Shamelessly Sharing Your Story with Mark S. King

Mark S. King is an award-winning blogger, author, and HIV/AIDS advocate. He is also very open about testing positive himself, and his blog, My Fabulous Disease, has been nominated for four consecutive GLAAD Media Awards, he was also awarded the National Lesbian and Gay Journalist Association's "Excellence in Blogging" honor. He joins the show to talk about his perspective as a long-time survivor, and how he overcame his own addiction to meth. He tells his own story in a humorous and accessible manner and encourages others to do the same without shame or judgment.

TAKEAWAYS:

[4:56] Mark discusses the first time he tried crystal meth in the 2000's, and what that experience felt like. Much like other recreational drug use he thought it would be an escape valve, but it led to personality changes and destructive behavior.

[11:27] After continued use, the circle of people Mark could be around got smaller and smaller, and he was in a cycle of either pursuing drugs, using them or recovering from them.

[13:44] Addicts engage in behavior that can be very secretive, transactional, and manipulative.

[15:12] Mark made the connection that his meth use affected every facet of his life, both physical and emotional.

[16:12] People often say they wish someone a "slow recovery" because they know it takes time to recover and it may help to take some time just to understand what an impact the drug use had upon their life.

[18:33] Relapse is often a normal part of recovery, and Mark notes how important it is not to treat it with shame and judgement.

[22:04] Meth affects dopamine, which resets the desire state. People continue to chase the first great experiences and never quite recapture it.

[26:12] Mark's blog My Fabulous Disease provides a home base for others to share ideas about addiction, and shines a spotlight on others in recovery.

RESOURCES:

My Fab Disease

My Fabulous Disease

QUOTES:

● "I didn't survive this long not to have a sense of humor about things."

● "My mission statement is joy."

● "My friends were transactional friends."

● "I had to relapse for every classic reason someone relapses until I realized Oh, this affects everything."

● "Addiction is trying to get back to that hot spot, if it ever existed."