How Our Parents Shaped Our Trauma & Addiction

In episode 47 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez welcomes back Santana Dawson for the third time for an honest conversation about change, healing, and what it really takes to grow. Together, they unpack the fear of change and how trauma shapes our present behaviors, relationships, and mindset. They dive deep into how our parents and childhood experiences impact who we become, how we respond to stress, and how we navigate mental health and addiction recovery. Laisha and Santana also speak vulnerably about surviving suicide attempts, reaching four years of recovery, and what it looks like to rebuild a life after rock bottom. This episode explores breaking generational cycles, overcoming trauma, facing the fear of growth, and the power of sharing your story to help the next person struggling. If you’re navigating healing, sobriety, mental health challenges, or learning how to embrace change without losing yourself, this conversation will remind you that transformation is possible and your story has purpose.

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 Welcome & Intro to F the Stigma

01:01 Reuniting & Reflections on Past Milestones

03:00 Personal Growth After Sobriety

05:00 Owning Your Story vs. Society’s Labels

08:30 Stigma, Labels, and Stereotypes

12:00 Expectations from Others – Family, Guilt & Shame

15:00 Childhood, Fear, and How We Learn to Cope

18:00 Addiction Beyond Substances: Codependency & Loneliness

22:00 Confronting Old Memories & Breaking Cycles

26:00 Strangers vs. Family: Acceptance on the Recovery Journey

29:00 Purpose, Fulfillment, and the Search for Meaning

33:00 Radical Optimism & Embracing Life’s Duality

36:30 Living in the Gray: Extremes, Emotions & Self-Balance

41:00 Change, Control & Learning to Adapt

45:00 Goals, Vision Boards & The Power of Writing Things Down

51:00 Paper, Ink & Manifesting Your Growth

53:00 Connection, Spontaneity & The Power of Small Acts

55:00 Reflections, Goodbyes & What’s Next

Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/

Instagram | https://instagram.com/fthestigmapod

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigma

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/fthestigmapod

X | https://x.com/fthestigma

Subscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigma

Tags in this video ↓

fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI#fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness #recovery #criminal #addictionrecovery #addict