I was a daily drinker for 18 years and now I have 18 years of continuous sobriety! My journey hasn’t been smooth sailing. I’ve faced addiction, mental health challenges, co-parenting struggles, and the heartbreak of losing loved ones. Through it all, I leaned into therapy and a strong support network to come out stronger. I'm now a Certified Medi-Cal Peer Support Specialist, and helping others find their footing is something I care deeply about. Whether you're navigating sobriety, parenting kids with complex needs, or just trying to keep your head above water, I’m here to listen, relate, and support however I can.

I know how hard it can feel when it feels like your mind is working against you 24/7. I’ve been in those dark places myself. That’s why I believe recovery isn’t about perfection but about small steps, compassion for ourselves, and knowing we don’t have to go through it alone. With me, you’ll always be met with empathy, because I understand what it feels like to struggle and to have to fight your way back. Drawing from my lived experience with depression, bipolar II, BPD, and substance use recovery, I speak to the realities of mental health with both honesty and hope. Over the past five years of sobriety, I’ve developed not only personal tools for resilience but also a deep commitment to supporting others on their paths.

I grew up in a conservative society, married young, and moved to a new country. For years, I didn’t even realize what abuse truly was. I endured physical, emotional, mental, and financial abuse, all while giving my marriage and partner 100% of myself — and more. I lost a home, I was beaten down in many ways, yet I kept pushing forward, believing that love and effort would eventually be enough. It wasn’t until twenty years into this rollercoaster that I sought hypnotherapy, searching for clarity. That single step became the beginning of my journey back to myself — to rediscovering my worth, my strength, and my voice. Five years later, I’m still on this path of growth. I remain in my marriage, but I now stand with strong boundaries, a renewed sense of self, and a business I’m proud to call my own. My story is not one of defeat, but of resilience. I’ve learned that healing is possible, no matter how late it may seem to begin, and that empowerment comes from within.

For many years, I turned to alcohol and marijuana to cope with my anxiety. At first, they seemed like a quick fix, but over time, I realized they were only masking the issue, not solving it. I reached a point where I knew I had to find a better way to manage my anxiety without relying on substances that only made things worse. My struggles with anxiety and addiction began early. My parents’ divorce when I was 8 left me feeling isolated and insecure. As a teenager, I turned to substances to numb the anxiety that overwhelmed me. By the time I was 21, alcohol became my crutch. I drank to cope with anxiety, but it only made things worse, leading to lost jobs and damaged relationships. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep living this way. I began exploring more holistic ways to manage my anxiety, focusing on rebuilding my self-esteem. The tools that helped me most were rooted in self-love, forgiveness, and mindfulness. Practices like therapeutic art, qigong, and nutrition helped me connect with my body and calm my mind. Today, I’ve rebuilt my life with peace, joy, and self-compassion. I’m committed to helping others do the same, knowing firsthand that healing is possible. With the right tools and support, you can break free from old patterns and create a fulfilling, anxiety-free life.

My journey hasn’t been simple. I’ve lived through the heavy fog of depression and the constant edge of anxiety—both made harder when paired with the challenges of addiction. At one point, I felt like I was drowning under labels and treatment plans that didn’t fully see me. What helped me begin to heal was understanding the connection between mental health and addiction, and learning how to build coping skills that addressed both at the same time. I learned to quiet the shame, replace harmful patterns with healthier ones, and honor my progress even when it came slowly. Today, I live proof that recovery is possible for people navigating multiple struggles at once. I now walk alongside others facing dual diagnosis challenges, offering hope, strategies, and space to reimagine what healing can look like—one step, one choice, one day at a time.

When I was in my mid-20s, I found myself in a relationship where my partner hid their marijuana use from me. At first, I didn’t know how to react, but eventually, I was convinced to try it. What started as casual use quickly became an everyday habit before work, during breaks, and after. It was a cycle I didn’t know how to break. I realized how much it was controlling my life, making me feel disconnected and anxious, while keeping me from engaging with my friends and family in a meaningful way. I knew something had to change. So, in 2023, I ended the relationship and decided to stop using marijuana. At first, it was hard, but within a month, I felt a major shift. I became more productive, less anxious, and found myself truly present again. I’ve also had my share of struggles with toxic relationships verbal and physical abuse, unhealthy patterns that broke my self-worth. Therapy helped me regain my confidence, and it was through these painful experiences that I learned the importance of setting boundaries and finding support.

You are not alone, and together we can find ways to live a full and meaningful life with bipolar disorder. I understand the highs and lows, the confusion and clarity that come with this journey. I'm here to offer a safe, non-judgmental space where you can share your experiences, ask questions, and look into ways to manage your symptoms. We can talk about what it was like to be diagnosed, how to build a routine that supports your well-being, how important it is to take care of yourself, and how to find hope at every step of your recovery.

Life and work stresses pushed my lifelong depression and anxiety deeper. I started to self-medicate with alcohol and cannabis and, without knowing it, became dependent on them to escape the mental health symptoms and other stresses. What started as a weekend recreation slowly became a daily use that started to worsen my mental health. The heavier usage began to impact the relationship with my family as I became disconnected and absent. I started to realize that a problem was developing when I tried the apply the brakes on my usage and found myself powerless to do so. My family was unaware and I felt too ashamed to ask for help. The depression continued to build and it became dangerous. I finally broke and reached out to my wonderful wife for help. Long story short, I was admitted to a psych unit where I was diagnosed with "co-occuring" mental health and addiction issues. I have been clean and sober since 12/25/23 and my depression is managed through medication and therapy.

I’ve been through a lot, and my journey has shaped me into someone who is passionate about helping others. After leaving my first marriage, I found myself battling addiction to opiates. I knew I needed to make a change, so I got sober in 2017, but life wasn’t easy after that. I remarried and ended up in another toxic relationship that was emotionally abusive. I struggled deeply with depression and anxiety, which I only realized through therapy. I decided I couldn’t continue living that way, so I made the hard choice to leave and get sober for good. It wasn’t an easy path, but through the process, I’ve reclaimed my life and learned so much about myself. I now co-run a sober women’s group with over 30,000 members across the world, and I’m here to offer a nonjudgmental, compassionate ear to anyone struggling with similar challenges.

At the start of my journey recovering from alcohol use disorder, I quickly realized my addiction was the tip of the iceberg. I learned my compulsive drinking was an attempt to self-medicate an anxiety disorder, PTSD, OCD, and ADD. This understanding not only helped reduce my shame, but it strengthened my recovery because I learned how to address these disorders without alcohol. If you have found yourself exploring sobriety, and feeling overwhelmed by underlying mental illnesses or disorders, I want you to know it is entirely possible to manage them without substances.

For a long time, many years, I have dealt with an autoimmune disease, which took a while to manage to get under control. In the last couple of years, I have dealt with chronic illness in the last couple years and still learning how to manage it. In 2024, I had a health scare that put me in the hospital for a couple days. I made it through that health scare and still on the road to healing as I still have set-backs. I have a passion for helping others know that they are not alone in this and knowing that it's okay to reach out for help. I have learned to know my triggers both mentally and when to listen to my body. I am not able to do so many things as I once did in a day and have to space it out throughout the week. I had a hard time finding help to find resources as well as advocating for myself and I would love to help you with that! When I started getting sick, some people I was close with couldn't show up in that way while others in my church did!

I became a mom for the first time at 22. I stayed sober during my pregnancy, but after my daughter was born, I went back to using. I thought I had things under control, but deep down I felt isolated and ashamed. When I had my second daughter, I went through postpartum depression that I didn’t fully understand. I believed I was a bad mom and kept those feelings to myself. Over the years, my addiction got worse, and so did my mental health. I hit rock bottom at 40 and ended up in the hospital. That experience was terrifying, but it also opened the door to real help. I was finally connected to a peer who had been through similar struggles, and that made all the difference. Now, with four years of sobriety and a better understanding of my mental health, I want to be that person for someone else. I know what it’s like to parent through pain and to feel like you’re not enough. You’re not alone.

I started drinking when I was 15, and by the time I was 21, my alcoholism had taken full control of my life. I experimented with many other substances, including marijuana, cocaine, and opioids, which seemed to numb my anxiety and depression. I didn’t realize at the time that the substances were just a temporary escape from the pain. By the time I was 24, I had lost everything—my family’s trust, my friends, and any sense of stability. That was when I knew something had to change. Getting clean wasn’t easy, but I did it all at once, eliminating every substance from my life, including the opioids that had such a hold on me. The road to recovery was tough, but with the support of my family, a 12-step program, and a lot of hard work, I found my way. Now, over 15 years later, I’m proud to say that I’m clean and sober. I’m even working on kicking my final addiction—tobacco—and I’m using patches and lozenges to help me through it. Recovery isn’t just about quitting substances; it’s about rebuilding a life. It’s about finding new ways to deal with anxiety, depression, and the challenges that led me to seek relief in the first place. I know it can be done, and I want to be there for anyone who needs support on their journey.

I used marijuana almost daily for over a decade, mostly to cope with chronic pain from my disability. It started when I was 20, and for a while, it felt like the only thing that helped me function—but it slowly became something I couldn’t imagine living without. The turning point came when my lungs started bleeding, and I needed surgery to address the source of the pain. That experience forced me to face the bigger picture: the weed wasn’t helping anymore—it was hurting me. Getting sober wasn’t just about quitting; it was about learning how to live without the thing I thought was saving me. The first few months were brutal. My body hurt, my mind was foggy, and emotionally, I was raw. But I leaned on my support system, therapy, and my sheer stubbornness. Now, over a year into sobriety, I’ve learned how to manage pain and emotions without turning to weed. Recovery has helped me reconnect with joy, presence, and self-respect. I know how overwhelming it can feel to even imagine a sober life, especially with physical limitations, but I’ve been there—and I’d love to be here for you as you take your next steps.

At one point, I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of heartbreak and responsibility. I'd lost loved ones—my brother, my sister, and the father of my son—to addiction. I was raising three kids, balancing work and school, and trying to keep everything together while secretly falling apart. But amidst the chaos, I decided: I wouldn’t let pain define my story. I began healing and opened up. I discovered that vulnerability isn’t a weakness—it’s how we connect with others. Today, I share my story to help others feel seen, heard, and never alone. I’ve become the person I once needed—a steady light for those navigating their darkness. And I’ve learned that even when life doesn’t give you a happy ending, you can still write a powerful one.

I have struggled with depression most of my life. It is often triggered by relational conflict, disappointments, and health challenges. Thankfully, through personal growth and taking the time to talk with someone about those struggles, I have fewer of these episodes. I also have had the opportunity to teach on a counsel those who struggle with depression.