Show notes
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 Sober02:00 Reflecting on Milestones & Sobriety Feelings04:20 The Decision to Get Sober: Hitting Rock Bottom07:00 The Early Recovery Journey & Facing the Past12:20 Making Amends & Living With Consequences17:10 Family Relationships and the Healing Process21:45 Self-Reflection: Why Did I Use Substances?25:10 People Who Impacted Recovery & Wisdom From Treatment30:00 Accepting Addiction & Overcoming Stigma34:00 Guilt, Amends, and Self-Forgiveness38:30 Biggest Challenges in Staying Sober42:30 Supporting Others in Addiction & Relapse47:00 Boundaries, Outgrowing Friends & Loss52:30 Relationships in Recovery: From Shallow to Meaningful57:30 Life After Addiction: Fulfillment & Contentment01:03:00 Using Pain, Sharing Your Story & Embracing Growth01:08:40 The Weight of Recovery & Lessons Learned01:13:00 Advice, Self-Love & Acceptance01:17:15 Looking Back & Moving Forward With HopeFTS Medication Assistance Program | Apply today : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/rx-assistanceDonate to support! : https://www.fthestigma.com/pages/donatePod links |Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/46dw6sl5t344p6PlBcykb3?si=35349a057d564bacApple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/f-ck-the-stigma/id1691599224Fuck 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… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.com/fthestigmaSubscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigmaTags 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, los angeles, 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, dui, xanax, #fthestigma #podcast #addiction #overdoseawareness #nonprofit #mentalhealth #mentalillness
