I am sharing a message of hope today for a world wracked by anxiety and fear, both of which can only lead to deep feelings of depression. I have had much experience... Read more

TO ANYONE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTIONS AND/OR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. I LOVE YOU, RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE AND YOUR WORTH THE WORK. I SPENT APPROXIMATELY 26 YEARS OF MY LIF... Read more

I grew up in fear of my father. He was extremely abusive to my Mother in every way and this spilled over onto me and my siblings as well. He was and still is alcoho... Read more

I was a functional alcoholic for over 25 years, and my addiction was dressed up in social acceptability. I loved to go to wineries, microbreweries, and local distil... Read more

“What an important week indeed and very dear to my heart! I have recently been struggling for my life, plagued with addiction. Too afraid to reach out and ask for h... Read more

Recovery Series: Personal Story

I always like to call my childhood average. I grew up in a middle class home, neither rich nor poor….my parents are still marr... Read more

“I grew up a teenage daughter of a mother who suffered from severe depression which resulted in an opioid addiction as a means of coping. This then resulted in the ... Read more

“I am a 39-year-old partner, father, and a friend. Everyday I battle my anxiety, my depression, my post concussion syndrome, PTSD and a speech impediment. To deal w... Read more

“I was born and raised in Medicine Hat, the middle daughter of 3. I grew up in an alcohol free home. I often heard stories of alcoholic relatives and was aware that... Read more

Although my parents did the best they knew how, I learned at a very young age that Its not okay to be who I am. To express myself meant shaming, belittling, anger a... Read more

“In 2018 I tried to kill myself. I can count on one hand the amount of people I’ve ever said that to, and I can promise you that I’ve never shared that with anyone ... Read more

“I feel like throughout my 35 years of life, I cannot remember a time I wasn’t struggling with mental health issues. It goes as far back as I can remember and start... Read more

This day-long event was intended to help our community frame a pathway forward in healing through messages of HOPE.

We heard from a wide variety of individual... Read more

There are two ways we can approach recovery: by simply complying with what is being asked of us, or surrendering our power. In our experience, individuals who surre... Read more

I absolutely had no idea that my drinking was a problem. I drank like most of the people around me. I thought it was normal. Enter drugs. Back in my using days, I d... Read more

We received this feedback after a listener explored Podcast Episode 12 of From Darkness to Life. After obtaining his consent, we wanted to share it. His feedback il... Read more

"Thirteen, thirteen is when it started; thirteen is when I got drunk for the first time, thirteen is when I smoked my first joint, thirteen is when I started e... Read more

"When people say, “she’s too smart for her own good,” I really feel a connection to that. Growing up, I was an army brat, the middle child born to a loving but... Read more

“Many of us resemble the drug addict in our ineffectual efforts to fill in the spiritual black hole, the void at the center, where we have lost touch with our souls... Read more

"I didn’t come from a home that had drinking as a part of it. I had two loving parents and I grew up feeling loved, valued and cherished. In 2003, though, I ha... Read more

"I am the youngest child of three and since I can remember I have been seeking everyone’s approval so that I could feel comfortable being myself. I’ll be hones... Read more

"Growing in up in a small town, my early life was ripe with family, athletic events, recreation, and church attendance. I had a father who worked hard and prov... Read more

"Growing up my life was pretty normal. My parents were both drinkers and they were what you would call “functioning alcoholics”.

The household was a pret... Read more

"I grew up in a great family environment. A loving, caring mom with patience of gold. A dad who loved me, played sports with me and taught me many things. They... Read more

“Growing up and only child in a home with an alcoholic mother and alcoholic father was at times very lonely, very scary and a whole lot chaotic. I remember very wel... Read more

"I started drinking at the age of 12. I think I needed one at the age of 6. That is about how far back I can remember where I didn’t feel like how other people... Read more

"I can still remember that day, the smells, the way the room felt, the warmth of that summer day at the beginning of August, 3 weeks before my 12th birthday. T... Read more