Krystal has struggled with drugs and
homelessness throughout her life.

She’s beginning to address her trauma

Most of Krystal’s adolescence went unsupervised. Her mother spent her days drinking at the casino, leaving Krystal alone for long stretches of time. “My mom didn’t supervise me very much,” Krystal said. “I was lonely. She wasn’t there, at home, so I did whatever I wanted.”

Krystal began hanging out with “unhealthy” friends. By 14, she was regularly smoking marijuana, using methamphetamines, and was often truant from school. Krystal had her first child at 17 and two years later, had a second child. Her partner was violent towards her and while she admits to still smoking marijuana, Krystal stopped using meth.

“I wasn’t using meth, so I thought I was okay, but I wasn’t. I was still in an abusive relationship.”

After leaving her partner, Krystal secured housing for her and her children, and she found stable employment.

Krystal moved again, had her third child, and although she was hoping for a fresh start, she fell in with “bad influences.” The cycle of sobriety, drugs, and homelessness continued. “I’ve been struggling with drugs off and on since I was 14. It’s from loneliness. I was alone for most of my childhood.

“That’s been my story. I’ll do good for a while and then somebody will come around and I’ll fall right back into using,” Krystal said.

After the death of her mother due to cirrhosis of the liver, Krystal new she needed help. She was struggling with undiagnosed bipolar disorder and overdosed on stimulants. Krystal’s sister agreed to take care of her children and Krystal came to the Mission.

“I love the program. I love that we’re working on underlying traumas, and that instead of just saying that there is a higher power, we say God and Jesus. There’s a love for us that God and Jesus provide. I didn’t grasp the higher power in other programs, but in this program, I’m getting to read the Bible and I’m learning more about God and who He is to me.

“I look at God like He’s my Father. I didn’t grow up with a father figure, so it was hard to relate to that. Now, I use God as my Father.”

After graduation, Krystal plans on entering the Transitional Living Program. She recently reconciled with her aunt and cousin and hopes to restore her relationship with her children. Although she’s thinking about going back to school, Krystal is focusing on healing from her past traumas.

“I’m not isolated anymore,” Krystal said. “You don’t have to be perfect here. I really want to work on myself—I didn’t do that in the other programs. I focused more on getting through the program and off probation. This time, I’m getting the most out of everything that I’m doing.”