Fierce Encouragement
The harsh reality of Zehara’s upbringing came to light when she came to Maple House. She said that her “inner child was crying out for help.” She recalled that, at the age of 11, a classmate noticed bruises from the abuse she was receiving at home. A teacher got involved, and, before she knew it, Zehara and her siblings were taken away from their home. Throughout middle school and high school, she fought with other students and got into trouble frequently. By the age of sixteen, she was pregnant with her first child. She had another child when she turned 21 and moved into a home for single mothers. The second baby’s father asked her to move in with him in Barstow, and so she did. His mother, a drug addict, also lived with them. Even when Zehara and her boyfriend broke up, she still spent time with his mother. One day, Zehara said she was “bored and curious,” and this woman introduced her to meth. "She handed me my first pipe. From that moment, I was hooked."
She started smoking meth every day. Soon after, she got involved with a man who was nearly 50 years old. He was an addict and a dealer. Her addiction escalated, and she went from smoking to needles. She would leave her kids with his mom and spend all her time on the streets with him selling and using drugs.
After she gave birth to her third child, she was able to stay clean for a couple of months. One day, the newborn had a seizure, and they rushed him to the hospital. The doctors found meth in the child’s system, and he was taken into CPS custody. Zehara suspects that his grandmother must have smoked near the baby because she was staying sober at the time. Next, CPS took her other two children, and Zehara started using again.
When they took my kids, I went downhill. She confessed that she used drugs continuously during this time. Even when she had to pass a drug test to continue visitation with her children, she used someone else’s urine to get by. Eventually, she stopped going to get tested altogether. She said, “That’s when the once-a-week visitation turned into once-a-month because I kept messing up.”
When she got pregnant again, she said, “Time was ticking. They were going to adopt my kids out. I was still using drugs, but I’ll be damned if they’ll take my baby.” With that newfound determination, Zehara came to Maple House, but she feared that she had waited too long to get her kids back.
"I had it in my head that they were going to take my baby. So what’s the point of getting help. What am I doing this for?"
The more discouraged she got, the more her case managers would push her to stay focused on her goals. They reminded her that she needed to get sober for herself. She said, “I lost hope, but Maple House kept encouraging me. I learned so much about myself. My inner child was crying out for help, and my inner self got help. I got a lot of things answered about myself. Maple House really pushed me. I didn’t give up.”
After completing 118 days of treatment, Zehara moved into a transitional home for six months. Now, Zehara lives with two of her children in her own apartment in Redlands, and she has reconnected with her family who have been a strong support system for her in recovery. She will receive her high school diploma in two weeks from Redlands Adult School and hopes to one day work at Cedar House.
Zehara reflected on her experience: “I was young, dumb, naïve. I dated a drug dealer for 6 years. I didn’t pay attention to my kids. Maple House gave me a whole different view of life and taught me to keep moving forward.”
"If it wasn’t for Maple House, I wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t think I was worthy. Maple House changed my life."
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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