Sober Mommies
Julie Maida has been in abstinence-based recovery since May of 2000, and has worked in the field of addiction since. In 2012, after the birth of her youngest son, she battled a severe bout of postpartum depression, OCD, and agoraphobia; which made it impossible for her to keep up with her 12 step recovery responsibilities.
Julie realized how much recovery support can often depend on regular meeting attendance, and how lonely it can feel without such support. She started thinking about women who, for whatever personal reasons, choose not to attend 12 step meetings or do not practice complete abstinence. She wondered if they felt as lonely in their process as she did at that moment.
In May of 2013, she “came out” about her personal recovery in a post titled I Got Sober Today. The post received an incredible response, and alerted Julie to the need for a supportive, judgment-free community for moms in and contemplating recovery.
Julie believes ALL women deserve to have a supportive and encouraging tribe. She created Sober Mommies to connect women with a diverse, inclusive community and to help moms build their personal recovery tribe.
The members of Sober Mommies understand the unique struggle, guilt and shame often associated where substance use/abuse and motherhood collide. Sober Mommies offers a platform for sharing stories, promoting identification and self-forgiveness, and an opportunity to receive and provide peer-to-peer support and mentorship.