I didn’t have the words for at the time. As I got older, my life spiraled. I found myself in toxic, narcissistic relationships. I ended up trapped in the sex work industry — not by choice, but by circumstance, addiction, fear, and survival. If you’ve been there, you know how hard it is to get out. I’m one of the lucky ones who did.

I’m not writing this for pity. I’m writing this because it’s time to talk about the stuff nobody talks about — and to show others it’s possible to come back from the unimaginable. This blog isn’t about perfection, and I’m not trying to be anyone’s hero. I just want to be real. And if being real helps even one person feel seen or a little less alone, then every word is worth it.

This space — this blog — is a place for real recovery. Not the kind that fits neatly into a box. Not the kind that says you have to do it this way or that way. This is for the people finding recovery their way. Whether you’re on MAT, struggling after a relapse, figuring it out while raising babies, or just trying to make it through another day — you are welcome here. You belong here.

I’m also excited (and nervous and proud) to share that I’ll be launching a new SMART Recovery–based support group called Recovery OASIS. It’s not AA. It’s not NA. It’s real support for real people — grounded in science, choice, and compassion. We’ll start local, but the goal is to take it online so anyone, anywhere, can join in.

This is just the beginning.

I’m still healing. I’m still growing. And I hope you’ll walk this journey with me — not just to witness it, but to be part of it.

Thanks for being here. For real.

– Megan