Suicide and addiction survivor Jordan Chisholm, 27, recently celebrated three years sober on Sept. 11, 2022, bravely stepping out into the spotlight to share her story with readers.
Prior to addiction, she was the all-American high school student, born and raised in Cedarville. She played sports and graduated with a 3.7 GPA.
“There's not too much for young adults to do, so we would drink,” said Chisholm. “Drinking was just one of the things we always did. It followed me to college.”
She attended Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) and even joined the rugby team.
“It was a very big drinking sport,” Chisholm said. “I ended up failing out of college because I was drinking too much. I stopped going to my classes.”
Shortly thereafter, she moved to Grand Rapids with the goal of attending Secchia Institute for Culinary Education. She desired change and began seeking treatment.
“My biological father was also an alcoholic,” Chisholm said. “He was given an ultimatum, and he did not choose us. My mom gave me that same ultimatum. I was like, ‘I'm going to do exactly what he didn't do.”
Chisholm quit drinking cold-turkey.
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) website, if left untreated, withdrawal can progress into violent seizures, delirium tremens (DTs), and even death.
"I literally hid in my house for six months,” said Chisholm. “I couldn't do anything. I'd have panic attacks when I would go grocery shopping. After the first week, I was really nauseous and sick.”
Chisholm underwent what she referred to as a “mental breakdown.” At which point, a nurse practitioner had prescribed sleeping medication. Chisholm began combining sleeping medication with alcohol.
“I could not wake up or go to work,” said Chisholm. “It was just days of depression, mania, and all that kind of crap."
One day, Chisholm decided she would take her own life. She overdosed on her sleeping medication.
Fortunately, her mother had placed several calls that day in an attempt to reach her daughter. None of her friends had spoken to her. Following a mother’s intuition, she went ahead and called an ambulance over to her daughter's house.
“That was when I went into in-patient care,” said Chisholm. “I was involuntarily committed. I was in the hospital for seven days. I don't regret it at all because it definitely made me realize what was wrong. I learned different coping mechanisms, safety plans, all that type of stuff. I've been in therapy for three years now.”
Chisholm was diagnosed with bipolar II disorder and given the proper medication to help treat it. She was also put on a path to recovery, but the decision to get better was one she had to commit to.
“I believe that most people should have therapists,” said Chisholm. “You shouldn't be putting all of your stuff on other people. I feel like you should really talk to somebody about it.”
While Chisholm does not believe any religion should be forced on people, she found certain benefits in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
“In AA, they asked us, ‘What is one thing that could happen today that might make you drink?’ Chisholm pondered this, mentally preparing for the worst case scenario by identifying, navigating, and practicing healthier coping mechanisms.
Chisholm attended a few meetings in-person before switching to the AA World Services application. She preferred it due to the wide variety of people. She said many of her friends also use the phone app to attend meetings.
Three years ago, Chisholm decided to put down the bottle once and for all.
She completed her culinary education at Secchia Institute for Culinary Education.
“I thrived there,” Chisholm said. “I maintained straight A’s, and graduated top of my class.”
She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from Ferris State University.
Today, Chisholm can be found managing Superior Cafe. She almost always greets customers with a smile on her face.
“I always like to play each day as a game,” the former athlete said. “If I drink at all, I lose, and I am not going to lose. I hold myself to a higher standard than that.”
Chisholm believes it all too easy to talk oneself out of treatment.
She said many people fear the negative stigmas attached. Most people do not want to be labeled an "alcoholic" or "addict." Chisholm has learned a lot from her own personal road to recovery.
“Nobody should be ashamed,” she said. “Everybody has their own demons they’re fighting. They can be hard to accept, and I think that is a big thing. It's hard to reach out because you don't want people to be ashamed, disappointed, or look at you differently.”
Chisholm was quick to identify herself as a leader among peers.
“I've always been high up in my jobs and stuff like that,” she explained. “Telling your employees that you're an alcoholic, and that you're struggling always came with the thought that they would look at me differently.”
In order to succeed, Chisholm has put such thoughts behind her.
“Somebody is going to learn from me,” she said, sending the following message to readers:
“You have a lot more strength in yourself than you think you do. You have to remember that you are so strong. You have the strength to get through whatever it is."
According to American Addiction Centers, more than 28 million people aged 12 and older had an alcohol use disorder in 2020. Excessive, regular alcohol consumption can significantly alter how the brain responds to reward, stress, and self-control, leading to the compulsive patterns that characterize addiction.
Help is available.
Chisholm highly recommended Psychology Today to anyone searching for a therapist.
Great Lakes Recovery Centers is located at 2655 Ashmun St, Sault Ste. Marie. Its number is 906-228-9696.
Weber and Devers Psychological Services provides therapeutic and consulting services throughout Michigan's Eastern Upper Peninsula. Its office is located at 910 McCandless St, Sault Ste. Marie. It may be reached at 906-253-9364.
Using the AA World Services application, those seeking treatment can do so from the comfort of their homes.
To locate Alcoholics Anonymous meetings near you, click here.
Rainbow Recovery Zoom meetings are held at James Episcopal Church of Sault Ste. Marie Wednesday and Friday at 7pm. Zoom Meeting ID 811 4010 6468 for anyone interested. Additional information pertaining to rainbow recovery meetings can be found on the Facebook page.
St. Ignace Wellbriety meeting Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Museum of Ojibwa Culture, 500 N. State Street in St. Ignace. The Wellbriety recovery support group is a 12-step recovery group in the Native American way. For more details, call Russ at 906‑440‑5696.
If you are in need of immediate emergency assistance, call 911.
