From Darkness to Life Podcast: Stories of Recovery & Resilience

Poncho sits down with OCJ’s Derrick and his fiancé Stephanie to talk about supporting each other through their mental health struggles. They discuss what brought them together and how they started off dealing with many challenges.

Poncho dives into how Derrick and Stephanie’s relationship was built on a foundation of hard work and tough conversations. They discuss working together to find common ground on many tough issues. Stephanie reflects on how both her and Derrick appeared to be “normal” and happy in school, but both were hiding pain. Derrick talks about finally coming to terms with his alcohol abuse. They talk about how making hard choices and always trying to do what is best for the unit has allowed them to grow and help each other navigate a life in more positive ways.

Derrick talks about what inspires him to be a better partner and dad. They talk about how working their program allows them to grow, learn and work through the tough times.

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If you need help and don't know where to turn OCJ is here to help you. Please reach out.

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Keeley Milne joins OCJ member’s Amber, Derrick, and Ryan to share her From Darkness to Life journey.

Keeley openly discusses her negative relationship with alcohol and the disastrous consequences that she endured due to loss of control with the substance. Eventually she managed to find the right supports and begin navigating her way back into the light.

Today, surrounded by the support of her family and friends, Keeley finds serenity in lacing up her shoes and long distance running. She not only runs herself, she coaches others as well! Tune in to hear her inspirational story!

Happy New Year!

Hot off the press, and recorded Jan 6th, 2022, the Gang gets together for the first podcast for 2022. 

Damyan, Gen, Amber and Rob sit in to talk about unplugging over the holidays. With some much needed personal reflection and introspection, they discuss preparing for, and tackling head-on, all of the new adventures to come this year.

Dr. Ryan Comeau and Dr. James Skrenkowich join Ryan and Derrick to discuss concussions and the lasting effects on our mental health.

The guys discuss brain injuries and how we can help ourselves heal through the neuroplasticity of the brain. Topics include CTE, what concussions are and how they are assessed.

In 2015 Dr. Comeau co-founded Kinetisense. This technology is being used around the world to baseline and reassess concussion patients. Dr. Comeau has advised and treated professional sports athletes and organizations in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. The Kinetisense team came together to build a system that has real applications for patients, trainers, coaches, medical practitioners, chiropractors and researchers.

Dr James was born in Red Deer and graduated from the University of Western States with a Master’s in Sports Science. He used his Bachelor of Athletic and Exercise Therapy to work with the Victoria Cougar Junior B hockey team where he dealt with many concussions. Dr. James moved to Medicine Hat 5 years ago and is recently married.

Christmas holidays are upon us and ready or not, the season can bring some unique challenges to everyone! From the person newly in recovery to the seasoned veteran, the season’s challenges can impact us all.

Jolly Saint Rick and other OCJ members take to the airwaves to share some tips and tricks they use to make it through the holidays with their recovery (and sanity) intact. Topics covered are holiday stressors, Christmas gatherings and parties, self care, and some triggers are optional to just name a few.

The laughter occurs often during this episode, but the messages are tried and true. If you want to keep your recovery intact during the holidays…

PLAN. PLAN. PLAN.

Happy holidays from Our Collective Journey :)

One of the newest members of OCJ, Derrick, sits down with Poncho, Ryan and Amber to share his lived experience.

Derrick discusses growing up with undiagnosed anxiety, depression, ADHD and what it felt like as a child to not understand what was causing the chaos inside.

We discuss how Derrick was able to find the strength and faith to battle the darkness in unconventional ways. The group discusses how childhood traumas, undiagnosed conditions and feeling lost can lead to substance abuse.

Derrick shares with us his story of battling the thought of suicide since the age of 12 and how his stutter made him feel like an outsider.

We discuss how the road to recovery is different for everybody and how understanding our mental health unwellness from a physical, emotional, spiritual and scientific perspective can allow us to take back our power and build a mental health wellness plan that encompasses us as whole human beings.

This weeks episode is a conversation that was 16 years in the making. Jill Nielsen and Nathan Davis sit down with Damyan to continue their journey of healing while they discuss how being a survivor of suicide still affects them to this day.

Their willingness to open up about their loss, the pain they still feel and how they are choosing to honor those they have lost to suicide is an inspiring look into recovery and love.

If this episode resonates with you, and you or someone you love need help, Our Collective Journey is here to help you. Please reach out.

You are not alone...

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

This weeks episode is uncharted water for the "From Darkness to Life" podcast as Damyan sits down with 15 year old Ryder Moorhead and his mom Tanya Renard to discuss the dynamic relationship between a mom and son.

They dive into a multitude of topics including loneliness, anger, acceptance and how strained communication can be between a parent and a son.

With the support of Melisha, from Keys to Hope Counselling Services, they discover that fear is a common thread they both are working through and that they can work through this together.

https://www.keystohopecounsellingservices.com

As National Addictions Awareness Week wraps up today, OCJ releases the 3rd installment in this Recovery Series.

We are joined today by two solid members of the 12 Step community. These members openly share about what worked for them to get into recovery and the gifts that they have received since doing so. Following the language of the Big Book, the men share their experience in the program and the way they help others. Recovered vs. Recovering is a topic that often causes friction within 12 Step programs and these gentlemen discuss the difference between the two terms.

Thanks for joining us to discuss this important topic.

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

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National Addictions Awareness Week continues and here is the next installment of the week's Recovery Series from OCJ.

Josh joins us this week from Hattiesburg, Mississippi to share his amazing story of RECOVERY. Zooming in from the deep south, Josh openly talks about what it was like in active addiction, what he did when he realized he needed help, and what life in recovery is like nowadays!

The guys discuss the importance of the online support community that has emerged since COVID-19 came on the scene and how it has opened the doors to recovery connection around the world.

The pitfalls of not doing the work required to stay in recovery, the consequences of trying to do it all on your own, and the concept of social acceptability not equaling recovery are just a few of the topics explored.

https://ourcollectivejourney.ca

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You are not alone.