In this Q&A with Wasatch Crest business development representative, Jayme Dick, Jayme shares her story of recovery. Her narrative emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance, resilience, and helping others on their recovery paths. For those seeking hope, her experience shows that a fulfilling and joyful life is possible after addiction.
Your Journey: What was your experience with addiction and recovery?
My struggle with addiction began when I was 14-years-old. By 15, I found myself in my first treatment program—a wilderness program followed by an all-girl therapeutic boarding school. Throughout my journey, I leaned on various substances, but it was opiates and benzos that quickly and powerfully took me down.
My sobriety date is June 20, 2013. I flew from Arizona to Utah for treatment and have stayed ever since. In 2014, I started working in treatment as the chef of a non-profit organization. Since then, I’ve worked at almost every level of care in the treatment field—detox, residential, outpatient, and sober living. The treatment center I attended was a 12-step-based program, which played a significant role in my sobriety.
When I completed treatment, I built a supportive community around myself, connecting with people in recovery. I embraced the advice and practices suggested to me in early recovery, making them a natural part of my life. I made profound changes within myself, in how I treated others, how I experienced life, and what I cared about most.
Gender-Specific Treatment: If you attended gender-specific treatment, how has it impacted your recovery?
The only gender-specific treatment I attended was an all-girls therapeutic boarding school when I was younger. However, through my experiences both as a participant and as a professional in treatment, I genuinely understand the need for gender-specific programs. I’ve witnessed many women feel safest in women-only process groups, benefiting from the absence of the distractions that can arise in co-ed settings.
Balancing Roles: How have you balanced recovery with other roles in your life, such as being a mother, partner, or professional?
Balancing my roles in recovery is an ongoing journey, with room for continuous improvement. Work-life balance is crucial to me. Over the years, I’ve become better at setting boundaries to maintain my peace and sanity. The year 2020 was particularly challenging, with the world in turmoil. I focused on defining and separating my roles as a behavioral health professional, a woman in long-term recovery, and allowing myself to just be human. I am a wife, a dog mom of three, a daughter, and a sister. I cherish the life I have today, fully aware of the hard work I’ve put in to create it. I prioritize and protect my happiness in all areas of my life.
To maintain my well-being, I adhere to a set of practices. Exercise helps quiet my thoughts and refocus on the present. My husband and I enjoy fly fishing together, finding great satisfaction in landing a fish. This hobby also gives us an excuse to travel. I love spending time in the kitchen, where I can utilize the creative side of my brain. As a former chef, I find joy in planning, prepping, and finishing dishes that my husband, family, and friends enjoy.
Empowerment: How has recovery empowered you as a woman?
Being a woman in recovery is empowering in itself, but the most empowering aspect is realizing all the things I’ve accomplished that I and others once doubted I could achieve. Recovery has taught me to learn, accept, and love myself for who I am. When you love and accept yourself, you gain the courage to challenge yourself in ways you never thought possible. Empowerment, to me, means allowing myself to be weird, fun, vulnerable—whatever feels right that day, even if it doesn’t come naturally.
Redefining Identity: How has recovery helped you redefine your identity as a woman?
Society often imposes limitations on women—how we should look, act, think, what jobs we should have, and what roles we should play. My recovery has taught me to believe in myself and give 100% in everything I do. I’ve learned to have more compassion for myself, allowing space for both the negative and positive to coexist. I believe in myself, allowing myself to succeed and fail, to experience happiness and sadness, to speak up when necessary. Before sobriety, I struggled to connect with other women and had a difficult relationship with my mom. Since getting sober, that connection has drastically improved. I now value connecting with women and realize the many ways I relate to them.
Inspiration: What message do you have for other women struggling with substance or alcohol use?
Getting sober is just the beginning of recovery; it’s the start of everything. Finding and maintaining happiness is challenging, but the work is worth the reward. It’s possible to build the life you want and become the woman you aspire to be, even though it might not always be comfortable. Change can be necessary and scary. Recovery is not one-size-fits-all—your journey will look different from others, so do whatever works best for you.
Residential Treatment For Women at Wasatch Crest
Our Jupiter Women’s residential treatment program provides a safe, welcoming space and tailored clinical treatment for women struggling with substance use. By encouraging vulnerability and compassion among clients, our Jupiter program promotes deep healing. During their stay, women receive care based on evidence-based modalities, allowing them to process trauma, grief, and loss, cultivate self-compassion, and foster healthy relationships. To learn more, reach out.
