For Emma, recovery has meant far more than overcoming substance misuse. It has meant surviving years of trauma, coercion and fear, and slowly finding her way back to safety, stability and hope.
From survival to healing
Not so long ago, Emma was living a very different life. She had a career she loved, working in a specialist education role supporting children with additional needs. She was proud of her work, proud of the independence she had built for herself, and proud of life with her young son in East Yorkshire.
When life began to unravel
But everything changed after a serious assault left her with spinal damage, herniated discs and ongoing pain that worsened over time. Emma fought to stay in work for as long as she could, but eventually had to leave her job. Prescribed medication to help manage her injuries, she began to spiral into a much wider battle with pain, prescription drugs, cocaine and alcohol.
As her physical health deteriorated, so too did the rest of her life. Emma found herself caught in a destructive cycle of abuse, coercive control and addiction. Her mental health declined, her confidence disappeared, and she became increasingly isolated. For a long time, she believed the abuse was normal and that somehow it was her fault.
The final attack changed everything. After a sustained assault, Emma found the strength to escape. After years of denying what she had been living through, she finally engaged with the police, who were able to support her and ensure the perpetrator was arrested and imprisoned.
In one of her darkest moments, Emma survived a suicide attempt, helped by a stranger whose quick action became a turning point in her story.
“I’d never been that scared in my life,” Emma said. “I know now that none of it was my fault and none of it was acceptable.”
Finding the lifeline she needed
It was around this time that East Riding Partnership, part of The Alcohol and Drug Service, became a lifeline.
Emma was first introduced to ERP while in hospital, and for the first time in a long while, she felt something she had not felt for years: hope. She went on to medical detox and, despite complications with her liver, was met with compassion, practical support and a team that saw her as a person, not just a problem to be solved.
“The support made such a difference,” Emma said. “For the first time, I felt like I had something positive to focus on.”
From there, Emma began to engage more fully with the service, including the Community Rehabilitation Programme (CRP), a structured 12-week course involving five days a week of support. It was emotional at times, but it gave her something invaluable: the chance to sit with others who understood, to share honestly, and to realise she was not alone.
She also receives ongoing one-to-one support, therapy and practical help with the issues linked to her recovery, including medication management and rebuilding her confidence. The continuity of care, she says, has been vital.
“It feels like a safety net,” Emma explained. “They don’t just leave you to it.”
Now 10 months sober, Emma describes herself as healthier, stronger and more hopeful than she has felt in years. She has rebuilt relationships with her family, reconnected with her son and is preparing for the arrival of her baby daughter.
A future she once thought was impossible
Her journey has not been easy, and she knows recovery is ongoing. But Emma says she now has the tools, support and confidence to keep moving forward - and, importantly, to believe in a future that once felt out of reach.
Understanding the signs of coercive control
Emma wanted us to include the images as she is determined to use her experience to help others. Looking back, she wants people to understand how abuse and coercive behaviour can creep in slowly, how easy it is to lose your confidence and freedom, and how important it is to recognise the warning signs early.
“I didn’t see it coming,” she said. “It happens slowly, and before you know it, you’ve lost yourself, your confidence and your freedom.”
Emma’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery is rarely a straight line. It is rarely simple. And it is never just about substance misuse alone. It takes specialist support, patience and compassion - support that sees the whole person, not just the addiction.
For Emma, that support came from East Riding Partnership. And for her, it has been life-changing.
“I feel like ERP has saved my life,” she said. “I never thought I’d be able to stop using drugs and alcohol, but I know now that I can be free from them.”
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse and substance misuse, Emma hopes her story shows that there is always a way forward:
It is safe to speak to the police, and they can help protect you.
It is possible to break free from drugs and alcohol.
It is possible to start again and build the life you deserve.
You can contact East Riding Partnership today by phone 01482 336675.
More about East Riding Partnership:
ERP delivers a comprehensive range of high quality services delivered by a Multi-Disciplinary Team which includes social workers, clinical professionals(Doctors/nurses), psychosocial workers and other professionals. The service operates out of three hubs, Goole, Bridlington and Hull with additional satellite bases across the area.
