F#CK THE STIGMA

In episode 44 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Travis Shields, who shares an honest conversation about addiction, grief, and recovery after more than a decade of active drug and alcohol use. Travis opens up about surviving the loss of a close friend, the survivor’s guilt that followed, and how that pain drove him deeper into substance use. He also reflects on losing multiple friends to addiction, struggling to identify and process emotions, and the long internal work required to heal. This episode dives deep into the inner workings of addiction in the mind, the emotional impact of grief, and what recovery really looks like beyond sobriety.Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction.Chapters |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/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, 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

In episode 43 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Ryan Ead, sharing his raw and unfiltered story of mental health struggles and addiction that began at a young age. After years of misbehavior and substance use, Ryan’s parents had him kidnapped and sent to a wilderness program in the Utah desert, where he was forced to survive for three months. Instead of helping, the experience fueled anger and rebellion, pushing Ryan deeper into addiction. As the opioid epidemic took hold, he began doctor shopping, spiraling into heroin addiction and eventually hitting rock bottom in prison. It was there, at his lowest point, that Ryan made the decision to get sober. This episode explores trauma, addiction, the troubled teen industry, the opioid crisis, incarceration, and the long road to recovery, while breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use.Don’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. Chapters |00:00 Welcome & Breaking the Stigma01:00 Childhood, Family, and Early Influences03:40 Addiction and Its Deeper Roots07:00 Coping with Trauma and Finding Outlets11:00 School Struggles and Early Substance Use17:00 Escalation: Drugs, Crime, and Identity26:00 Being Sent Away: Utah Desert & Boarding School34:00 Returning Home and Deepening Addiction39:50 Cycle of Jail, Addiction, and Starting Over45:00 Rock Bottom, Solitary, and a Turning Point49:00 The Importance of Intent and Recovery53:00 Giving Back: Recovery, Purpose, and Service56:00 Finding Connection & Overcoming Stigma58:00 Mindset in Addiction & Final ThoughtsOur 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, 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

In episode 42 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Matt Anderson, who shares his raw and honest journey through mental health struggles, addiction, incarceration, and recovery. Now 9 years sober, Matt opens up about going to jail at just 15 years old, being exposed to hard drugs at a young age, and growing up with an abusive father where fighting became his outlet. After his childhood home burned to the ground, his addiction escalated, leading to years of cycling in and out of jail and prison. Along the way, Matt lost many loved ones to fentanyl overdoses, deepening his struggle with grief and substance use. He shares how finding God became a turning point in his life and played a critical role in his sobriety and recovery. This episode dives into trauma, addiction, faith, loss, and what it truly takes to break the cycle and rebuild a life in recovery.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 Welcome & Podcast Introduction00:30 Matt's Early Life & Family Background02:00 Struggling with Anger & Behavior as a Child04:55 Violence, Hyperactivity, and Early Programs07:20 Discovering Outlets: Fighting & Seeking Approval10:25 Substances Enter the Picture13:00 Experimenting with Alcohol & Peer Influence15:20 Family Trauma & First Encounters with Drugs17:55 Stealing, Conscience, and Losing Guidance22:35 Escalation: Violence, Stealing & Substances25:15 First Consequences: Juvenile Detention & Early Legal Trouble29:30 Growing Up in the System & Life-changing Encounters36:00 Cycles: Release, Relapse & Street Life40:00 Introduction to Cocaine & Crack Addiction44:00 Descending into Crime & Prisons50:40 Losing Loved Ones & Reflection53:25 Hitting Rock Bottom & The Road to Change01:00:20 Sobriety, AA, and Finding God01:06:30 The Power of Inventory & Making Amends01:13:00 Perspective, Gratitude, and Relationships01:17:20 The Stigma of Addiction & Educating Others01:25:00 Steps for Everyone & Final ThoughtsFuck 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, 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

In episode 41 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Mike Eaton, who has 17 years sober and opens up about the turning point that changed his life forever. After years of failed attempts to get sober, Mike’s addiction led to a fatal drunk driving accident that took someone’s life, resulting in him getting sober while incarcerated. He shares what it was like to confront the weight of that reality, take accountability, and begin true recovery behind bars. Mike also speaks candidly about being diagnosed with Bipolar 1, how untreated mental health impacted his addiction, and what it’s taken to manage his diagnosis through medication, structure, and sobriety. This conversation explores accountability, mental health, and what long-term recovery really looks like after irreversible loss.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 Welcome & Introduction00:29 Early Substance Use & Childhood01:46 Escalation & Early Consequences06:00 Major Life Losses & Hitting Rock Bottom09:20 First Journey to Sobriety12:00 Underlying Mental Health & Relapse14:14 Mania, Breakdown, and Recovery Setbacks17:00 Addiction's Toll: Loss, Depression, and Rock Bottom20:00 DUI, Fatal Accident & Jail Time24:00 Prison Experience & Personal Growth28:00 Release, Recovery, and Starting Over33:00 Dream Life Program & Life After Prison36:00 Managing Resentment & Forgiveness40:00 Living with Bipolar & Balanced Medication44:00 Breaking Stigma: Addiction & Community48:00 Understanding Addiction & Disease Concept52:00 Mental Health, Medication, & Recovery Perspective56:00 Ongoing Growth & Reflections58:46 Closing Thoughts & GratitudeFuck 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, 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

In episode 40 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Emily, who shares her journey with alcoholism, starting from drinking at a young age and the struggles that followed her into high school, including an abusive relationship that shaped how she coped with pain. She opens up about using alcohol to numb the grief of losing a close family member and how that loss deepened her addiction. Now approaching 15 years of sobriety, Emily reflects on what it took to break the cycle, heal from trauma, and build a life rooted in recovery, honesty, and resilience.Don’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/@fthestigma\Facebook | 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, 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