Katrina King joins us on The SHAIR Podcast today. Katrina contributed to an interview for the FBI's documentary on opiate abuse, "Chasing the Dragon" and has been interviewed for several other podcasts and articles on addiction awareness and recovery. She is currently working hard at completing her first book, a memoir on her family's tragic experiences with drug abuse, and is attempting to return to school to become a certified addictions counselor.
The obstacles are many, yet she remains determined and undeterred to personally reach out and make a difference in the lives of youth in emotional pain and despair due to depression, abuse, and drug addiction. She continues to battle her own demons while adjusting to life as a mother who's lost a child and as a felon. However, giving up is not an option. Katrina has an adult son who is currently attending college to be a robotics engineer.
What is your normal daily routine including this movement that you've started Kirstyn's Story?
Katrina: Okay. Well, I'm in a relationship now, have been for a couple years. I actually do quite a bit of work with his marketing for his business and handling the calls/inbound calls regarding the maintenance of ongoing administrative related task on that end. Then I would say the majority of my time is spent basically networking not just with Kirstyn's Story, but also working on a memoir...
I've been working on for some time and also networking with other addiction-focused and recovery-focused groups, mothers who've lost children, that sort of thing. It's a passion of mine. I pretty much from the moment I wake up till I go to sleep - it would be all hours of the night actually - I'm looking for ways to have some sort of effect, whether if it's on a one-on-one basis or with a way that I could figure out on how to change laws and things like that.
Omar: Absolutely. Now on a day-to-day basis, there's a few things at least for me and for other people that need a routine to maintain our sobriety.
What is your regular routine to maintain your sobriety?
Katrina: What I do is I focus on other people. I chose to do this stuff not to become a hero. I'm not in promoting this awareness and promoting just Kirstyn's Story or my story or whatever for that purpose. I do it to give back because if I'm focusing on other people, I'm not focusing on myself. If I'm not focusing on myself, I don't feel the pain. If I don't feel the pain, then I don't feel the need, so if that makes any sense.