The Power of "Addicted" "I swear to God they'll probably never understand me. Sick of just walking around, pretending I'm happy. Feel like collapsing from all the weight that I carry." These raw lyrics from Vin Jay's song "Addicted" capture the pain and isolation that often accompany addiction. source The song paints a vivid picture of a person burdened by their struggles and feeling deeply misunderstood. source This resonates with many who have walked the difficult path of addiction and recovery. The Dual Nature of Music in Recovery Music has a unique power to both heal and harm when it comes to addiction. On one hand, it can be the hand that pulls us from the darkness, providing solace, inspiration, and a sense of connection. Artists like Vin Jay, who openly share their experiences with addiction, offer a voice for those who often feel silenced and alone. On the other hand, music can also be the shovel that buries us deeper into our strugg...

  My Journey, My Voice: Sharing My Truth About Addiction and Recovery I'm a wife, a mom, a sister, a daughter, a coworker, a friend, an auntie – and I'm in recovery. I'm also a substance abuse counselor, which means I've seen the journey of addiction and recovery from both sides. My blog is my way of sharing my unique perspective, my struggles, and my triumphs. It's about being real, breaking down stigma, and connecting with others who understand this challenging, rewarding path. Recovery isn't easy. Some days, it feels like an uphill battle. I've been the "loser," the one who felt uncool, unworthy. Self-doubt and abandonment issues are still things I work to overcome. But here's the important part: I'm not perfect, and I never will be. But I will never stop growing, either. Every time I hit publish on a blog post, it's a victory. It's me saying, "I'm not ashamed of my story." It's me using my voice to help others ...

Beyond Guilt: Healing from the Harm of Parenting Through Addiction I'll never forget the night my world shattered. My ex and I, both high on meth, got into a physical fight. I'll spare you the details, but I ended up with a split lip, and what's seared into my memory is seeing my toddler son, barely two years old, standing there in the chaos. His tiny face was smeared with my blood. In that instant, something inside me broke. I realized I wasn't just destroying myself with my addiction, but traumatizing my innocent children. If you're a parent who's struggled with addiction, you know the weight of this guilt. We've put our kids through hell, even if we didn't mean to. The lies, the broken promises, the times we weren't there when they needed us... it's a painful list to reflect on. But here's the thing: guilt, while understandable, isn't going to help our kids heal. Or us, for that matter. So, how do we move forward? How do we make amends...

Dying to Get Clean: Grief, Loss, and Not Losing Your Damn Mind in Recover Death. The ultimate buzzkill. It's like that one friend who always calls at the worst times, and always manages to bring down the party. And when you're in recovery, Death's like that clingy ex who just won't take a hint. Keeps showing up, never buys you a drink, and always wants to talk about your feelings. I've had an unfortunately intimate relationship with this guy Death. Raised by my grandparents, both gone before my 25th birthday. And then, 2020 happened. You know, that fun year where we all got a worldwide pandemic, and I got a side of parental loss with my existential dread. Yeah, that was a blast. But here's the kicker – when you're active in your addiction, Death's just an acquaintance. You're too busy getting high/drunk/laid to really feel much of anything, let alone the crushing weight of grief. And in early recovery, you might still be running on those fumes, stayi...