Erik: Freedom from the cycle

So many things were going right. Starting a family, promotions at work, fulfilling a dream to move to Colorado – Erik Olson was living his dream. But for 20 years, he hadn’t been able to go without alcohol or marijuana for more than 60 days. His wife prayed for years, but almost no one else knew there was a problem. By the time Olson was working from home during the pandemic, he was using every day, sometimes during the workday, and falling further behind on projects.

“When things look good on the outside, it’s easy to justify a few beers or smoking in the garage,” he said. “But it got to a point that I couldn’t keep shrugging it off. I was so tired of the cycle, and I knew I needed help.”

Now more than three years sober, Olson can’t believe where he is today. He and his family live in Florissant, on beautiful land. He doesn’t feel controlled by the need to drink or get high. He’s using his past for good as Director of Colorado Strategy for Face It TOGETHER, a local addiction wellness nonprofit.

Kristen: Loving a son with addiction

Kristen Goettsch, Face It TOGETHER’s Senior Evaluation Scientist, was controlled by her son’s addiction for years. Every day was full of worry and stress. She slept on an air mattress outside his door to keep him from sneaking out. She frequently took calls about her son away from her desk or missed work to go to his court proceedings.

“No matter how hard I tried, I felt like I couldn’t catch up,” she said. “I couldn’t truly rest, I couldn’t perform the way I needed to at work, I couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong when it came to my son. It was a terrifying and isolating time.”

Connecting with others, particularly other parents, and learning more about the science of addiction made all the difference. Goettsch has learned to show her love while maintaining her boundaries and taking care of her own wellness needs.

Wendy: Coping with stress

Wendy White, Face It TOGETHER’s CEO, was working a stressful job in healthcare when she got into the habit of taking the edge off with a glass of wine. During a weight loss journey, it struck her that it was difficult to go one month without drinking. It wasn’t until her youngest son put on a play at home that White realized how her job and drinking were affecting her family.

“I always had an excuse not to sit down and watch, whether it be making dinner or answering a work email. This particular time, I went,” she said. “My son talked about it for days; he was so happy my husband and I watched his play. It hit me then that I wasn’t being present the way I wanted to be. My work stress and the way I was coping with it, drinking, were causing me to check out and miss those little moments.”

That self-discovery led White to Face It TOGETHER, where she’s passionate about solutions in the workplace.

A local solution

Nearly 70% of individuals with alcohol or other drug addiction are employed. Most of them, about 90%, don’t seek any help. Face It TOGETHER wants to combat the stigma that keeps so many people suffering in silence.

“That’s why sharing these stories is so important,” Goettsch said. “When we’re in the midst of it, we feel like we’re alone. My supervisor was going through a similar journey with his own son at the same time I was struggling, but we had no idea until I turned in my two-week notice.”

FIT @ Work, Face It TOGETHER’s employer partnership program, provides peer coaching as a mental health benefit to employees and their family members. It’s completely confidential and available for free – removing many of the barriers normally present within addiction care.

White said it’s important to bring addiction care upstream before people lose their jobs or experience other serious consequences.

“For some people, they may just need some new coping strategies. That’s where I was seven years ago,” she said. “I love our coaching model because it allows for so much flexibility. We don’t require sobriety or tell people what their goals should be. We’re here to offer our expertise and lived experience, but we honor that each person knows themselves best.”

Face It TOGETHER has provided professional, compassionate peer coaching for 15 years. Its Colorado Springs office (104 S Cascade Ave. Ste. 211) opened in 2021. In-person support is also available in Cripple Creek and Denver. Free virtual support is available throughout the state and beyond.

As they look forward to the next 15 years, Face It TOGETHER’s team members hope to reach more communities in need of their low-barrier support. The organization has received dedicated funding for outreach into Spanish-speaking, Native American, LGBTQIA+ and military communities, which face additional challenges and pervasive stigma.

“I remember how scary it was to admit I needed help,” Olson said. “I was fortunate to work at a company that supported me and helped me get the treatment I needed. Not everyone is so lucky. That’s why I make sure to tell everyone that our support is 100% confidential. Coaching can easily be integrated into your life – you can still go to work and have dinner with your family while getting support from a qualified peer.”

If you or your loved one is being negatively impacted by alcohol or other drugs, please get in touch with Face It TOGETHER at wefaceittogether.org or by calling 855.539-9375.