I was orphaned at eight years old when my father murdered my mother and committed suicide. As a kid, I was very intelligent and an exceptional wrestler. I placed in the top 6 at nationals for six consecutive years. At 19, I started using cocaine and struggled with it for about 12 years before switching to opiates. That's when life spiralled hard. For another 13 years, I battled addiction. I got clean 14 months ago, and I am now raising my three pre-teen children as a single f

I took my first drink at thirteen. By twenty-five, I'd lost everything worth having. People imagine addiction as a choice. Like there's a moment where you weigh the options and pick the bottle. That's not how it works. Addiction is waking up and reaching for it before your eyes are open. It's your body telling you that you will die without it and your brain believing every word. It's not a choice. It's a hostage situation. I started with beer stolen from my uncle's garage. Th