Finding Herself Again: Nadia’s Story
“Prison saved my life.”
The hardest work, though, was rebuilding what addiction had broken. Her youngest daughter stayed close through letters while Nadia was incarcerated. Her older daughter needed more time, and Nadia never pushed. She sent care packages, wrote letters, and waited — understanding from her own childhood how long trust takes to rebuild.
Nine months after release, her oldest was ready. They met at a mall, neutral ground, a long breath before either spoke. Then a hug that Nadia says felt like the years just folded up and disappeared. “It’s been like nothing happened,” she says, “ever since.”
Somewhere in all of this, Nadia also learned to take care of herself. Self-care is not an afterthought, but something she protects. Weekends she enjoys disappearing into her room, because after a week of being available for everyone else, her “social battery” runs out and she needs to be still.
Nadia has been home for two years now. She has a job she enjoys, a tight circle who push her to be better, and daughters she is closely connected to.
“Take it a day at a time. Surround yourself with people who lift you up. Don’t be afraid to put yourself first.”