This episode is dedicated to our younger listeners looking to be reflected in the recovery community. Not everyone who finds recovery lost a career, house, or family. Lauren McQuistin (@brutalrecovery) is a former opera singer who now writes about the messy, awkward, and unsettling parts of recovery. Attempting sobriety for the first time at the age of 19, Lauren shares about self-loathing, feeling of insignificance, and lack of belonging that accompanied the trauma she experienced at the hands of someone who was supposed to support her. Lauren and Nzinga talk about the small seeds planted along Lauren's path to recovery that eventually blossomed, and how compassion saved Lauren's life. If you feel like your life doesn't matter, like your achievements will never amount to anything, or like your path doesn't align with society's ideal of success, this episode is for you. Sign up for Lauren's Substack, No Lost Causes Club: https://nolostcausesclub.substack.com/ Lauren creates content "too edgy" for social media on her Patreon. If you'd like to follow along on "a day in the life of a woman who almost died more times than she can remember," go here: https://www.patreon.com/brutalrecovery/about Follow her on IG: @brutalrecovery ___ Dr. Nzinga Harrison's book, "Un-Addiction: Six Mind-Changing Conversations That Could Save a Life" is out now! Order here: https://www.nzingaharrisonmd.com/ Find Nzinga on Threads and X (Twitter): @nzingamd / LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nzingaharrisonmd/ Follow us on IG @unaddictionpod. If you'd like to watch our interviews, you can catch us on YouTube @unaddictionpod. Questions, suggestions, and anything else? Email us at: unnaddictionpod@gmail.com. If you or a loved one are experiencing addiction, have questions about recovery, or need treatment tailored to you, visit eleanorhealth.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.