An Eye-Opening Experience
“Cedar House opened my eyes to see that it’s okay to need help; it’s okay to be bi-polar; and it’s okay to grow through things.”
Sheri was brought into the world under the most difficult conditions. She was born in a hotel room to two addict parents. Her mother shot her up with heroin to quiet her as an infant which resulted in a lifetime of physical and mental disorders to overcome. But Sheri was strong. Even as a young child, she overcame the adversity. She was blessed to be adopted by loving parents at the age of five. They were LA County police officers and cared for her deeply the best way they knew how.
Sheri always had a strong urge to use drugs and alcohol. She wanted to experiment and explore as a teenager. She said, “I was just wild!” At the age of 16, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but didn’t begin treatment until she was 22. She married her first husband when she was 18, and he was 35. During their first few years of marriage, she suffered through four miscarriages and her husband’s abuse. She said, “I just felt so alone. I wanted to try and get sober.” Sheri ended up getting arrested during this wild streak as she battled her addiction, fear, loneliness, and the shame she felt from years of sexual abuse.
Fortunately, the STAR program was an ideal fit for Sheri. When she completed her time in jail, she went directly to Cedar House for three months through that program. She said, “The staff at Cedar House opened up my eyes. You guys helped me so much.” She recalled that she related to case manager Salena’s personal story and knew that she would learn from her. She said, “Someone was finally going to help me get my mental health right.”
Cedar House opened Sheri’s eyes to the 12-step program, and she began to understand that it’s okay to ask for help. She said, “The atmosphere was warm, comfortable, and it felt safe to open up.” During her time in treatment, the Cedar House staff also counseled Sheri’s parents to understand how to support her through the challenges she was going through. She said, “They were just so angry, but they learned, ‘It’s okay. Let’s pick ourselves up. We can do this together.’”
The last time Sheri used was 12/23/12. She worked the program, got a sponsor, got re-married and had a son. To this day, when using comes up, she reminds herself to play the tape all the way through. She said, “I tell myself that I don’t want to go to jail, and I don’t want to be like my birth mother.”
Today, she continues to go to therapy once a week; she takes the right medication for her condition; and she thanks God every day for the program at Cedar House. She loves to give back and proudly donates clothes to Cedar House and Maple House on a regular basis.
She said, “If I wasn’t sober, I wouldn’t be alive. I’m so grateful for my family, the STAR program, and Cedar House. I just want to give back.”
The STAR Program helped Sheri find sober living after treatment. Once she got on her feet, she found employment with Amazon as a packer where she worked her way up to the human resources department.
Cedar House laid the foundation for Sheri’s life in recovery. She said, “I don’t feel shameful anymore. I feel safe to open up. I was there to work the program and take care of myself. Now, I just try to stay a good human – to always be as kind as possible to anyone I meet. They might be going through it.”
Each October, Mental Health Awareness Month reminds us that recovery and healing are possible for everyone. At Cedar House Life Change Center, we understand that mental health and substance use are deeply connected. Many people who struggle with addiction are also coping with conditions such as anxiety, depression, or trauma—and each affects the other. Treating both together is essential to lasting recovery. For more than 52 years, Cedar House has been helping individuals and families throughout the Inland Empire rebuild their lives through compassionate, evidence-based treatment. Our staff empowers people to overcome addiction and mental health challenges with respect, dignity, and hope. Tips for People Seeking Support If you or someone you love is struggling, here are a few ways to start your journey toward recovery: 1. Reach out for help early. You don’t need to wait for a crisis to ask for help. Early intervention can prevent harm and improve long-term success. 2. Get a professional assessment. At Cedar House, licensed clinicians assess each individual’s physical, mental, and emotional health to create a personalized plan. 3. Find community support. Recovery grows in connection. Peer support, counseling, and family engagement help build resilience and accountability. 4. Create stability. Safe housing, structured routines, and supportive care environments help lay the foundation for recovery. 5. Commit to ongoing care. Recovery doesn’t end after treatment—it continues through outpatient services, counseling, and ongoing connection to support systems. How Cedar House Life Change Center Can Help Cedar House offers a continuum of care designed to meet people wherever they are in their recovery journey: Withdrawal Management and Residential Treatment — Structured programs for men and women addressing both substance use and co-occurring mental health disorders. Maple House Perinatal Program — Family-centered services for mothers and children to recover and thrive together. Outpatient and Aftercare Programs — Continuing care, therapy, and relapse-prevention strategies for lasting stability. Family Support — Counseling and education to strengthen families and rebuild relationships. Our integrated treatment model ensures that every client receives comprehensive, coordinated care. You Are Not Alone This Mental Health Awareness Month, Cedar House encourages everyone to talk openly about mental health and seek support when needed. Recovery is not a solitary journey—it’s a shared path toward healing, strength, and renewal. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use or co-occurring mental health issues, contact Cedar House Life Change Center today. Together, we can help you find hope, healing, and a fresh start.
When Nikki first realized alcohol was destroying her life, it was 2012 — the year she nearly lost it entirely. On May 12, 2012, she made the decision to stop drinking. That same day, her body collapsed under the weight of years of alcohol abuse. She began bleeding heavily, vomiting stomach acid, and was rushed to the hospital. Her heart stopped. Medical staff performed CPR for 6 minutes and 38 seconds before bringing her back. Nikki survived, but her road ahead was long. She spent two months in the hospital, then entered Alcoholics Anonymous and worked the program. She stayed sober for two years — but like so many battling addiction, she relapsed. Over the years, her drinking escalated to 4–6 liters of vodka a week, often leading to hallucinations, psychosis, and dangerous detox episodes. Legal troubles, family struggles, and her son’s complex medical needs weighed heavily on her. Her breaking point came after her young son — who had cerebral palsy — faced a series of health crises. Despite staying sober for two years, the mounting stress and heartbreak eventually pushed her back into the cycle of drinking. Nikki tried multiple recovery programs, but medical complications and relapses kept pulling her back down. She knew alcohol was destroying her, but the pull was relentless. Then came Cedar House. Nikki says the outpatient program there changed everything. It gave her structure, accountability, and—most importantly—nonjudgmental support. Even during relapse, she knew Cedar House would welcome her back with compassion and encouragement. While in treatment, Nikki endured one of the most devastating moments of her life — the loss of her son in November 2022. In her grief, she had the tools and the people to help. She leaned on therapy, grief counseling, church, her sponsor, and the fellowship of AA. She refused to give up. With encouragement from her Cedar House counselor, Nikki pursued a lifelong dream: becoming a psychiatric technician. She enrolled at Mt. San Antonio College and not only completed the program but graduated valedictorian in June 2025. She is now preparing for her state board exams and continuing her personal growth, sobriety, and service to others. Nikki knows that recovery is a lifelong process. “When you’re sick and tired of being sick and tired, you have to get the right tools in place,” she says. “The people at Cedar House believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. They gave me a safe place to come back to—without judgment—every single time.” Today, Nikki is living proof that with the right support, a person can come back from even the darkest moments and build a successful life.
Breaking down the barriers and misconceptions surrounding drug and alcohol rehabilitation is critical for encouraging more people to seek help. Read more now.
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