“This collection is a major contribution to the addiction literature by bringing a more human face to the public health problem of addiction…and the joys of recovery.” —Dr. Jamie Marich
The clinical side of addiction—a disease that takes the lives of over 150,000 people a year—is written about, analyzed and hotly debated by media outlets the world round.
As a result of the overwhelming attention to the facts and figures, the personal side often gets neglected.
The Addiction Diaries: Stories of Darkness, Hope and All That Falls in Between is here to remedy that. By turns amusing and insightful, disturbing and illuminating, 18 writers from all socioeconomic levels, races and relationships with addiction share stories that will stay with you long after you read them.
A woman trying to save her brother from his gambling addiction. A child heroin user who recovers and finds a calm life. A mother of two addicts who watches them go from jail to freedom. A former bank robber reflecting on nearly two decades of sobriety. Some of the stories may rattle, disturb and bemuse you; all will illuminate addiction like nothing that has come before.
An instant classic in the addiction recovery genre, The Addiction Diaries will leave you astounded by the triumph of the human spirit and give you an understanding of addiction that goes far beyond the headlines.
Stay tuned for more…
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Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.
Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns, such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.
You can share your story, article, or poem by emailing me through the link below, and I will publish it for you. Please let me know if you would like to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable to include your name.
Never underestimate the power of your voice! Each word, cry, and sound helps to break the silence, shame, and stigma ~
Thank you for sharing, my friend!
Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.
Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.
Simply email me your story, you can choose to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable include your name.
Thank you for sharing!
Join me for regular girl talk and coffee!
Storytelling is a powerful medium that is not only healing but also helps to combat societal stigma.
Together, by sharing our stories and experiences, we can transform pain and trauma into a meaningful body of work that shines a light on stigmatized concerns such as childhood sexual abuse, mental health, and addiction.
You can choose to remain anonymous, or if you’re comfortable include your name.
Thank you for sharing!
ABOUT GIRL TALK & COFFEE
Welcome to our cozy spot, where the Coffee is strong and the Girl Talk is real.
I created this space in hopes of bringing together a community of like-minded women who are ready to plunge beneath the surface. If you’ve experienced childhood trauma, sexual assault, depression, addiction or the loss of a loved one to addiction then you already know — these are uncomfortable topics – ones that become your shameful secrets.
In recent years, I learned that we can only cruise along the surface for so long, before the body collects what is owed. That debt may come in the form of depression, mental illness, extreme fatigue, addiction, or disease.
And stigma and shame can compound these issues, by shoving us into dark, isolated holes – this, I wasn’t able to comprehend, until my body caught up with me. I found myself lying to people, and making up excuses, in order to hide the truth. I couldn’t bare the thought of people knowing that I was depressed because that meant I was unstable and weak. I couldn’t explain that I was grieving because my brother was a heroin addict and it felt like he was dead. Or, that his heroin addiction was triggering memories from our past, when our mother had been a heroin addict, along with the rest of our family, and yes, I had been one, too. But, even scarier to say out loud was that I had been raped, while drunk, and I was finding it difficult not to blame myself. And how could I possibly explain that the rape had since triggered terrifying body memories of childhood sexual abuse – surely, a conversation that leaves one uncomfortable and you looking crazy!
And just like that, my whole life became one big shameful secret, much of it too heavy to share with even my closest friends. So, I pulled away.
Girl Talk & Coffee was born from that experience. I wanted to connect with others who could relate and provide a place that was safe and supportive, where ANY topic would be welcome – No judgement – No shame.
By exploring our stories and experiences I hope that we can all find comfort in knowing that we are not alone. We may be at different stages of this journey, with some further ahead, acting as a light for those behind them.
It’s here, writing to you, where I am most comfortable and able to pull back the curtain. It’s not pretty.
It’s dark.
It’s ugly – but, it’s real.
So, instead of leaving the shameful parts of me a secret, I’m going to turn around and face them. The nasty scabs will be ripped off, the wounds will be poked, and then shaped into something I can share with you. If you would like to do the same, you can submit via email, or click on the, “Share Your Story,” tab: hsdfsfhhfh
I hope you’ll join me on this journey, I can’t promise it will be easy, but I can promise you won’t be alone. Inside you’ll find nuggets of hope, and inspiration, along with jolts of courage to keep you forging ahead on your own healing path.
We all deserve a life beyond survival mode, but it’s up to each of us to pull ourselves into the light.
So, let’s do it!
Come on in, and pour yourself a hot cup of coffee 
