Men Struggling With Addiction — This Story Could Change You

In episode 53 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Alika Gambill to talk about what it really looks like to rebuild your life from the ground up. Alika opens up about the trauma he experienced growing up and how it shaped the path that led him into nearly two decades of addiction. He shares the chaos of that lifestyle, his struggle with addiction, and the reality of trying to survive while losing himself in the process. Alika speaks on rebuilding a relationship with his abusive father, navigating forgiveness, and what it means to break generational cycles.

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Chapters |

00:00 Introduction & Hawaiian Roots

01:00 Growing Up in Hawaii: Culture & Family

04:00 Family Dynamics and Childhood Challenges

08:00 Turbulent Home Life and Early Trauma

12:00 Feeling Overlooked and Introverted

15:00 Turning to Alcohol & Identity Issues

19:00 Following Role Models: Substances and Surf

22:00 Addiction, Identity, and Men’s Perspective

25:00 Finding Religion & First Encounters with God

29:00 Entry Into Drugs and Escalating Addiction

34:00 Living in Active Addiction

39:00 Victim Mentality and Family Resentments

44:00 Turning Point: Understanding & Forgiveness

47:00 Bottoming Out and the Path to Sobriety

53:00 Sobriety, Recovery, and Changing Mindsets

57:00 Addict Thinking: It’s About the Mind

01:00:00 Life After Addiction & Giving Back

01:02:00 Misconceptions About Addiction & Closing Thoughts

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