The addiction had driven me to the streets where all I could think of was my next bottle. Growing up I was shy and dreamt of becoming a veterinarian. After missing the entrance score for Vet Uni. with one point I drowned my sorrows in alcohol. Drinking made me feel like a fearless extrovert and helped me escape my feelings. I combined drinking with self-harm and despite several hospitalizations, I never saw my drinking as the problem. My path made me homeless and being constantly intoxicated, the streets did not take kindly to me. It left me lonely, raped, HIV-positive, and full of shame, to the point where I was incapable of asking for, or in my own eyes deserving of help. I just wanted it to end. Hear how I ended up in a women's shelter where I felt safe and seen for the first time in years. This allowed me to find some sense of hope and I started contributing through the shelter that allowed me to build my self-worth. Learn how I found solace and understanding in peer support and how I started exploring my underlying trauma through psychotherapy. I reached out to my mother for the first time in years and slowly reconnected with my family. After becoming sober, I decided to use my experiences to help others align with my heart's purpose.