Heroin Addiction, Recovery and No Shame | Crystal Oertle | TEDxColumbus 

Ugh, I don't know why I watch these late at night. I'm struggling with a heroin and meth habit for the past 7 years, and I want to quit so bad.. I always stay up and watch these to give me hope that I can do it. I need to get my life together.

My son just celebrated three years clean. What you and him have in common is that you both stayed connected to your family.

congrats, I celebrate sixteen months on 8/13/16. grateful for my recovery

I lived this, and it's hard to hear it out loud. I did everything she did, except I NEVER took my child with me when I would pick up. I was terrified CPS would take him away. I never used in front of him. As a recovering addict, I am proud of that, despite what others might think. I am proud of her too, it's hard to come out the other side of addiction. The pain is so indescribable.

Whether you’ve dealt with addiction or not, STOP assuming she is still getting high. I’ve been addicted for 4 years now, to pain pills, and I’m fighting every day but when I can finally say that I’m clean, I would be DEVASTATED if people who don’t even KNOW me tried to claim that I was still getting high. If you’re not here to help her or others then don’t leave a comment because what you say really does matter.

The amount of courage to get up on a taped stage and expose that part of yourself is amazing

I'm so happy and proud of Crystal to get the help she needed and finding her recovery. One of the biggest keys to recovery, is having no shame. It is the shame that keeps people in the cycle of addition. Such a touching story! =0)

Good for you Crystal, I live in southeastern Ohio and I know all too well about the drug epidemic in my small community. I as well struggle with my own addictions, I am almost 1 year sober and this video proves that we should all recover out loud, and we are all worthy of recovery. This is the kind of inspiration I strive for to recover a little louder everyday.

People like this are HUGELY IMPORTANT to END the STYGIMA of drug addiction. There's NO ONE who lives this life because they enjoy it! They aren't selfish! Drug addiction changes ones brain chemistry. It LITERALLY makes you into someone else! God Bless all of you.

Yall speaking in front of people is hard enough, imagine having to tell people things you are deeply ashamed of, and regret doing. I applaud you Crystal. I am 9 years in recovery, and work in the field now helping others through it, like I wish i had someone to help me through everything when I went through everything.

Thank you so much for Sharing your story Crystal. It's very important for people who have no experience with addiction to see that those suffering from it can recover and start leading a happy productive life again.

Samantha you are a true hero. Thank you for the courageous act of sharing your story. I can relate to being addicted to opioid medication. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Now you're paying it forward and spreading awareness to help others. Your are a survivor. Job well done!

thank you for coming out to talk, you planted a seed.

it takes a lot of courage to get up and share your strory, and to do this at 7months at a ted talk was so courageous! of course there were things left unsaid but the fact is you were trying to share hope. you said what you needed to. good for you. people do recover, and regardless of what anyone’s comments are on here, no one can argue your truth. 🥰🥰💕

congratulations to your life back!!!!!! I'm sure we all have lost so many due to addiction. we're lucky to make it out alive!

Herion basically took all my best friends away from me ! now i actually feel I'm the one paying for it . I wouldn't touch that stuff in a million years, sad times people sad times

i'm currently 4 days clean from my year and a half addiction to dope. i was lucky enough to get into a suboxone clinic and i'm currently waiting to get into an inpatient treatment

God bless you, protect you and give you comfort, strength and peace. So proud of you!! So glad you made it to the other side!! Very inspirational testimony!!

If you are reading this, just know you are loved, strong enough to get/stay clean, and I believe in you. You got this! ❤️

I have been struggling with addiction, I’m in early stage and I wanna quit, I have lost countless nights and lost the love of my life this has cost me a lot of things. I’m desperately trying and alone in this journey. I just pray if there’s anyone who’s struggling like me I hope the god gives you strength to overcome this addiction and see what life has in store for you. ❤️ Peace ✌️ ☮️

So happy for you! Thanks for sharing your story! I have been clean and sober for 10 years now after a 10 year battle. I try to tell my story in hopes that it could help someone as well

erase the Shame...She s My Friend. .thxs Crystal for that Powerful Lead.

Thanks a million christol for sharing your story with me i needed to hear this God bless u so proud of u ❤

so happy to be given chance to listen to your story. its strong and heart felt, thr courage u have to speak the way you do is incredible. hope your still doing well and life is giving you everything you deserve:)

How courageous! Thank you for posting!

Thankyou for sharing.. needed to watch this glad I did.

Thanks for the share Crystal Oertle . From my point of view , the point that most of the negative comments are missing it's at 7min 20 -to- 7min30...It's all about the feeling of shame ! and it's all arround the comments down this page in almost every single example. I learned that the feeling of shame desable you to learn and it shots down the part of your brain that allows you to grow and opens up the survival pathwaves..(proven by many studies and FMRI) It doesn't work ! Shame is universal , we all feel it..how many times I though that i'm not good enough, I'm not OK , I'm not living this life right. I thought that , that way of thinking , will end up making me feel better , that it would help me realize something , bring some improvement. But literally, physiologically , it releases cortisol and normethanephrin, and it robes the brain of the energies that needs to do the work.. All I was doing is judging my self , beating my self and putting my self in survival mode , and then trying not look at it at all...by hiding it deep down inside. So as soon as Miss.Oertle realized that , and got rid of it , there was much more space for hope and kindness or call it how you want , but she filled her thoughts more constructivly with all that extra energie she had , since shame wasn't playing a part in her thoughts. (sorry , my english is a bit rusty )

You lucky you got ur family to support you , there is many people has no support or someone to hold them when they need😢 , good bless you and your family ❤️

Good luck to you & your family Crystal xx

Thank you.. I've been clean now over 1year. Hardest thing I did. Well done to you also. Yes the shame is one factor for not reaching out. X.

Well done Crystal ! Ignore the haters

"When I was about 20 years old somebody offered me a vicodin, and I took it, and I liked it" LIKED IT was an understatement for me. I LOVED IT. I thought I had finally found a solution for my depression and anxiety. What is this amazing pill that takes away all that pain and offers such joy?! It was all downhill from my first tramadol pills. I LOVED THEM. If it wasn't for tolerance buildup I'd still be using them.

samantha she is licking her lips due to dry mouth from whatever she is on, suboxone, methadone, whatever. She said only "about" 7 months ago her grandmother came to her then she magically quit using? trust me as a addict myself it does not happen like that and is not that easy or everybody would stop and they would close about half the u.s prisons and rehabs. how did she get to share her story in 6 months of recovery? as a member in aa we can't share our story's until we have at least a year sober because anytime before that your brain is still wired to drugs and the percentage of relapse is so high. after 12 years of using there is no way she just stopped without at least an inpatient treatment for at least a year. I am sober for 3 years and I was in treatment for 14 months. the obsession to use didn't go away for me for about 6 months and I was in no way the right mind for at least a year. I am still learning everyday how to live sober. I hate that she is telling her story when she has only 6 months of clean time after 12 years of using with no treatment? I would like to know her magical ways to recover so fast from herion after 12 years of use. your brain is completely rewired and it take years to transform into somewhat normal again

Thank you for this great video!

Hi guys .. 2 year geroin addict ... 3 years clean .never gone back

My poor father I wish he knew how much I loved him. I was angry at the time because I was so young and blamed everything on him but it’s nobody fault. I wish he was still here if I knew what I knew today I could’ve helped him. So im going to take that pain and help others. I want and need others to overcome their addictions. To me everyone is somebodies child everyone was once a baby. Why not be supportive of people in need. I understand the pain it cause others but just imagine the war they have going on inside. It just makes me cry because people can be so mean and people who are struggling with addiction don’t need that. (My dad and other people did not choose to have an addiction. They became victims)

She looks a lot like my mother. So similar that it was a little scary. I don't speak to her much any more, but sometimes in life you're reminded of how far some parents can fall, and I feel grateful that mine never went that far down...

I liked your blog. It is informative too, at the same time. Thanks a lot for your guidance!

If theres anybody out there who chooses to take drugs because they feel that they have challenges and mental illness in their lives, know that hiding behind the drugs will not help u overcome challenges. U need to face these challenges urself, drugs will not make it any easier.

Thanks for posting!

I’m trying to kick the habit myself, through meds and motivation. I’m making progress within myself, and I feel that I really do have a chance

I wish she wouldve started off without taking a shot at herself. I hope her sobriety helps fuel her confidence and self esteem! Crystal if your reading this comment; Smile you are beautiful, intelligent and worth fighting for. Keep on moving forward i wish you nothing but success!!

I am currently in recovery myself. If I can do this anyone can, I sincerely mean that. Please find it in yourself to stay strong and just do it. To the person reading this that may need that help just know you really CAN do it! The quality of your life will improve ten fold. Don't be ashamed for what has been, be great full that your still on this Earth and you GET to put yourself into recovery. You CAN do it! I was able to use about seven Suboxone to get myself off with a short term taper method I figured out myself. PLEASE do NOT let a doctor get you hooked on Suboxone, that kick will be worse than anything you'll go through. Please feel free to message me or reply here and we can talk and discuss how you can taper down and what not. I'm here to help, don't be embarrassed or ashamed of anything! We're humans, were not perfect by any means.

no one knows the truth of what we went through, it is our job to educate other people not to fall into the trap of drugs, my lover died, but I am still getting methadone treatment, I am safe

Hope you gonna make it!

I needed this thank you

Thanks for your story it motivates me

If you love someone who is addicted get naloxone if its available in your area. Google your local health department they can tell you where to go. If naloxone is not available to you there is an angel named Tracey Helton who sends naloxone care packages, you can find her easily thru a google search. When you shut people out they often die. Everyone matters, every one of us means the world to someone else. Save a life! When you save a life you save more than 1, it extends to those that love that person.

I’ve been sober for 2 years and while I feel proud, I also feel like I fell so far behind in life. I feel impatient to now have a blooming career, a house, stable finances, etc. I really struggle starting over and being patient

I wish you well in your attempt to lead a drug free life this day forward, and you don't have to battle your addiction alone.

I needed to see this

I prefer during leads when the speaker focuses on more of the recovery aspect not the using. I feel its more beneficial for me to hear how someone got clean and the benefits of a life in recovery not just "war stories". Also in AA and NA you cant give a lead unless you have at least 12 months clean.

45 days off the needle. I don’t want to go back.

If u havnt got anything nice to say then dont say anything at all!!!!

Yeah this Ted Talks wasn't what I expected. Just a woman telling her story and not really explaining how she actually recovered. Anyway, props to her and all other addicts in recovery & even those actively in addiction, may God bless you all & guide you to recovery and better lives

Very courageous of this lady doing this. Congrats on quitting. All the best!

Pills are non existent now, the rise in heroin usage and overdosing is directly correlated to doctors not prescribing opiates anymore. At least with prescriptions you know the exact dosage and the drug your taking unlike heroin so we had no choice to switch to dope.

Iv been a herion addiction for 20 years at November I stopped and I felt like I didn't want it any more every day I got up.i didn't want it. Then last week something I my head said I wanted it and sadly now I'm back on it all because I feel alone in life and now my family want me out of the home I don't know what to do I have cravings all the time.

Thank you!

I have a 10 year addiction to something different but i still can't get over it :(

you deserve a medal , lass

I was into ecstasy for a little while. Not heroin ever but I was told once that some of the stuff I was doing had some heroine in it.. weird stuff- all of it. Good luck to you

Did she just say 7months ago?? How is that making it to the other side? I have over a year clean and I'm still in the trenches, fighting inch by inch to the "other side". I mean, good for her. That's great, and amazing that shes in Recovery and cleaning up... but this didn't have much impact on me- she talked about her addiction, but what did she mention much about after that? That's what will help people, then "then what...". people know about the trenches, what they need is the knowledge of the other side and what it takes to stay there. I've heard worst than her... I've seen worst than her... heck, I DID worst than her. What keeps me on the "otherside" isn't the 12 steps (now, it was in the beginning), it isn't will power (sometimes; it is A LOT of the time- now that in clean and able to choose THAT again, I wasn't before), and it isn't god or a higher power as far as I know. It's the belief and faith I have that what my life can be, is better than nothing at all... I craved for years to die, for it to all just stop and leave me alone.. but once i had a glimpse into what my life could be, right around the corner with a little work, I decided to actually go for it. Knowing your life could be better, and believing your life can be better are two separate things.

So much respect 🙌 to you for sharing your story to help others heal. 🦋 It's a true calling. I absolutely found my purpose in telling my story of borderline death ☠️ and life implosion 🤯 to healing my brain and body to get my life back! Much luv! 🕉 You can heal!

amazing keep going sister!!! god bless

Support is necessary for recovery. Whether it be from family or a support group like AA.

A very brave lady.well done

Takes guts to admit you have a problem. Proud of her

I love you Crystal your an amazing councilor and person...

I hope you made on your journey. I know the pain

Your story is like mine being a addict but my family and wife had enough, turned the page except my children. I have to start with a n/a family but can not be ashamed anymore, that guilt will make me use!!

You can do this! I just come of methadone it's hard withdrawals but very do able! Best thing I've ever done❤️❤️🥰

Is she high or nervous ? She sounds like it’s in her system

You waited an hour car journey to get back before you used? I just don’t understand how that’s possible driving all that way with your bits in your pocket must have taken a lot of self control so maybe you never lost sight of the need to get clean. I never did and I went cold turkey 24 days ago. I have never met anyone round my area who’s ever done it that way. I really hope that you are doing alright now as it’s a few years down the line. I need guidance I’m lost with no direction thank you

I pray to god that staying sober does make life get better....

Really good public speaking skills for only 7 months clean. Good job

I used to be a drug addict for years recovered with help through treatment programs. I went to jail for a DUI years after I started recovery and walked out with the jail C.O.'s blasting radar with policemen here. They blast a lot of people but it's apparent they are severely disturbed in everyway. I never knew what this was or heard of it. Now I know they can play a frequency and blast people with it for nothing.

6/7months is not long enough to giving talks!! It’s great that she’s in recovery but you still ain’t worked thru 1% at 6months.. she’s newly clean basically (which is great) but need a few years to have a recovery story!

inspirational

to Samantha Rumbolo, i must admit she does sound high when say gives her talk.

Drug abuse never discriminates- Words from a Relative of mine

when getting clean time don't matter we all only have today and that's all we have to do stay clean today

thank u

Amazing talk!!!!!

We are the ones who wants to play this game of no winners. Due to the feeling we get we keep on playing the game but we never want to lose. Even though Game of No Winners has no winners in its name. This lady is not clean. She is on a substitute or still in active addiction I can hear it in her voice. She is managing the addiction but it will not last. Opiate addicts with a multiple year of using do not try to stay abstinent. Get on methadone before you die. And people with less than multiple year usage, never ever go on methadone. Two years and up ( methadone) Less than two years ( dont go on methadone maintenance) And again this lady on TED is not clean. I wish all the best for her

Good job!

Very sad story but I don't think it's significant enough to be a TedX

Well done girl.

BOHDI* Thank you for sharing....:) *

Seven months being clean.....its a start, lets hear from you after 20 years of be clean and see how you are doing.

It took me months to get the front to ask my father for help. so I told him and he abandoned me..

How many months dry ? she started a speech on podium.. Also note that 7 months dry is not a complete sobriety

Blessed very blessed

she says she 'was' a heroin addict.Thinking like this will lead her back to the needle. She 'was' no heroin addict. She IS a heroin addict. Not a junkie (anymore) but still an addict.

Wish it focused more on recovery

We even don't know how our generation rapidly going into Addiction. Students took stimulants in higher rate. Even we don't know what type of things students use...Nail paint removet, thinner, kerosine oil and many more things..

Is she still alive?

A very BRAVE YOUNG MAN OLDER NOW

How is fentanyl recovery going? Is it as bad as the dope or do people fear the fentanyl more? Are they able to stop using easier?

My bf has been doing through a addiction and he wants to get out but can't please do give me advice to how can i help him to.fight this