Behind the Scenes
As a carpenter on set for the Los Angeles Ballet, Richard knew a thing or two about building a solid foundation. Board by board, he helped set the stage behind the scenes for beautiful performances. But, back home, his marriage was falling apart, and he didn’t seem to have the tools to repair it. He fell hard into a dangerous lifestyle of drinking heavily every day “to kill the pain.” The habit spiraled into eight years of alcoholism, suicide attempts and homelessness.
Richard recalled his first suicide attempt and the four-day stay in the hospital that followed. He said, “It was the best few days because I was taken out of the world and put in a safe place.” One of his nurses recommended Cedar House to him, and he agreed to go into treatment. That’s when his foundation was initially laid for recovery. He said it took him two weeks to truly sober up, but then he synced into rhythm for the next 90 days in residential treatment.
He said, “I am definitely not the same Richard.” At Cedar House, he got answers about how to deal with his fear and anger. He implemented what he learned and stayed sober for 13 months. Unfortunately, he relapsed and ended up in the hospital again a few years later. He thankfully returned to Cedar House where he was welcomed with open arms. He remembered a staff member encouraging him and telling him then that “this time you’ll hear something you didn’t hear last time.”
When he stumbled, he knew he could call on Cedar House to help him get back up. After another 90 days in treatment, Richard returned home and maintained his sobriety for 16 months. He cared for his ailing mother and managed a challenging relationship with his brother who had a drinking problem of his own. He admitted, “My relapses happened at home. Each relapse, my determination got stronger to not die an alcoholic’s death.” So, he returned to Cedar House.
During that last stay at Cedar House, Richard learned that his brother died in his sleep. He thought, “He died my death. That hit me hard. But I thought about the tools I got from Cedar House.”
Richard learned a new way to live at Cedar House. He said, “I was rescued, and Cedar House was part of the rescue plan. They taught me a new way to feel about myself. Someone told me, ‘You’re gonna find out you’re a pretty nice guy.’”
At Cedar House, he proudly served as a volunteer behind the scenes in the multi-purpose room, staging the flag every morning and taking it down in the evenings. Since he had worked in carpentry and theater his entire life, he wanted to serve the community that he had such great appreciation and admiration for. He said, “My case manager Mike is such a wonderful man. Very supportive and awfully bright. Cedar House is the fertilizer for my recovery. It’s my roots and my foundation. Mike is on a pedestal. That’s how much he affected me.”
From then on, Richard continued to live a clean and sober life. He found work, housing and a better way to live. He said, “I got sick and tired of being sick and tired. Now, if I get invited to a party, I bring a sober buddy.”
He spent the past seven years in recovery serving his community with outreach to the homeless who suffer with addiction. He said, “I went to meetings, prayed a lot. I had to do it. I couldn’t go backwards to a life of drugs, crime, and mayhem. I can’t save everyone. I just help. I share that my story is one of determination, tenacity and the will to live. Everyone deserves to be a success story.”
June is PTSD Awareness Month, an important time to recognize the deep connection between trauma, mental health, and substance use. For many people, addiction does not happen in isolation. It is often tied to painful life experiences, untreated mental health symptoms, grief, violence, loss, instability, or long-term stress. When someone is living with post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, substances may become a way to cope with memories, anxiety, fear, sleep problems, emotional pain, or feeling constantly on edge. At Cedar House Life Change Center, we understand that recovery must address the whole person. That means looking beyond substance use alone and recognizing the mental health challenges that often come with addiction. Understanding PTSD and Substance Use PTSD can develop after someone experiences or witnesses a traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, panic, avoidance, emotional numbness, irritability, difficulty trusting others, and feeling unsafe even when danger has passed. These symptoms can be overwhelming, especially when a person does not have the support, treatment, or tools to manage them. For some, alcohol or drugs may feel like temporary relief. Over time, however, substance use often makes trauma symptoms worse and creates a cycle that becomes harder to break. This is why treating addiction without addressing co-occurring mental health disorders can leave people without the full support they need to heal. Cedar House Specializes in Co-Occurring Disorders Cedar House specializes in serving individuals with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and other behavioral health needs. Our clinical team is experienced in working with clients whose recovery is complicated by trauma, emotional distress, and higher levels of acuity. Many treatment programs are not equipped to support clients with more complex mental health presentations. At Cedar House, we have developed the ability to manage and support more acute cases when clinically appropriate. This means we are often able to serve individuals who may need more structure, closer monitoring, stronger clinical coordination, and a more comprehensive approach than a traditional substance use treatment setting can provide. Our goal is not simply to stabilize substance use. Our goal is to help clients build a foundation for long-term recovery by addressing the mental health symptoms, trauma responses, and life circumstances that may be contributing to addiction. A Trauma-Informed Approach to Recovery Trauma-informed care means recognizing that many people entering treatment have experienced significant pain before they ever arrive at our doors. It means creating an environment where clients feel safe, respected, understood, and supported rather than judged. At Cedar House, this approach is reflected in the way we provide care. We focus on compassion, structure, accountability, and individualized support. Clients are treated as people with stories, strengths, and potential, not as diagnoses or behaviors. For individuals with PTSD and addiction, recovery may include learning how to manage triggers, regulate emotions, rebuild trust, develop healthy coping skills, reconnect with family and community, and begin to imagine life beyond survival. Healing takes time, but with the right support, it is possible. Meeting Clients Where They Are Cedar House serves many individuals who come to treatment with complex needs, including co-occurring mental health disorders, homelessness or housing instability, justice involvement, medical concerns, and limited support systems. These challenges can make recovery more difficult, but they do not make recovery impossible. Our programs are designed to meet clients where they are and help them move toward stability, dignity, and wholeness. By offering a continuum of care that includes withdrawal management, residential treatment, outpatient services, perinatal services, recovery support, and alumni engagement, Cedar House helps clients take the next step in their recovery journey. Why PTSD Awareness Matters PTSD Awareness Month reminds us that trauma is not a character flaw, and addiction is not a moral failure. Both are health conditions that deserve compassionate, evidence-based care. When communities understand the connection between trauma and substance use, we reduce stigma and create more pathways to healing. At Cedar House, we believe people can recover when they are given the right care, the right environment, and the right support. For individuals living with PTSD and addiction, that means treatment that sees the full picture and responds with both clinical expertise and compassion. This June, we honor those who are living with trauma, those who are seeking recovery, and those who are learning that healing is possible. Cedar House remains committed to helping individuals affected by addiction and co-occurring mental health disorders find wholeness in recovery.
by Mark D. Gobert
Learn what happens in residential addiction treatment step-by-step, from detox to therapy and recovery planning at Cedar House Life Change Center.
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