Chelsey Keeney, of Washburn, told her story of recovery 2 years ago, on March 31, 2021.

Keeney’s Celebrate Recovery testimony was part of a 12-part series published in the Cassville Democrat, one step of the 12-step program for each month of the year.

Keeney’s story looked a bit different than what one might expect from a recovery group, but her testimony had the unique ability to reach people on a deeper level.

She said, “It’s all about the actions we decided to take.”

Keeney suffered from PTSD, depression, and anxiety for a long time before her mom suggested Celebrate Recovery.

“I sat in the very back,” she said. “Then, the lady who started the meeting that night got up. She said she was there for depression — I was immediately hooked.”

Keeney, like many others, didn’t realize she could get some of the help she needed to get through her mental health struggles at Celebrate Recovery.

“It was November 2017 that I picked up my first chip,” she said. “I spent months trying to figure out what I needed to do. I didn’t have a pill bottle or a glass I could put down.”

Celebrate Recovery is for any kind of hurt, habit and hangup, and for Keeney – that meant her mental health.

Two years ago, Keeney said she continued to work through the steps every year, as recovery is a work-in-progress.

Today, she continues that journey, and has some new things she is working on.

“Because of recovery, I went back to school to finish my degree in teaching,” she said. “It is still hard. It is hard to get back and stay on top of schoolwork. But, for a year-and-a-half I have stayed on top of it, which is really great.”

Keeney has also accepted a fulltime position as a paraprofessional at Southwest school district.

“My goal is to obtain my master’s degree,” she said. “I am in preschool, now and I love my job.

“I feel like I have a lot of purpose in comparison to before. Now, I feel like I need to do everything I can to make a difference in a kid’s life.”

Keeney said her recovery has led her to this teaching journey.

“I want to be a positive person to these kids and build these relationships with the kids who need it most,” she said. “Doing this is very healing to me. I still do CR, and people ask all the time, ‘Why do you still go?’ I go for me every time, but I also go for others. I hope someone will think, if she can do this, so can I.”

Keeney said you can always learn more tools to help in your recovery.

“I have struggles with depression even through my journey,” she said. “The difference is now I don’t stay depressed. I can see my actions and emotions, and I can control them better. I have learned not to dwell.”

Keeney said mental health is important, because even with physical addiction, the core of it starts mentally.

“It starts with the trauma that we have experienced at some point,” she said. “We reach out to what we know or think will help that emotional trauma. For me, that was depression, if I’d been exposed to drugs, I may have gone to that.”

Keeney said now that she has tools, when trauma happens, it doesn’t pile on as baggage. Instead, she works through it.

“Our choices have consequences,” she said. “Once you realize that, it makes it easier to be OK.”

Keeney is still working with Celebrate Recovery and is still a member of Corinth Baptist Church.

According to Celebrate Recovery, two-thirds of the more than 5 million people who participate in the program are there for something other than drugs and alcohol.

Meetings

To add or update any meetings, people may call Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Tuesday

— Celebrate Recovery Cassville at the First Baptist Church in the loft. Meal is served at 5:45 p.m. and large group is at 6:30 p.m., childcare is provided nursery to 6th grade. People may contact Mark Barton at 417-766-5449.

Wednesday

— Shell Knob – Celebrate Recovery at the Viola Victory Church at 29604 State HWY., 39. Meal starts at 5:00 p.m., meeting starts at 5:45 p.m. Childcare is provided For more information call Jessica at 417-239-9001. — Seligman Celebrate Recovery at Mozark Fellowship at 28277 Frisco Street Seligman MO. Meal is at 6:00 p.m. and meetings starts at 7:00 p.m. For more information call Loni at 417-827-2737. — Cassville noon to 1:00 p.m. AA meetings at 1308 Harold Street Cassville MO. And 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. NA meeting at 1308 Harold Street Cassville MO.

Thursday

— Monett Celebrate Recovery 6-9 p.m. at the New Site Baptist Church at 1925 FR. 1060 Monett MO. 65708. Meal at 6: 00 p.m. Childcare and nursery up to 5th grade. The Landing for 6th to 12th grade. For more information people can reach Allan at 417-461-6802. — Cassville from 8 to 9 p.m. AA meeting at 1308 Harold Street.

Friday

— Cassville from 6 to 7 p.m. NA meetings at 1308 Harold Street, for more information people can call Sarah at 417846-2045.

Saturday

— Cassville from 10 to 11 a.m. SMART meetings at 208 West 8th Street. Alliance counseling. For more information people may call Loni at 417-827-2737.