Better Together: Finding Freedom Through Self-Love and Service
Better Together: Finding Freedom Through Self-Love and Service
By Char Barwin
During Northeastern Wisconsin AHEC’s recent Community Health Immersion (CHI) event, nine healthcare students gathered to learn how lived experiences shape our understanding of addiction and recovery. At the heart of the program was Chris Seefeldt, a recovery advocate, whose deeply personal story revealed both the challenges of substance use and the powerful journey toward healing.
His message to the group was clear: Recovery is possible, but it requires more than sobriety. It’s about learning to live—and love—differently.
The Road to Rock Bottom
In a high-speed chase on the highway, with police in pursuit, Chris Seefeldt had only one thought: getting high. It wasn’t about escape. It wasn’t about freedom. It was simply about the next fix. “All. He. Wanted.” Even knowing prison awaited, the pull of addiction overwhelmed everything else.
This moment—with its danger, desperation, and darkness—would become the pivot point in Seefeldt’s story. But not in the way you might expect.
When Outside Solutions Can’t Fix Inside Problems
Seefeldt described his struggles openly during the CHI event. “Drugs and alcohol are not my problem, reality is my problem, drugs and alcohol are my solution. If this seems odd to you it is because you are not an alcoholic or a drug addict,” Seefeldt quoted Russell Brand.
His story begins in childhood, where trauma laid the groundwork for what would follow. Like many who turn to substances, Seefeldt was trying to solve an inside problem with an outside solution. The cycle of addiction led him in and out of prison, through difficult relationships, and ultimately to that fateful high-speed chase.
His journey began anew in a cell, where withdrawal stripped everything away. Naked, sick and surrounded by his own filth, Seefeldt faced a reality made even more stark by recent tragedy—his best friend had died after using drugs. In this raw moment of complete devastation, something shifted: “I decided I wanted to live. I decided I would live.”
The Mirror That Changed Everything
The decision to live led Seefeldt to an Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) meeting through the criminal justice system, where he met Michelle Waak, MAC, LPC, CSAC. Through motivational interviewing—an approach that begins with humility and curiosity rather than judgment—Waak helped him see himself more clearly, empowering him to examine his beliefs and behaviors.
Together, they developed three small but powerful daily practices that Seefeldt still uses today:
- Make your bed first thing every morning.
This simple act creates an immediate sense of accomplishment, setting a positive tone for the day. - Write down three things you’re grateful for each morning.
Research shows that cultivating gratitude rewires the brain, reducing anxiety and fostering resilience. - Look in the mirror and express gratitude for yourself.
Positive self-talk and direct eye contact stimulate the release of oxytocin and serotonin—the same neurochemicals that build trust in relationships—helping to strengthen self-worth.
Universal Truths in Personal Stories
What makes Seefeldt’s presentation so powerful is how he bridges the gap between addiction and the universal human experience. When he asked CHI participants to name today’s biggest addiction, their guesses fell short. “It’s our phones,” he revealed. “How many times do you reach for your phone each day? How often do you check it?”
Just as Waak had done for him, Seefeldt guided participants to see their own patterns of seeking external solutions to internal struggles. The parallels between substance use and behavioral addictions sparked a deeper reflection among participants. Public health student Talia Brach noted the daunting challenge of recovery. “Only two percent of people recover from an opioid addiction,” she said. But Seefeldt’s story highlighted an essential truth: Recovery is about far more than breaking free from substances—it’s about learning to love yourself differently and learning to live differently.
Beyond Recovery: A Call to Action
While stopping for gas one day, Seefeldt’s vigilance saved a life. Always carrying Narcan and staying alert for signs of overdose, he noticed someone in crisis. When a first responder on scene failed to follow Narcan training protocols, Seefeldt didn’t hesitate—he administered the life-saving medication himself.
Seefeldt shared this story with participants to show a troubling reality: despite increasing availability, access to harm reduction tools—like Narcan and fentanyl test strips—remains limited by financial and distribution barriers. Even more concerning, many healthcare providers lack active Narcan certification and don’t carry it with them. His example—his constant preparedness and quick action—inspired participants to get trained and carry Narcan themselves.
“Seeing how one person’s readiness to help made the difference between life and death really opened my eyes,” Brach reflected. “It made me ask: How can I be better prepared? Where can I help bridge these gaps in our system?”
The Path Forward: Building Bridges to Recovery
Seefeldt shows that recovery is built through daily practices of self-love and professional guidance, but flourishes through honesty, open-mindedness, and willingness—ultimately transforming personal healing into community support. For CHI participants, his story revealed how one person’s journey to recovery creates ripples of understanding and action. They left not just with a deeper grasp of recovery, but with practical tools—from daily gratitude practices to carrying Narcan—and a renewed commitment to building bridges between those who need help and those who can provide it.
Their commitment to expanding access to care echoes through our next Better Together post, featuring Dr. Elizabeth Salisbury-Afshar. Her work in addiction medicine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison underscores a crucial point: we need to make MAT (Medication-Assisted Treatment) and therapy more accessible than drugs themselves.
A Living Testament to Change
Five years sober, Seefeldt has transformed his experience into advocacy. As a father, husband, and dedicated community member, he exemplifies the power of connection and self-love in recovery.
“I’m so glad I am alive,” he shared with students. “And I’m so glad you are too. You get to care for patients who are asking for help, patients who are seeking care. Show up for yourself so you can show up for them.”
His story isn’t just about addiction and recovery. It’s about the universal human journey of finding our way back to ourselves, one small win, one grateful thought at a time. In Manitowoc County’s strong recovery community, Seefeldt stands as living proof that while professional treatment provides crucial structure and support, it’s the journey inward—learning to be kind to, accept, and ultimately love oneself—that creates the foundation for lasting change.
Interested in attending a Community Health Immersion?
Priority is given to AHEC Scholars, but other students can join as space allows! These impactful experiences cover diverse healthcare topics and are offered across Wisconsin.