I was high-functioning, dealing with substance use and running a team of 70 people, while working as an accountant in charge of monthly revenue reporting for a publicly listed company.

Within three months of taking my first hit of cocaine, I became addicted, taking out loans to cover the cost of my habit. I would start the day with two lines, come home and do two lines, then drink myself into a black out. I would wake up the next day and repeat. This went on for five years.

I had a few years of abstinence. Then a relapse following an argument at work sent me completely manic and I was fired.

I sat on my kitchen floor at 4am one morning, after two hospital stays and a suicide attempt. I realised my life was going in two directions: jail or death. And I realised I didn’t want to die.

I reached out to people I had isolated myself from and they agreed to help me. I still don’t know why.

There is a lot more to this story, but as of today I am two years into my recovery and working as a lived experience peer worker. I am so proud of myself and who I am today.