People see addicts in recovery as “a different sort of addict” to those who have not found recovery. This is invalidating and untrue.
Discussing suicide attempts and responding in crisis is always hard. Talking about it will help prepare people for these hard conversations.
Autistic people are more vulnerable to addiction and suicide, and yet this is not discussed. We need to start talking about this now to reduce stigma and provide resources to those in need.
Substance abuse addiction was like an abusive relationship for David Gray-Hammond, and escaping that relationship was a difficult necessity if he wanted to survive.
Figuring out how to be yourself, is this something you do once in youth or is it something you must continually reevaluate? How does identity change over time?
David Gray-Hammond writes about the words he needed to hear as an active addict and sends a message: “It’s not your fault.”
If you’re finding lockdown and quarantine are contributing to an increase in your use of drugs, alcohol, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms, these steps might help you to find some healthier ways to navigate difficult times.
When you’re autistic, it’s easy to begin to lean on alcohol or drugs to help buffer the sensory and social anxiety of group outings. David Gray-Hammond on being autistic and a recovered addict.
No one is talking about autism and addiction, so recovering addict and autistic self-advocate David Gray-Hammond is leading the charge and starting the conversation.
Autistic people are often overlooked when it comes to addiction, as if they are too rule-oriented or childlike to become addicted. It’s time for that to change.
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