Hi everyone. I've battled with depression for most of my life, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to manage, so I've made some recent lifestyle changes. One change has been giving up alcohol completely. I'm new to this app, but it seems like a really supportive environment. Sending good vibes to all.
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Glad your here!!
Thanks, I appreciate that!
Hi Brittany. I applaud you for taking a huge step to beating depression. Something must have struck a cord with you to decide to make a change. I suffer from it to...
Thanks for the kind words. Each day you find the strength to keep going is a victory in itself, and may this community be a reminder you're never alone. I'm glad you exist, Elliott!
Hey, Brittany and Elliott. I'm glad you both are here. You have purpose. You are loved.
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Thank you so much, Amanda. I'm glad you're here, too.
Hi Brittany and Elliott. Your definitely not alone I suffer from major anxiety and depression disorders, im bi polar 2, and have adhd. I was only recently diagnosed a couple of years ago. When I was a kid. This wasn't talked about. It was swept under the rug like I was supposed to snap out of it on my own. Well I didn't, I started self medicating with Marijuana at age 14. By age 19, I was a full blown heroine addict which I've struggled with up until 14 months ago. By the time I went to treatment this lastime. I didn't want to get out of bed. I wasn't eating or drinking water for weeks sometimes. The only reason I'd get up is if I was about to run out of heroine, cocaine or crack. Yes, all three simultaneously. Heroine stopped working all of a sudden. I had to much pain inside to numb, so I started shooting speed balls (heroine & cocaine mixed) in my neck to escape reality. The crack was just something to smoke in between injections. I was sick, I lost the right to see my now 8 yr old son. That threw me over the edge. At that point I didn't want to live anymore. Death sounded much better than my reality at the time. Idk how I am alive, I should be dead 100 times over with everything I've put my body through. I couldn't get sober on my own. I was stuck in a negative mindset. It took a team of loved ones to come to me. To see what I thought was this weak pathetic form of life laying in bed. I didn't feel human. I felt like scum, just existing waiting to die. I had hit my rock bottom, which is what it took for me to finally take sobriety seriously. I didn't want to leave my son with the story of his father dying as a heroine addict. Initially I was motivated to get sober for him, which is fine temporarily but there has to be a point when you can honestly say to yourself i want to be, I need to be sober for me. Once that switch flips recovery becomes meaningful to the fullest. I take meds to help my brain, there is nothing wrong with that. There is no reason to struggle mentally (as much) if meds are available and work for you. Please see a doc and take them if you aren't already. Not drinking will drastically improve your mental state. Its a fact. Since getting sober 14 months ago my life has drastically changed for the better.. too many things to list,, but my number one is I am able to see my son again and to be a "normal man, dad, son. Brother,etc. I know I've always had a good heart. It was just buried beneath the addiction. As cliche as it sounds it is 100% too, "I once was lost, but now am found". You are not alone, please reach out if you ever want to talk. I enjoy and feel privileged to help anyone anywhere, anytime. 
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Jared, your story brought me to tears. I've never met you, but I feel so deeply and genuinely happy for you, for your son, for your family. You deserve all the beauty this life has to offer. Sometimes I don't feel anything but this dull ache...like there's a plug of sorts, keeping all these emotions backed up and I can't get them out. I used to turn to alcohol to "unplug" some emotion when I felt that foggy numbness. Even negative emotion felt better than no emotion. I'm learning healthier ways to access emotion during those numb periods, and honestly reading your story in this moment really hit my core. Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us, and I wish nothing but continuous blessings for you and your loved ones.
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Hi Brittany
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Great..just hang in there and soon you'll have some great sober friends..
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