Editor's Blog · Sobriety Series
If I Could Help One Person
A memoir in eight parts — by Kristen D. Shepherd
A raw, ongoing series about addiction, grief, mental health, single motherhood, and what it actually looks like to rebuild your life after 40. No polished recovery story — just the truth.
If I Could Help One Person — Part One
The beginning of a sobriety journey
A raw, personal essay about losing a father to alcoholism, grief, and the first steps toward healing. Kristen shares what finally pushed her to get sober — and why it didn't last.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Two
The rise from the ashes
No one likes to tell you that the path to sobriety and healing is not linear. Sometimes we try, and sometimes we fail. Kristen opens up about the relapse, the shame, and what it took to try again.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Three
To be independent or not to be independent, that is the question.
Kristen's journey takes her from the mountains of Big Bear to the sunshine of Florida — and eventually back home. A story about hyper-independence, toxic relationships, and the courage to let go.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Four
Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder. The Day I Lost Control.
Depression, anxiety, single motherhood, and the red wine that became a crutch. Kristen recounts the day everything fell apart — and why she finally had to ask for help.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Five
Sex and Sobriety: What No One Prepares You For
The road to recovery, rehab, and what it truly means to rebuild your life after addiction. Kristen gets honest about the parts of sobriety no one talks about — including intimacy.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Six
The People Who Stay (And the Ones Who Don't)
Sobriety, grief, and the unexpected friendships that hold you together when everything falls apart. Kristen reflects on who showed up — and who quietly disappeared.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Seven
When the Anger Turned Inward
Single motherhood, grief, caregiving, and the depression that follows when anger has nowhere left to go. The chapter Kristen almost didn't write.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Eight
The Rise and Fall of Being Bipolar
A bipolar diagnosis, a nervous breakdown, and two boys to raise alone. From the Social Security office to Curves to corporate America — Kristen traces the rise and fall of being bipolar, and the daily drinking that threatened to undo everything she had built.
If I Could Help One Person — Part Nine
Kristen's story continues. Subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know when Part Nine is published.
Subscribe for updates