Hello and welcome to my podcast, The Wellness Project with Des. On today’s episode, I speak with Amanda Acker about the difficult time she went through in her teen and young adult years.
I’m Desiree, a Mental Health Therapist that is passionate about helping people to improve their mental health and live a healthy and fulfilled life. One way I do this is by interviewing experts in the field of mental health and wellness as well as those that have struggled with their mental health but have gained control over it and now live fulfilling lives. In this episode, we’re going to hear from Amanda about the difficult experiences she went through as a teenager and young adult. I hope you enjoy this vulnerable and raw interview.
Amanda explains that her world completely changed as a teenager when her parents got divorced. She needed her mom but unfortunately, her mother wasn’t there for her. During her most vulnerable years, Amanda witnessed her mother become a victim of domestic violence.
In high school, Amanda explains that she was experimenting with marijuana, sex, and cigarettes and she would run away to get the attention of her emotionally absent father. When she went to college she discovered fraternity parties and started taking benzodiazepines. She soon found herself addicted to cocaine and was arrested shortly thereafter.
Amanda was in a downward spiral but she was determined to turn her life around. She got a job but she lived in fear that people would find out about her past. She hid her true self for years.
Listen to this episode to hear Amanda’s inspiring story of everything she has been through and how she managed to create a healthier and happier life. Amanda shares the steps she took to get help and to work on her self-worth, her self-esteem, her addictions, and the relationships in her life.