“When I was in the midst of everything, there were no options. You wake up every day, and your intent has to be get money or be prepared to die. I have choices nowadays.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/ericw 

Featuring Eric’s segment from the new podcast Drug Stories – check them out at drugstories.org. (Audio by Miriam Zimmerman and photo by Michelle Frankfurter) 

This episode was produced by Evan Jones and Vic King. 

Music by DMB (Eric’s request). 

“I am a firm believer that the small things in life make the difference. The big [things] are going to happen to everyone. The little ones are gifts. When someone talks to you and they actually care, it’s something you remember. It can make a huge difference in the rest of your day. It might make a difference in the rest of your life. Care might be the difference between life and death.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/blue 

“I was using drugs for so long that I didn’t know how to live without them.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/dustini 

“You can’t do this alone; it’s just impossible.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/johnb

This spring, we had the privilege of welcoming Diane Langberg to our campus for a visit. Dr. Langberg is a practicing psychologist whose clinical expertise includes 45 years of working with trauma survivors and clergy. 

Dr. Langberg shared with our clients some of what she’s learned about healing from shame, sexual abuse, and other kinds of trauma. 

00:01 The many faces of shame (below is the Shame Compass that Dr. Langberg refers to in this section) 

28:05 The trauma of sexual abuse 

36:07 The shape of healing: talk, tears, time

56:13 Q&A

You can also view this talk on Youtube. And you can hear what Dr. Langberg shared with our staff, “Lessons from a Life of Counseling,” at helpingupmission.org/langberg

“When I saw my daddy in the hospital, I made a promise I would stop.  I made a promise to him, and I stopped for a while.  But it took a toll when he died… and I couldn’t help it.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/jackier

“Before, I had no desire to really dig.  I was too afraid of what I would find.  Now I know that there is no hope of hope if I don’t do what is uncomfortable.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/jakeh

“…That is when things started to go downhill for me, once I deleted God out of my life and pushed him to the side, that is when I started to do some really, really sad things.” 

Read more at helpingupmission.org/stories/davidh