Support systems homes will know me by my maiden name, but i was there a couple times years back. It took more than one go for me to “get it”, but here’s the good news: when i left, and relapsed, it only took me one month to be begging to go back to support systems. And they welcomed me with love. The second time, i knew I needed additional support, and i lived at their SLE. My mom got a ton of education and support from the family program and got linked in to al-anon, which we now attend together. Addiction is truly a family disease, and we both had a lot to learn. Today, i have ten years sober, i am married to someone who treats me the way I deserve, and we have two beautiful children, who i am 100% present for. I am also a registered nurse and i work in psychiatry, where i meet and try to help addicts like me every day. Support systems nourished me- literally, with incredible food, and spiritually, with unconditional understanding, patience, and support. Ten years later, i look at pictures of the facility and truly miss it! I still consider it my home away from home, the safest place I’ve ever known, and the safest i have ever felt. I came in completely destroyed and beaten, and i got to be completely safe and somewhere that would protect and help me.