In this episode of the Recovery Toolkit Podcast, we’re joined by Ben Howard for the first of two conversations about his recovery journey. Ben shares how his turning point came when he met others who had been through similar struggles and were now smiling, laughing and living life again. It gave him hope that there could be a way through.   With support from his family, Ben began to take small but meaningful steps. Getting dressed each morning, eating three meals a day and finding gratitude in simple routines. He reached out for help through the gambling harms sector, including joining an EPIC Restart programme, and learned that recovery is never straightforward. It takes self-awareness and a willingness to work on yourself first.   Ben also talks about the importance of purpose. How becoming a Peer Support made him feel seen for the first time in a long time, and how he focused on learning, growing and building towards a better future. But his progress was shadowed as he awaited a court date, which eventually led to a prison sentence. Here, Ben speaks honestly about the challenges of serving time, the lack of support for people with gambling harm, and how tools like journaling and gratitude helped him keep moving forward.   This is part one of Ben’s powerful story of recovery, resilience and the need for change in the system.