THE UNLOVEABLES
Overcoming Addiction, Chronic Illness, and Shame
47 M
Have substance
use disorder*
94%
Do NOT receive treatment*
12.3 M
Have serious thoughts of suicide*
50%
Have one or more chronic illnesses**
Source: *Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2021 and the **Centers for Disease Control, 2019
MY STORY
The Unloveables: Overcoming Chronic Illness, Addiction, and Shame is about the exigent factors that contributed to my proverbial bottom but are not often talked about in South Asian and BIPOC communities: the genetics of addiction; the trauma of immigration and discrimination; and the deadly desire to assimilate, to fold one’s inconvenient culture and identity away for the sole purpose of being accepted by mainstream American society. The Unloveables is a comeback story, though it speaks honestly of the alphabet of chronic illnesses, mental illnesses, and addictions I overcame in the last two and a half years. Ultimately, it is a story of acceptance, surrender, redemption, and self-love.
YOUR STORY
The Unloveables is about ordinary people who have overcome extraordinary challenges and how they did it. It is named for the crippling feelings of unworthiness, self-loathing, and shame that many with substance use disorder identify as part of the pathology of the disease. It is a hybrid format podcast (narrative and interview) and begins with several episodes dedicated to sharing Preeti’s story. Guests also include experts on the psychology of trauma, autoimmune disease, addiction, mental health, and wellness. The premise is that few escape this life without major challenges, yet we often do not know our neighbors or their stories. The Unloveables podcast seeks to create community through storytelling and educating the public on critical, timely, and stigmatized social issues.
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