TRIGGER WARNING: Sexual abuse, addiction, bullying
Since opening the doors to the world for our Selfling Stories, we have received quite a huge and very positive response. It has turned into a new full time job, documenting the stories told to us by courageous people, but one that we are taking on gladly.
What you will notice as a recurring theme among the Selfling Stories is stories of recovery from abuse, trauma, and as well from addiction. Substance abuse is a HUGE go to for people suffering from any mental illness ranging from PTSD to depression. Sadly, not all the addictions people end up fighting are with illegal drugs. Alcohol still is one of the biggest and most devastating of addictive substances and it isn’t slowing down.
In our third Selfling Story and first video interview, we talk to a wonderful guy about the hurdles he has climbed to kick his addictions – to alcohol and illicit drugs – and how he got into that situation in the first place.
Mike Loughman, founder of Surrender 2 Sobriety, has made it his life’s mission to be present and receptive for others fighting addiction and he is not shy about talking at length about what he has gone through.
At the age of 12, Mike Loughman was sexually abused by two other students from a nearby high school. They exploited him by telling him the abuse would make kids stop bullying him. Well it didn’t.
Mike turned to dealing drugs as a way to make the kids like him and that gave him plenty of access to begin using.
As Mike tells us, a list of mental illness diagnoses played no small part to the complications he experienced growing up and drinking and drugs was the easiest way to deal with them at the time. He would stay up for days, party constantly, fight, saw friends killed, saw friends kill other friends, all in an endless spiral of drug and alcohol fueled madness.
As you will see in our interview with Mike, the real battle began when the frenzy nearly killed him. Luckily, Mike was strong enough to decide enough was enough. Not many people spiraling that far down are strong enough to do that.
Mike also thanks comedy, poetry, rap, and the way rhyming electrifies him, for keeping him on his path. Mike performs regular poetry slams and raps at various events in Calgary and Airdrie and he is a natural. He is also beginning a new branch of performance in stand up comedy. His rhymes cover topics ranging from addictions, recovery, mental illness, to current events and other relevant topics. Hit the link below the video to catch up with him and see where he is next performing.
Today Mike is a huge spokesperson for sober living. He thanks his sobriety – 30 months! – for giving him a new lease on life and is taking full advantage of it. You can catch up with Mike and his friends on Facebook as they begin a brand new way to party: Sober Takeover. The goal in this movement is to eventually have a booze free nightclub but currently they take to a new club once a month where no booze is served at all… and people LOVE IT! Loud music. All your friends. No headache the next day!
Mike’s own enterprise, Surrender 2 Sobriety, is his way of affecting positive change for other recovering addicts. Effectively becoming a kind of enhanced sponsor/counselor hybrid, Mike serves to be there to talk and engage with those recovering addicts that might be more isolated or afraid to come out to their loved ones.
Without further ado, we would like to present to you our full length interview with Mike now. Remember, if the themes are too heavy for you, just turn the video off for awhile. If you need support resources or someone to talk to, whether you’re a youth or not, reach out and we’ll help you find the right agency.
You can find Mike on Facebook as he launches his Surrender 2 Sobriety line and posts regular poetry slams and live rap recordings around Calgary and Airdrie.
Do You Have a Story to Share?
We have just launched the Tell Us Your Selfling Story page to let you tell your story. Talking it out helps in recovery and it also helps others to know that they aren’t the only ones dealing with a thing. You can help yourself get to the next step while also helping someone else!
