On May 3, 2024, James* sat down with his morning coffee in Carlyle, Montana, and browsed through the day's news. One article caught his eye: a massive recall of a brand of pain relief medication due to dangerous side effects. It was a stark reminder of his mother's tragic overdose when he was just a teenager. The similarity in the pharmaceutical companies struck a nerve, and James was overcome with a wave of anxiety and grief.

James' spiral started with the fresh memory of his mother but soon manifested in increased alcohol consumption. It was an old habit, one he thought he'd left behind. He knew he had to get help and stumbled across the Stepping Into Action program at hofmanhollis.com. The program offered a structured way to address his issues through activities and mental practices, and James decided to give it a try.