Matt’s Comeback Story
When Matt walks through the door at Hello House these days, it’s not as a resident, but as a very welcome guest.
Soft spoken and funny, Matt regularly returns to the residential treatment program where he says he “got his life back.” These visits allow him to connect with the staff who saw him through his darkest days, thank them, and show them how far he has come. Matt also gets to share the story of his recovery journey with current residents, offering them hope, perspective, and encouragement.
Two years sober and counting, Matt tells them about his three stints in treatment programs and his relapses before he found VOAMASS. He notes that it wasn’t until he came to Hello House that both his substance use disorder and his co-occurring mental health condition were addressed. He still struggled at times, but he kept working with the support and encouragement of his integrated care team, including his case manager, clinicians, and recovery support staff.
It’s always special when Matt shares the story about the tearful, joyful reunion with the sister he hadn’t seen in five years; finally getting to celebrate Christmas with the family that he had been estranged from for years; reconnecting with his twin brother; and finally being the uncle he’s always wanted to be to his young nephew, “the light of my life.” He talks about the restaurant job he loves and promotion he recently received, the things he’s saving for, and getting the keys to his own apartment – the first time in six years he has had keys of his own.
Matt also tells them that for him, sobriety is hard; it’s scary sometimes because it’s a completely new way of living. But it’s worth it. He still has support from VOAMASS, and attributes his continued success to the aftercare he receives since transitioning out of the program.
Matt wasn’t always open to discussing his journey – it’s something he learned to do while at Hello House. He was encouraged to speak up when he needed help.
Now, when Matt comes back to the program, he speaks up to help others. He does it because his story, like theirs, has a very important chapter set at Hello House – and that chapter made all the difference in his ability to achieve and maintain his recovery.
