Impact Story from a Thrive Peer Recovery Specialist
I want to share a simple yet meaningful experience from my work at Thrive Peer Recovery Services. It’s about connection, flexibility, and keeping hope alive.
One day, I was helping someone who was still using and couldn’t make up his mind. He was torn between inpatient and outpatient treatment. As his Peer Recovery Specialist, I was right there with him. We worked together, sat together, and even shared some laughs. Whenever he leaned towards inpatient care, I’d find options for him, and if he swung back to wanting outpatient, I’d switch gears and look for those instead. I made sure to explain each place and what services they offered.
At first, it seemed like he just wanted to escape the cold more than get sober. But I didn’t lose faith in his ability to change. I kept our conversations positive and open, encouraging him to keep thinking about his choices.
Finding the right place was tough. We faced a lot of no’s because of his insurance and his history with other treatment centers. But he really didn’t want to go back into the cold, so we kept searching. Finally, we found a facility that accepted him. He was starting to feel the withdrawals, but he was so relieved to have a warm place and a shower that he thanked me for not giving up on him. All I can do now is hope and pray for his ongoing recovery and for that transformative ‘lightbulb moment’ to happen.
This story is about how we, at Thrive Peer Recovery Services, stick with people through thick and thin, always hoping for the best.
–Annie, Thrive ED Program Peer Recovery Specialist
