Betty Sullivan

Hi, my name is Betty and I’m from Lompoc California. All my life, I struggled to feel accepted and always felt different from my fellows. This feeling of disconnection led me to seek out a way to change how I felt which is when I started using drugs. My drug addiction which began at the age of 13 started a 17 year run of using prescription pills, party drugs, and meth. I ended up homeless, in jail and in multiple lockdown psych units. I also dealt with being in a severe psychosis where I was walking the streets with no shoes on my feet talking to myself. This was the final turning point for me and I was institutionalized for the last time in 2021 where I finally reached my rock bottom and was willing to take the direction that was given to me. I have been in recovery from drugs and alcohol since that day and today my life looks completely different than the way I was previously living. I have a supportive friend group, relationships with my family, and I am an active member of my recovery community. Today my mental health is stable and I have peace, happiness and the connection with others that I was always looking for. Since being in recovery, I have found a passion for helping other individuals who struggle with the same afflictions that I struggled with. Something that I feel will bring me great purpose in life is continuing to reach out to others that have dealt with mental health issues and addiction problems to show them that there is a way out.