From Bottomless to Sober. What happens when addiction and mental health issues are happening in plain site but you are suffering alone? -- with Jessica Duenas.

THANK YOU Jessica for coming on to Sharing Out Loud. I am deeply grateful you said yes and so appreciate everything you are doing for the addiction/sober community❤️.About Jessica, Sober woman, Author, Speaker, Sober Coach...Brooklyn born and raised, her father is a proud, incredibly beautiful, and charming Black Cuban. Her mother, just as beautiful, is a tiny yet incredibly intimidating Costa Rican, which makes Jessica a first-generation American. The American dream. On the outside growing up, she was bright and overcame many hurdles that young Black and Brown girls from the hood (Jessica's words) face. She shattered ceilings women in her family had not been able to, all while on the inside, Jessica carried the weight and shame of being different, of never feeling good enough, of never feeling a part of. She excelled with scholarships to prestigious schools but while in attendance, had early indicators of mental health problems developing, especially bipolar disorder, which she medicated with alcohol, but she graduated, and her career took off, as did her addiction.2019/2020Jessica was a high-achieving, award-winning teacher with one of the stronger moral compasses one may have come across. She did amazing for years and touched many lives, but at the same time, her drinking was slowly becoming all-consuming,  For years she numbed herself, drinking to forget, drinking to self-medicate. The pain of past traumas, constant lies, car wrecks, divorce, hangovers, lost homes, significant injuries, abuse, isolation, hospital visits, rehabs, hallucinations, anxiety, fires, and rapidly declining physical health. But she had her teaching, the safety of the classroom protected her and kept life steady until it could no longer...She was dying but couldn’t die.She also couldn’t live how she was living, suffering and refusing help. Exhausted, Jessica finally surrendered.For her full story, you can find Jessica on her website at www.jessicaduenas.net and of course, on Instagram: @jessicaduenas24Jessica is Certified through the ICF Accredited Coaching Program at the Certified Life Coaching Institute. Peer Recovery Support Specialist, registered with The National Association for Addiction Professionals (NAADAC), which provides continuing education for members. Outside of recovery, she has a masters in special education as well as an educational specialist degree in instructional leadership.