April 2, 2020 By Deiona Monroe Leave a Comment

Social media has grown to be one of the most influential platforms. With their creativity, people are able to tell the stories of their lives and connect with others whose backgrounds are similar to theirs. Through social media, people are able to see that they aren’t as alone in life as they may feel to be. One individual who utilizes social media platforms, such as YouTube and Twitter, to engage with and inspire tons of people is a creator named Margo.

Through her platforms, Margo shares her struggles with addiction, road to recovery and educates her audience as they proceed to transform their lives completely by striving for sobriety. Luckily, we were able to connect with this creator and dive deeper into the work she does and her life of discovered sobriety.

Soberocity [S]: Did you ever think that you would be doing the work you’re currently doing?

Margo [M]: Oh, not in a million years. I came onto this platform not knowing anything whatsoever about being a creator on it or running a channel, much less a set direction I wanted to go in. I was just a girl with a camera and probably too much time on my hands.

[S]: How much has your life changed since you’ve decided to get and stay sober?

[M]: In every aspect possible. Mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. It changed the entire course of my life and put everything into perspective in a way I never seen things before, more specifically during the span of my active using.

[S]: If self-love and self-care valuable in the sobriety process? Why or why not?

[M]: It’s infinitely valuable. I cannot emphasize this more. If you can’t love and accept yourself as you are, good or bad, you can’t begin the recovery process successfully. Self-hatred and feeling shame go hand-in-hand with addiction and it’s one of the most important things we have to work through before we can worry about anyone or anything else. It strengthens the foundation you’re rebuilding on and should always remain a priority.

[S]: Do you think that you would’ve obtained sobriety had you not had your son?

[M]: Honestly? I don’t think so. At least not any time soon. After I lost my mom and all stability at 18, I spiraled completely out of control and had no intention of slowing down. I was set on staying numb and nothing was going to get in the way of that, even if it meant getting hurt or overdosing. I was so sick that I thought anything, anywhere has to be better than this because it can’t get worse. I hit rock bottom and grabbed a shovel to dig myself deeper. My son is who saved my life and pulled me out of that hole. Without him, there is no doubt in my mind I wouldn’t have made it this far.

[S]: Is there anything about your past that you wish you could change or have done differently?

[M]: I really don’t think I would change anything. If it meant altering my life to me not having my son, there is nothing I regret that would ever come close to being worth risking that. Ever.

[S]: Through your work, are there any success stories that have truly impacted you?

[M]: More than I can count. Friends, family, so many of my subscribers and followers have shared their remarkable stories in comments, in hundreds of dms I’ve read on twitter or instagram. A very recent example for me is Demi Lovato. She wore her addiction and recovery in the public eye without shame and helped an innumerable amount of people feel a little less alone; a little less ashamed. I don’t know if I would have the strength she has to do that in front of millions and it’s truly an amazing display of recovery being possible no matter what, no matter who is looking or passing judgement.

[S]: What are some or one of the key things that you’ve discovered people need in order to have a successful recovery process?

[M]: Surrender. Entirely. Without that, you can’t be broken down to rebuild. You have to go back to square one and start back at the beginning. You have to reroute your entire thinking process, your habits, your choices, your relationships and how you interact with people and the world around you. You have to acknowledge that you’re lost and need help. Embrace that because I promise it gets better.

[S]: Are you ever questionable or doubtful of the work that you’re doing?

[M]: Never. From the inside out, have completely erased the stigma I put on myself and the humiliation I held onto from myself and others. Those are the things that make you feel like you should be silent and never dare to tell anyone about your struggle. I want to do anything I can to change that misconception and break barriers. I’ll never not use my voice to help anyone I can with the tools and resources I have.

[S]: For those who are just starting their sobriety process, what is one piece of advice you would give to them?

[M]: Relapse doesn’t mean that you’ve failed yourself or are irredeemable. 40-60% of addicts in recovery will relapse and it’s the choices you make afterward that determines your future from then on. Don’t make yourself another statistic. We’re worth so much more than that and we owe it to ourselves and the community to set the bar higher for each other and never stop wanting better. Hang in there, it really does get better. And know that you’re not alone.

The road to recovery and maintaining sobriety can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be lonely. And, though we may fall down 9 times—as Margo has illustrated to us—we will always get back up 10. Let us continue to make sure we are reaching out when we need it, and opening our arms and hearts to others in need. We may not be perfect; it may get messy; but we’re making progress, one step at a time.

“I think a shared experience is phenomenally important especially with another addict, struggling or in active recovery. There is a lot of stigma and shame placed on addiction as a whole and just that alone makes you feel like you’re part of a socially unacceptable, looked down upon group of people that aren’t really seen as people. And being a fellow addict, I know the impact that makes on you and I think it’d be frankly irresponsible to not use my platform to help break down those stigmas and educate as best I can with the experiences and information I have.”

-Margo