Show notes
In episode 36 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ashley Pertuno, who bravely shares her story of surviving childhood abuse by a close family member, the trauma that fueled her addiction, and the mental health battles that followed her into adulthood. Ashley reveals how this pain shaped her relationships with men, pushed her deeper into substance use, and followed her through both her basketball career and her time serving in the military. From hitting rock bottom to fighting her way back to recovery, Ashley’s story is a raw and powerful look at trauma, addiction, resilience, and the strength it takes to rebuild your life after years of darkness.*Apologies for the change in audio quality around the 17:00 mark, we experienced technical difficulties*Chapters |00:00 Welcome & Podcast Introduction00:43 Ashley’s Childhood and Family Life02:10 Experiencing Trauma and Navigating Shame05:07 When Did the Secret Come Out?06:49 The Challenges of Sharing and Healing08:27 Speaking Truth, Baby Steps Toward Healing10:27 Substances Enter the Picture13:20 High School Struggles & Coping with Addiction16:00 Mental Health Battles and Suicidal Thoughts17:38 First Treatment & The ‘Great Pretender’18:32 Addiction Progression and Chasing Stability20:26 College Athletics and Hidden Addiction22:45 Joining the Military: A New Escape25:14 Military Life, Structure, and Drinking28:44 Life After the Military: Back to Delaware30:52 Addiction to Love and Relationships34:29 Chasing Toxic Relationships38:58 The Spiral Into Harder Drugs41:53 The Depths of Addiction: Love in the Trenches45:19 Rock Bottom: A Winter to Remember48:04 First Real Treatment Experience52:14 Finding Recovery & a New Perspective55:27 Baby Steps, Willingness, and Long-Term Recovery58:48 Value of Sobriety & Recovery Stories01:01:28 Why Recovery Time Matters01:04:15 The Insanity of Addiction01:06:47 Hardest Parts of Recovery: Relationships01:10:15 Discovering Self-Worth in Recovery01:13:18 Addiction as a Disease – Personal Insight01:18:55 Genetics, Awareness, and Stigma01:22:11 Closing Thoughts & Thank YouDon’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.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… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigmaTikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigmaFacebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigmaX | https://x.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, 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
