Part one of a two-part conversation with guest Julie Schouest and host Paul from Jesus Loves Addicts. Julie rawly recounts a childhood marked by divorce, conflicting parental expectations, shame and feeling unseen — and how those wounds steered her into early substance use, risky relationships, and escalating drug use through adolescence and young adulthood. The episode covers early experimentation (inhalants, alcohol, marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, pills), boundary and authority issues, school expulsion, sex as a way to be remembered, the introduction to meth and other hard drugs, relationship dynamics, legal trouble, and job loss. Paul and Julie examine the roots of addiction: seeking approval, the pull of familiarity, and how loose or harsh boundaries shaped her path. Julie also opens up about recovery and faith — her turn toward Christ, the role of faith-based recovery (including the Home of Grace), and practical takeaways about stigma, grace, and hope. Expect an honest, unfiltered story of failure and redemption aimed at listeners looking for understanding, encouragement, and real talk about recovery.