It took me some time to realise it, and some days are still hard but….. For years, I had a negative attitude, but nowadays I try to practice patience and gratitude I’ve given up on trying to fix everyone else And instead reserve my energy to fix myself I’ve stopped trying to change the things […]
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Never Underestimate a Woman in Recovery – Part 2
Before joining Mulka Nisc photovoice research project, I had never previously considered gender differences, probably because I’m a tomboy at heart, and I have always struggled with the concept of feminism. However, all that changed for me during the first online meeting, which took place over a Teams meeting one evening in December 2023 The meeting […]
Cycle of Change
In pre-contemplation’s shadowed haze, My mind was veiled, lost in a narcotic maze. I didn’t know my own mind I was oblivious and blind Some people remarked I had changed But I scoffed and thought them deranged I had no intention of changing my behaviour Because my drugs were my saviour But the shit that […]
Fxxk the Recovery Police and do what works for YOU
I’ve been secretly wanting to write this blog for years to challenge some of the views and opinions of a small minority of whom I refer to as the “Recovery Police” present in the recovery community. The Recovery message is supposed to carry hope, yet a silent battle exists within some corners of the recovery […]
From Gleadless Valley to United Nations
As a child written off by the school system, I could never have foreseen that my path would lead me from drug-induced psychosis to centre stage at the United Nations. Throughout my career, I’ve delivered countless presentations locally and nationally. But being at the UN was a whole new level. To have a voice in […]
Unlocking the Magic of Writing:A Personal Journey of Reflection
It was whilst caring for my father in his battle with alcoholism that I first found solace in journaling. My writing fell silent when he passed, but the urge to share my experience of being an affected family member never waned. I’d dabbled with the idea of writing a book and had at various times […]
What’s in your cup
My cup was always half empty In fact, it was bone dry I would carry the weight of the world on my shoulders And held onto resentments the size of boulders I turned to drugs seeking absolution That was until I started searching for different solutions Instead of blaming everyone else and started […]
If they are your mate they’ll wait
I made some amazing friendships during my using/dealing days but one of the most complex parts in my early recovery was stepping away from some of those friendships. This was made worse by knowing that they weren’t bad people; in fact, it was quite the opposite. They never gave up on me when I fucked […]
My problem was never about the drugs, it was me all along
People often ask me ‘how would you describe your recovery journey?’ and I always describe my recovery as being’ like a discovery of the self’. It’s taken a lot of soul searching and self-honesty to be the person that I am today. let me take you back… For years I was preoccupied with trying to […]
RIP Lego Man – Gone but never forgotten
I have lost count of the people I have come across whose lives have been directly or indirectly affected by addiction. Whether it be from families to communities plagued by drug-related crime, which is often complicated by the knowledge that those committing crimes are often victims themselves. It’s like a vicious cycle with no end […]
