Email Volunteers in Recovery - Drug and Alcohol

Disclaimer

Self-help is useful, but it is not a substitute for professional assistance. Emotional and behavioral problems can be debilitating and dangerous. Please seek professional help: 

if you have thoughts of killing yourself or harming others;
if you feel depressed, anxious, guilty or down on yourself frequently; if you are abusing substances; if your performance or interpersonal relationships are impaired.

"Our purpose is to give information.. We can not, and are not, assuming the role of your physician or therapist in any of our replies. 

We also do not know your other medical problems and psychiatric diagnoses, which usually have a dramatic effect on medication (and other treatment) recommendations. You must make a medical and treatment plan with your physician and therapist(s).

Email Volunteers

1) My name is Katy and I'm 21 year old Christian living in South Dakota with my husband and two cats Dax and C.J. (They are my children, lol). I am a recovering addict and have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder ,DID, bipolar 2, PTSD due to several types of abuse growing up, anorexia and bulimia, chronic depression, agoraphobia, and panic disorder.

I was abused by family from a very early age until around fourteen. I began self harming to seek attention and to call for help, and was hospitalized numerous times. I felt safe nowhere because no one in my family protected me. By the age of sixteen I was heavy into drugs, become a prostitute, and ran away from home several times only to end up coming back. I soon hated myself, and felt there was no way out. Thankfully I decided to get help. 

I love my family dearly in spite of their many problems, but I had to step away and find my own sanity and sense of safety. I'm active in therapy and a twice a month depression group at my hospital where I often lead/ moderate discussion. I also help run NA, AA, and SA groups in my local town. I've gone through DBT and found it to be quite helpful, as well as other therapy classes (Courage to Heal, etc.). 

Anyone who needs or wants to talk can contact me at [email protected] 

2) I am an adult student taking pre-med courses. I am hoping to gain acceptance to medical school and possibly specialize in Psychiatry. I have deep compassion for people who struggle with mental illness. 

As a child, I was hospitalized with Bi-Polar disorder. After many years of (ongoing) therapy, I feel that I have lived to tell about it. As you well know, it is not a handicap that you are ever "cured" of, but it can be successfully managed. My last symptoms were self-destructive behaviors such as drinking and drug usage followed by a manic period lasting a few months where I would get little sleep and be highly productive. 

My life has been a series of successes and failures, with little stability until a few years ago. I returned to therapy and concentrated on limiting the self-destruction that contributed to my down phases, and moderating the mania as well. I have been much better since I became sober, and since I have stayed in therapy. I hope you will consider me for this opportunity.
[email protected]