In episode 37 of F The Stigma Podcast, host Laisha Martinez sits down with Chris Yarnell, In this episode, Laisha sits down with a guest who opens up about a lifetime of stigma, trauma, and addiction. He talks about growing up in a household shaped by alcohol and drugs and how fractured family dynamics fueled his early substance use. He shares how his drinking escalated through adolescence, how a chemical imbalance influenced his drug choices, and what ultimately pushed him to join the Marines. He dives into the reality of serving while struggling mentally, the injuries and losses that followed, and the survivor’s guilt that nearly destroyed him. As addiction progressed, sobriety became a cycle of chaos, relapse, and consequence that eventually led to jail time, psychosis, and a rock-bottom moment that forced him to confront the truth. Now in recovery, he reflects on rebuilding purpose, the importance of service, and why healing means more than just staying sober. This conversation sheds light on the stigma around mental health, the impact of unspoken trauma, and the power of asking for help. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations that challenge stigma and bring awareness to mental health and addiction. Chapters | 00:00 Welcome and Podcast Intro 01:29 Breaking Stigma Around Mental Health & Addiction 02:58 Growing Up: Family, Community and Early Exposure 05:47 Alcohol and Drugs in the Home 10:13 First Experiences With Drinking and Family Dynamics 15:41 Teens, Substance Use, and Parental Relationships 20:48 Adolescence & The Progression of Alcohol Use 27:01 Chemical Imbalance and Drug Choice Discussion 33:14 Joining the Marines: Motivation & Pre-Military Life 38:33 Struggles in the Military, Family, and Trauma 46:11 Injury, Discharge, and Caregiving at Home 50:40 Loss, Survivor’s Guilt & Mental Health Impact 57:12 Addiction Progression & Cycles of Sobriety 01:01:33 Complacency, Chaos, and Staying Sober 01:09:34 Relapses, Triggers, and Uphill Recovery 01:17:42 Consequences: Jail and the Wrong Path 01:27:06 Bad Criminal Luck: Court, Mistakes, and Stigma 01:36:00 The Breaking Point: Psychosis & Ultimate Rock Bottom 01:44:11 Recovery Work, Service, and What It Means 01:53:19 Defining Addiction & Hope for Recovery 02:01:01 Purpose, Wellness, and Community Healing 02:04:02 Why Recovery Means More Than Sobriety 02:09:07 Trauma, Comparison, and The Value of Asking For Help 02:15:05 Final Thoughts: Breaking Down Stigma and Moving Forward F**k the Stigma is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that believes people shouldn’t be judged or labeled based on their mental health status. Whether you are struggling with an addiction or have been taking meds for a diagnosis, our community doesn’t judge and seeks to collectively end the stigma around mental health. Our mission is to normalize mental health and mental illness as widespread, treatable, and acceptable. We do this by providing useful resources, improving access to services for those who need help, sharing stories, and building a community of young people who all agree… Follow us! Website | https://fthestigma.com/ Instagram | https://instagram.com/fukthestigma TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@fthestigma Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/FTStigma X | https://x.com/fthestigma Subscribe for more! | https://www.youtube.com/@fthestigma Tags in this video ↓fthestigma, podcast, addiction, recovery, trauma, anxiety, depression, ptsd, mentalhealth, mentalillness, nonprofit, vulnerability, youth, healthandwellness, god, sobriety, relapse, treatment, loss, grief, addicts, recovery, addict, relationships, psychological, experience, spiritual, spirituality, alcoholic, addiction recovery, insanity, psychosis, story, neglect, jail, prescription, alcoholic, alcoholism, treatment, diagnosis, prison, criminal, psychology, doctor, dealer, baltimore diagnosis, felony, felonies, forgiveness, spiritual, DUI
