You Deserve To Feel Well
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time dedicated to raising awareness, breaking stigma, and encouraging open conversations about mental health. It’s a reminder that taking care of your emotional and mental well-being is just as important as caring for your physical health. This month is an opportunity to check in with yourself and others, prioritize self-care, and support those who may be struggling. Mental health matters, and no one should face it alone.
Mental health is just as important as physical health because it influences every aspect of your life. It affects how you think, feel, and act. It shapes how you handle stress, relate to others, and make decisions. Taking care of your mental health isn’t a luxury; it’s essential.
When your mental health is strong, you’re better able to manage life’s challenges, maintain healthy relationships, and stay focused on your goals. But when it’s not, even simple things can feel overwhelming. You might feel anxious, unmotivated, exhausted, or disconnected. You may even turn to unhealthy ways of coping, such as using substances.
That’s where self-care comes in. Self-care means doing things that help you feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s not selfish; it’s survival. It’s about checking in with yourself and doing what you need to recharge, reset, and protect your peace.
Here are some simple, realistic ways to take care of yourself:
- Take short breaks during the day to avoid burnout. This could mean stepping away from your work computer for a few minutes, sitting outside to eat lunch, enjoying an extra cup of coffee during a busy day at the office, or texting a good friend. Don’t feel guilty for resting. You’re recharging, not being lazy.
- Talk to someone. Open up to a friend or family member about how you’re feeling. Consider talking to a therapist. Therapy is for everyone, not just for people in crisis.
- Move your body. Go for a walk, stretch, dance, or exercise in a way that feels good for you. Physical activity releases endorphins that help boost your mood.
- Do something you enjoy. Read a book, paint, write, cook, listen to music, watch a favorite movie. Make time for things that aren’t “productive” but make you happy.
- Unplug. Take breaks from social media and screens. Spend time offline to reconnect with yourself and the real world.
- Take care of your body. Drink water, eat nourishing food, and avoid skipping meals. Take a shower, brush your teeth, and get dressed, even on hard days. Sometimes feeling put together can make a positive difference in how you start the day.
- Journal or reflect. Write down your thoughts to help process them. Keep a gratitude journal or track small wins.
Taking care of your mental health isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being kind to yourself. You’re allowed to pause. You’re allowed to feel. You’re allowed to put yourself first sometimes.
Your mental health matters. Your feelings are valid. And you deserve to feel well, inside and out.
Lydia Bongiorno, a long-time member of the Rage Against Addiction family, shares her her story about her mental health struggles, and how hope became a big factor in healing:
“On the outside I was positive, calm, polite, spiritual, and dependable. But inside, there felt like a “quiet room” existed, where fear, sadness, and self doubt whispered constantly. I had become so overwhelmed to where I started lacking all motivation for life. I felt like I couldn’t beat the self doubt, anxiety, or voices that told me I don’t deserve this beautiful life. I got to a point to where I could no longer fight it. I had struggled with mental health my whole life, multiple misdiagnoses, multiple medication changes, followed by a lot of misunderstandings. The pain ultimately became great enough. The suicidal thoughts continued. I never had a plan, however, I lived with a daily voice telling me that my family would be better off without me. I was a mess. I felt like I had no way out. I stayed quiet and I was really fighting a demon. Everyday I had to talk myself off the ledge. I decided to be open recently with a Baltimore County officer who was a female. I felt safe and I knew she had the resources I needed. I had a feeling she would hear me. She shared her personal experiences, and offered me multiple resources and options. She told me that even the strongest people battle every single day just to make it to bed. I knew I had two options, and they were either: get the help and open up, or keep living this way. I decided to reach out to my provider and get the help I needed. I got back into therapy, and became very picky about my support network. My family and friends had no idea how bad it had gotten. We are really good at wearing the masks we need to just to survive another day. I did get honest when I needed to, and I am so grateful for the little hope that I hung on to. They say if you are struggling to reach out, but with mental health, that’s a really really hard thing to do, especially when you are so deep in it. But, I promise it does get better. Our mental health does not define who we are. But it is our responsibility to seek out help. You deserve to be here. You deserve all of the beautiful gifts life has to offer.
You. Husbands, wives, children, family, and friends need you. Tomorrow needs you. We need you. Just stay another day. I promise it’s worth it. I’m so grateful I did.”
Lydia is a dedicated and compassionate member of the Harford County, MD community; she has helped those struggling with substance use disorder and mental health. She is a big advocate for those who need support because she has been there herself, and she knows that recovery of all kinds is possible. You just have to hold on.
Rachel (our Program Director) and I recently had dinner with our incredible House Managers: Piper, Susan, and Cam. These women are truly the heart of our program. Being a House Manager isn’t easy; it’s being the steady anchor in a household full of women, each on her own recovery journey. And yet, they show up with strength, patience, and compassion every single day. I’m proud to say that all of our house residents are doing wonderfully. Daughter’s House, our first and original home opened in 2018, and is is the namesake of this entire program. Sister House followed in 2020, right in the middle of challenging times, and then The Cottage opened shortly after. Over the years, we’ve had 26 women step into the role of House Manager across our three homes. Rachel has done a fabulous job training them as mentors and leaders. Their responsibilities go far beyond what most people see. They supervise, administer urine analysis, enforce curfews, collect rent, and handle whatever else pops up in the day-to-day life of the house. In return, they live rent-free, giving them the chance to save money and prepare for their next chapter of healing.
Whenever possible, we promote from within, giving our women in our program the chance to step up and grow. Not every manager has the same personality or skill set, but each one brings her own unique perspective, and all are vital to our success. We truly couldn’t do this without our amazing House Managers. This is a heartfelt shout-out to the women helping women within our Daughter’s House program. Thank you for your hard work, your heart, and your dedication. You are changing lives, every single day.
What’s New?
We’re proud to share our Recovery Companion coloring books and journals, thoughtfully created to inspire healing, resilience, and personal growth. Available on Amazon at an affordable price, each purchase helps us provide support to the women and families in our sober living homes and the wider community. Whether or not you’ve been affected by addiction, these books make meaningful gifts—for yourself or someone else—and offer a calming, creative outlet for reflection and relaxation.
Our touching ‘Twelve Days of Christmas Without My Loved One Here With Me’ book was beautifully written from the heart by Wendy Beck, and offers comfort for those grieving the loss of a loved one. This memorable book is also available on Amazon.
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We held our first ever Handbags For Hope event at the end of April. It was a successful morning of shopping for the gently used vintage and designer handbags, wallets, and purses that were generously donated by the women in our communities. Shoppers browsed and purchased many different name brands and styles, including Michael Kors, Coach, Calvin Klein, Dooney and Bourke, and much more; money raised at this unique event will benefit our programs and our mission. Please check back on our website and social media pages to find out when we will host another chic event just like this one!
Our Event Calendar is always up-to-date on event times and details about registration information. Please keep coming back to see what we’ve added and how you can participate.
*Scroll down to the bottom of our Events Calendar to SUBSCRIBE so that our events will be added to your personal calendar.
June 6: Starting at 5:00pm in downtown Bel Air, MD, enjoy cold beverages (poured by yours truly!), live music, delicious food, and crafty vendors at the First Fridays in Bel Air event.
September 14: Join us for our annual Recovery Month Basket Bingo family-friendly event. Bring everyone and anyone you know for a fun-filled afternoon of playing bingo, winning prizes, and snacking on delicious desserts at our bake sale. Tickets are on sale now!
We serve locally but think globally. For counseling, or for addiction, substance abuse disorder, or mental illness treatment, please contact your area’s health department, county government, hospital, or law enforcement agency.
Addiction Connections Resource: A non-profit organization that assists with providing resources and support for addiction treatment and that educates the community about substance abuse disorder. Located in Fallston, MD. Please visit here or call 443-417-7810 for more information.
Ashley Addiction Treatment: An inpatient treatment center that personalizes clinical programs based on individual need. Located in Havre De Grace, MD. Please visit here or call 800-799-4673 for information about online and in-person meeting services.
Celebrate Recovery: A local support group for those with addictive behaviors. Located in Bel Air, MD and Joppa, MD.
Mt. Zion Church (1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015): every Thursday at 5:45pm. Please visit here for more information about meetings.
Mountain Christian Church (New Life Center 1802 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085): every Friday at 6:00pm. Please visit here for more details.
GRASP (Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing): A local support group for those who have lost someone to addiction.
6:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of each month.
Located at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 (Rooms 13-15)
Contact lisa.craig4@verizon.net for more information. The private national Facebook group is available. Please visit here to ask to join.
The Klein Family Harford Crisis Center: A clinic that provides immediate care for mental health and addiction. Located in Bel Air, MD. Please visit here or call 410-874-0711 for information about services.
Loving An Addict: A local support group for family and friends of those in active addiction.
6:30pm every Tuesday
Located at Mt. Zion Church: 1643 Churchville Road, Bel Air, MD 21015 (Rooms 13-15)
Please visit here for more details.
Voices Of Hope: An organization made up of people in recovery who advocate for behavioral health disorder prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery resources, who eliminate the stigma of addiction through outreach events and education, and who support all pathways of recovery including harm reduction and Narcan training. Located in Cecil County, MD. Please visit here or call 443-933-7055 for information about services.
Daughter’s House: Designed to assist women who are transitioning from substance abuse treatment to recovery; includes three Level II Maryland Certification of Recovery Residence (MCORR) sober living houses (Daughter’s House, Sister House, and The Cottage) located in Harford County, MD. Each house is tailored to meet each individual’s needs.
RAA ABC (After Baby Care): Empowering new moms in early recovery with postpartum care packages for mother and baby. Items are selected from a predetermined checklist for qualifying and referred families.
HALO (How to Live Without Our Addicted Loved One): An online grief support group specifically for those that lost loved ones to substance abuse. Click here to ask to join the private Facebook page. *Please read and answer the membership questions prior to joining.*
Wendy Beck: Founder and Executive Director
Rachel Bongiorno: Daughter’s House Program Director and Recovery Coach, and Advisory Board Member
Mia Ellis: Administrator and Advisory Board Member
Tara Kuzma: Board President
Amanda Buddenbohn: Board Secretary
Shawn Partain: Board Treasurer
Rich Bennett: Board Member
Meredith Morris: Board Member
Jeff Pollard: Board Member