In the midst of this chaos, I turned to something I had never fully embraced before – my faith. I began reaching out to people I knew, who then connected me with others who had walked this path before. What I discovered was the immense power of mentorship and community. Friends, family friends, and even friends of friends who had experienced similar struggles stepped in, offering guidance and support. Their wisdom and encouragement became my lifeline.

Yet, the obstacles didn’t stop. My credit cards were canceled without explanation, my bank accounts were closed, and I lost my TSA PreCheck status, which meant facing extra scrutiny at airports – an unsettling reminder of the situation I was in. Even therapy, which had always been a source of support for me, became a challenge. My therapist lacked experience with the unique struggles of someone entangled in the criminal justice system. I quickly realized that many others lacked access to even basic mental health support.