Trigger Warning:
In this episode, we talk about experiences of abuse and self-harm. These topics can be difficult to hear, so please take care of yourself and listen at your own pace. If you or someone you know needs immediate support, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline anytime.

Caitlyn Boardman shares a mental health & addiction recovery story of early alcohol use, adoption trauma from South Korea, BPD symptoms, an eating disorder, and self-harm—and how she got sober in 2021 after cops were called, then rebuilt through fitness, meditation, and self-compassion. A candid look at relapse, motherhood, and staying sober with boundaries and breathwork.

Explore addiction and mental health treatment options: https://recovery.com

Connect with Caitlyn: https://www.instagram.com/caitlynbayybee/, https://www.tiktok.com/@madeinkoreaxo

Key talking points:
1. Caitlyn began drinking alone in middle school, hiding alcohol in her closet.
2. As a South Korean adoptee with early foster care, she later recognized adoption trauma and cultural isolation.
3. Home life lacked emotional safety; her father died when she was six and grief went largely unprocessed.
4. She developed alcohol addiction alongside BPD symptoms, self-harm, and an eating disorder with body dysmorphia.
5. Drinking escalated after her third child (2016), leading to job loss risks and blackout episodes.
6. A CPS scare after police calls pushed her to get sober in 2021 without rehab, leaning on her kids as motivation.
7. She rebuilt through meditation, breathwork, fitness (from “skinny” to strong), and strict social boundaries.
8. In early 2024 she relapsed in Seattle after being served real beer as “NA,” then drank for three days and stopped.
9. Sharing the relapse online brought empathy and community, reinforcing a no-shame, start-again recovery mindset.
10. Her message: persistence over perfection—relapse is a detour, not a dead end, and sobriety makes presence possible.

00:00 Early Memories of Alcohol
00:26 Introduction to Recovery Cast
00:39 Caitlyn's Background and Struggles
02:07 Childhood and Adoption
05:29 Early Alcohol Use
06:59 Battling Eating Disorders
09:36 Struggles with Borderline Personality Disorder
12:54 Path to Sobriety
16:04 Maintaining Sobriety and Fitness
19:54 Sharing the Sobriety Journey
20:24 Opening Up on Social Media
21:05 A Relapse Story
23:00 Support and Recovery
24:17 Coping with Loss and Staying Sober
25:30 The Aftermath of Relapse
32:39 Struggles with Body Image
35:17 Living with Borderline Personality Disorder
37:48 Encouragement for Those Struggling
39:10 Final Thoughts and Social Media Handles

#addictionrecovery #bpd #eatingdisorders