The aftermath and education...
I made it through. I am Clean! Off these drugs taking my serenity from me. I notice as days turn to weeks just what my part in stigma is. I am disappointed I have allowed myself to become a Stigmatizer myself. I found that by being ashamed of my status I was giving power and fuel to the ignorance of others. I self-medicated to numb the feeling so I could move forward with my advocacy, now I see how wrong I was.
I accept my status and I love and accept myself as I am. I am not a bad person. I made bad decisions. I took a more colorful route than most choose. I am not alone in my struggle to find inner peace upon finding out my status or others knowing my status.
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