Ever get sober, and nobody warned you about the emptiness? Not the pain—the nothing. If you’re in recovery and you can’t feel a damn thing—not joy, not anger, not even sadness—you’re not broken. You’re healing. This is the truth about emotional numbness after addiction, why it happens, what it feels like, and how to fight your way back to actually feeling alive again. Raw, honest, and full of the stuff nobody ever says out loud. Read my story (and maybe yours): https://open.substack.com/pub/progressisprogress/p/when-sobriety-feels-like-nothing?r=5xcddw&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true You’re not alone. Share if you know someone who needs to see this.

If you’ve been following me, you know I left my clinical job on January 20th. That day—fuck, that day—it was a goddamn storm. 🌧️ Not just a storm, but a hurricane of grief, anger, and heartbreak. Walking away wasn’t just quitting a job; it felt like ripping off a bandage that had been stuck on way too long and finally peeling it back to raw, bleeding skin. The disrespect, the ethical fights, the endless battles with a system that seemed hell-bent on breaking me—it all came crashing down, and I was left staring at the wreckage, feeling every ounce of it in my bones. 💔 I cried more than I thought I had in me. 😢 I screamed inside, asking myself, Why the hell does it have to be this way? How can a system designed to help feel so cold, so broken, so utterly soul-crushing? ❄️💔 The Leap: From Loss to New Life 🚀 And then, I fucking leapt. ✊🔥 I’m starting my own recovery coaching business—Progress is Progress—right here in Wisconsin. 🇺🇸 It’s a dream I barely dared to whisper, something I thought was too big, too scary, too goddamn far out of reach. But now? It’s real. Maybe too real. I feel like I’m living in the same disbelief that hit me when I bought my house. 🏡 Months of Is this really happening? and Who the hell is letting this happen? I’d catch myself staring at the keys, half-expecting someone to show up and say, “Oops, wrong address.” The imposter syndrome? It’s a beast that snarls in my ear every damn day. 😈 It whispers, You’re not ready. You don’t belong here. But every day, I show up anyway. 💪 Grinding Harder Than Ever 💼💥 Since leaving that job, I’ve been working harder than I ever did punching a clock for 40 hours a week. I’m buried in building client forms, setting up business accounts, doing market research, and connecting with Economic Development Corps, nonprofits, small business associations, and mentoring programs. I even have a marketing intern from the local technical college helping me keep up. 🎓🤝 The support I’ve been given? It blows my mind. 🤯 People believe in me, in this mission, in the messy, beautiful work that Progress is Progress is doing. And yet, the fear doesn’t go the fuck away. The fear that I’m not enough. The fear that I’ll fail spectacularly. 😰

Addiction isn’t just about substances—maybe you’re struggling with gambling, work, sex, technology, or gaming. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just want life to feel manageable again, I can help. I’m Belinda “Belle” Morey, a certified addiction counselor with real experience helping people move forward—no matter what kind of addiction you’re facing. Meet with me in person (if you’re local) or from anywhere via secure video or phone. Your privacy is my priority: no insurance, no paperwork, and absolutely no judgment. Let’s talk when you’re ready.Text/call: 715-892-5310Book online: https://progressisprogress.my.canva.site/site

The silence wasn’t peace—it was a beast crawling under my skin, forcing me to face myself without distractions. If you’re in recovery, or just trying to build a life that’s more than “filling time,” this post is your survival guide. I’m sharing the ugly, messy truth about the boredom trap, the restless itch, and how to build routines that actually save your ass. Ready to stop running and start living? Read this. Then dare yourself to show up messy and real. #ProgressIsProgress #RecoveryLife #BoredomTrap #MindfulnessInRecovery https://open.substack.com/pub/progressisprogress/p/who-the-hell-am-i-now-ce7?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

Ever feel like “recovery” spaces are all fluff and no real talk? Yeah, me too. That’s why I built Progress is Progress—a raw, no-BS blog and community for anyone battling addiction, mental health, or just plain burnout. I’m Belle: 10 years sober, recovery coach, mom, and living proof messy progress counts. If you (or someone you love) needs a space where honesty actually matters—where you can show up broken, weird, or just exhausted—pull up a chair. Subscribe, gift a subscription, or just come lurk and see what real support feels like. Every sign-up helps me keep my family afloat—and gives someone else a shot at change. Ready for something different? 👉 https://progressisprogress.substack.com/ You might just change a life (maybe your own).