{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Dakota Mortensen | Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Star, My Journey from Pain Pills to Purpose","description":"Imagine going from a college\u2011bound basketball star to stealing change jars just to stay high. That\u2019s the raw path Dakota Mortensen opens up about in this candid conversation. Growing up on a bird farm with a tight\u2011knit Mormon family and a deep love for sports, he never imagined that a knee injury would introduce him to pain pills\u2014or that popping a couple to get through practice would snowball into snorting pills, moving to 30\u2011milligram \u201cblues,\u201d and eventually chasing heroin. Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https:\/\/recovery.com\/ Dakota recounts how his parents discovered his stash, how he tried to hide his addiction behind a \u201cjock\u201d persona, and how his high\u2011school sweetheart\u2014later his wife\u2014walked out after catching him smoking heroin. He talks about overdosing in front of her and the shame and emptiness that followed. When she left, he hit rock bottom. Yet he also describes the paradox of feeling \u201cfree\u201d when he didn\u2019t care about anything, even as his life spiraled. Through multiple relapses, treatment centers and hard\u2011won moments of clarity, Dakota ultimately chose recovery. He shares the emotions addicts often suppress, why community and family support mattered, and how he uses his platform today to advocate for opioid addiction recovery, fentanyl awareness and mental health. If you\u2019ve ever wondered what it\u2019s really like to claw your way back from addiction, this story pulls no punches while showing that sobriety is possible. Stick around to hear how he stays sober, builds community and helps others find hope\u2014and don\u2019t forget to subscribe, leave a comment with your own questions, and share this story with someone who needs it. \u23f1\ufe0f Chapters: 00:00 \u2013 Welcome & Dakota\u2019s mission 01:05 \u2013 Bird\u2011Farm Childhood & Basketball Dreams 03:30 \u2013 Knee Injury & Pain\u2011Pill Gateway 05:40 \u2013 Snorting Pills & Teenage Experimentation 07:50 \u2013 Denial, Warnings & Family Intervention 10:00 \u2013 Losing Basketball & Sliding to Stronger Drugs 13:15 \u2013 Marriage, Overdose & Dual Lives 18:07 \u2013 Rock Bottom: She Leaves & Self\u2011Hatred 20:30 \u2013 Emotions, Numbness & Illusion of Control 23:00 \u2013 Choosing Recovery & Becoming an Advocate \u2753 Questions the Video Answers: How can a seemingly harmless sports injury lead to opioid addiction? What are early signs of opioid addiction in a high\u2011school athlete? How did snorting pills accelerate Dakota\u2019s addiction? How do parents handle finding pain pills in their child\u2019s pocket? What happens when addiction strips away a lifelong passion like basketball? How can addiction impact a marriage and cause a loved one to leave? Why do some people feel \u201cin control\u201d even while their addiction is ruining everything? What triggers finally push someone from denial to seeking help? How does self\u2011hatred and shame feed into the cycle of relapse? What role do community and family support play in opioid addiction recovery? How do you rebuild trust and self\u2011worth during a mental health recovery journey? What does daily life look like for someone several years sober? How can sharing your story inspire others to seek mental health treatment? Why is it important to address both emotional pain and physical dependence in recovery? What actionable steps can someone take today if they\u2019re struggling with fentanyl addiction? #addictionrecovery #mentalhealth #sobriety ","author_name":"Recoverycast: Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Stories","author_url":"https:\/\/www.buzzsprout.com\/2465151","html":"