How Xanax Addiction and 3 DUIs Changed My Life

In episode 26 of F The Stigma Podcast, the roles are reversed as host Laisha of the Fuck The Stigma podcast sits down with Santana to share her own story in honor of hitting 4 years of sobriety. Laisha opens up about her rock bottom moment in a jail cell after her third DWI and the painful reality of admitting she was an addict at just 18 years old. She reflects on the struggles of early recovery, the ongoing battle with anxiety and depression in sobriety, and the way mental health has become her main focus now that drugs are no longer the issue. Laisha also speaks on the lifelong process of making amends, the weight of still righting past wrongs, and how she continues to cope with the lasting consequences of her DUIs. Raw, vulnerable, and deeply honest, this conversation is a powerful reminder that recovery is not just about putting down substances, but about rebuilding, healing, and growing every single day.

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.

Chapters |

00:00 Celebrating Four Years Sober

02:00 Reflecting on Milestones & Sobriety Feelings

04:20 The Decision to Get Sober: Hitting Rock Bottom

07:00 The Early Recovery Journey & Facing the Past

12:20 Making Amends & Living With Consequences

17:10 Family Relationships and the Healing Process

21:45 Self-Reflection: Why Did I Use Substances?

25:10 People Who Impacted Recovery & Wisdom From Treatment

30:00 Accepting Addiction & Overcoming Stigma

34:00 Guilt, Amends, and Self-Forgiveness

38:30 Biggest Challenges in Staying Sober

42:30 Supporting Others in Addiction & Relapse

47:00 Boundaries, Outgrowing Friends & Loss

52:30 Relationships in Recovery: From Shallow to Meaningful

57:30 Life After Addiction: Fulfillment & Contentment

01:03:00 Using Pain, Sharing Your Story & Embracing Growth

01:08:40 The Weight of Recovery & Lessons Learned

01:13:00 Advice, Self-Love & Acceptance

01:17:15 Looking Back & Moving Forward With Hope

FTS Medication Assistance Program |

Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistance

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Pod links |

Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bac

Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224

Fuck the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health.

Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree…

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