Grief doesn’t go away; it becomes part of you. But there are ways to navigate it, especially during such an emotionally charged time…

The first impactful experience I had with homelessness was at 13. I wasn’t fully aware of how or why I was in this situation or what it truly meant, but I knew I didn’t feel like myself. Positive there was something wrong with me, I poured over a copy of the DSM-IV hoping to self-diagnose. If I could find the problem with me, I thought, I could fix it and be happy again.

Not all grief is the same, and the aftermath of an overdose is a deeply challenging and emotional time. This tragedy becomes a “before and after” moment in your life. The shock, pain, and sense of loss can be overwhelming…

It takes a lot of courage to be completely yourself, especially when others think a big part of your identity is up for scrutiny and your human rights are up for debate. I’m never really 100% sure how to be a good ally, but I’m learning as I support those in recovery who identify as LGBTQ+.

At The Roots LLC is so excited to announce that one of the co-owners, Mike Sommer, has passed his certification exam through the state of Wisconsin and is now a practicing Certified Parent Peer Specialist!

Adverse Childhood Experiences or ACEs are potentially traumatic events that happen before the age of 18 such as experiencing or witnessing abuse, violence, or neglect.