It Took Me 13 Rehabs to Finally Stop Using Heroin

In episode 38 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Cindy, who opens up about using heroin at just 11 years old, growing up in a chaotic and painful environment, and losing control of her life to addiction. She shares what it was like entering 13 different treatment centers, the multiple rock bottoms that forced her to confront the reality of her addiction, and the moments that pushed her toward change.

Chapters |

00:00 Introduction & Cindy's Recovery Journey00:47 Early Life and First Encounters with Addiction02:53 Struggling with Self-Esteem and Family Issues05:25 Childhood Trauma and Feeling Like an Outsider11:00 Addiction as a Family Disease13:55 Escalation: From Adolescence to Young Adult20:05 Rock Bottom and Spiritual Awakening27:00 Misconceptions, Stigma, and Willpower35:40 Different Paths to Recovery & Harm Reduction43:36 Sober Living and Starting Over53:01 Lessons, Growth, and Challenges in Long-Term Recovery01:03:36 Coping with Loss, Grief, and Mental Health in Recovery01:11:15 New Possibilities and Giving Back01:13:13 Hope and Meeting People Where They Are01:14:25 Closing Remarks & Gratitude

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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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