Michellene first considered sobriety at 26 after it became clear that her relationship with alcohol was out of control. Despite attending a program and doing stepwork, she was easily dissuaded from an alcohol-free lifestyle and continued to drink through her 30s and 40s. Her alcohol use escalated when she became a parent, as she struggled with feelings of guilt and shame over not enjoying motherhood as much as she felt she "should'. Eventually Michellene realized that she didn't need to hit a low bottom to change her relationship with alcohol and she decided on January 1, 2017 to leave it behind for good.