Trauma and Addiction, Hope and Recovery: A Conversation with Author Jennifer Storm

After Jennifer Storm was sexually assaulted when she was only twelve years old, she began to dull her pain with alcohol. Faced with multiple childhood traumas and devastating losses of friends and loved ones, Jennifer eventually turned to drugs, self-harm, and multiple suicide attempts. When she was hospitalized after surviving the last suicide attempt, Jennifer finally found treatment and hope after trauma and addiction. In her recovery, she began to rewrite her life script, moving on to personal health, loving relationships and a career helping others who have been victimized.   In this heartfelt conversation with Marti & Erin, Jennifer discusses her tumultuous journey from trauma and addiction to recovery and hope. She shares the keys to letting go of secrets and shame on the path to healing and recovery. Jennifer’s book, Blackout Girl, originally published in 2008, has just been released by Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation in a 2nd edition. This latest edition includes new chapters, fresh insights on the Me Too movement and other societal changes in the last decade, and a discussion guide for support groups and book clubs. Mom Enough is pleased to have Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation as an ongoing supporting partner.   WHAT DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ADDICTION IN THIS EPISODE? Have you or someone close to you experienced trauma and victimization in childhood or adolescence? What did you hear in Jennifer Storm’s story that resonated with what you know about the impact of childhood trauma? What seemed to be the keys to Jennifer’s process of healing and recovery?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TRAUMA, ADDICTION, AND RECOVERY? ❉ RAPE, ABUSE, AND INCEST NATIONAL NETWORK (RAINN). The largest anti-sexual violence organization, RAINN runs the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE, online.rainn.org & rainn.org/es).   ❉ HAZELDEN BETTY FORD FOUNDATION. Hazelden offers world-renowned addiction and alcohol treatment services, including options for virtual addiction and mental health care and recovery support resources through RecoveryGo.   ❉ WOMEN, ALCOHOL MISUSE AND KEYS TO PREVENTION AND RECOVERY. In this Mom Enough episode, Carrie Kappel of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation discusses the ways isolation, anger, anxiety and depression often contribute to alcohol misuse; critical components of treatment for women; and the role of family members in recovery. Online gambling club Kosmolot http://cosmolotcazino.com/ gives its users not only a charge of adrenaline and thrills. Its customers have access to a large collection of high-quality and giving slots from proven providers, generous and easy wagering bonuses, exciting promotions, tournaments, quests. To get access to all this, register on the casino website. Especially since it takes you minimal effort and only a minute of time.   ❉