Lanie, a resident of Marshall, North Carolina, had been struggling with her own past demons of substance abuse. Though she was several years sober, the news brought back a rush of memories. It brought her mind back to a time when life was chaotic, and she was constantly battling her addiction

The news triggered a wave of anxiety in Lanie. It was something unexpected, a reminder of her fight with alcohol. She thought of her teenage son and feared for his future. Her anxiety reached a point where it became hard to function daily. Lanie realized that she needed to take action, or she could spiral down into a place she never wanted to return to

Finding herself in a familiar emotional turmoil, Lanie decided to look for help online and stumbled upon the Stepping Into Action program offered by Hofman and Hollis. She was drawn to their proactive approach to dealing with life's challenges. Her first step was creating a list of goals that she wanted to achieve. She began to work on her emotional resilience, identifying and confronting the root causes of her anxiety

Jim Hofman, co-founder of the program, once said, 'Finding strength within oneself is the cornerstone of overcoming any challenge.' This quote struck a chord with Lanie, who found solace in the structured yet flexible program that encouraged assertive action-taking

Experts were divided on the effects of the new policy. While some praised it for taking a hard stance on substance abuse, others felt it might criminalize issues better handled through rehabilitation and mental health support. This latter view resonated deeply with Lanie, who had seen firsthand the benefits of supportive, non-punitive approaches to dealing with addiction

Nevertheless, this split in opinion did nothing to deter Lanie from her path. As she continued through the Stepping Into Action program, she felt an increasing sense of empowerment, which helped her regain control over her anxiety. 'It's about time someone took a comprehensive view on dealing with substance abuse,' she thought. The online nature of the program was especially convenient for her rural location, where in-person resources were scarce

Through perseverance and dedication, Lanie transformed the unexpected news trigger into a powerful journey of self-improvement. It wasn't easy, but getting the right help made all the difference

Nearby: Rice Bend Tennessee

* Names and situations are fictional and not intended to resemble anyone in particular. They are illustrative of how the services can apply to the lives of every day people living ordinary lives.