"My Parents Died from Opiate Addiction - This Is How I Turned Grief Into Purpose" | Lauren Sisler

The Adversity Advantage with Doug Bopst

Lauren Sisler is an Emmy Award-winning ESPN sideline reporter whose inspiring journey of resilience highlights the power of falling in love with your story. At just 18, while most kids are finding their independence and enjoying college life, Lauren was faced with the unimaginable: the sudden and unexpected loss of both parents to prescription drug addiction. Their deaths, coupled with the shocking revelation of their hidden addiction, left her grappling with profound grief and unanswered questions. Despite this, Lauren carved a path for herself first as an NCAA gymnast and now as a much-loved voice on the sidelines of college football's biggest games, known by ESPN viewers for her viral "sideline shimmy." However, behind her success was a woman who hadn't yet confronted the deep-seated trauma of her past.

Today on the show we discuss: the tragic loss of her parents to opiate addiction, unpacking Lauren's childhood and her parents hidden drug addiction, the grieving process and how she healed, how Lauren overcame shame and started sharing her story, how she processed complex emotions, the one question she would ask her parents today and much more.

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If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.

If you do not have a health professional who is able to assist you, use these resources to find help:

Emergency Medical Services—911

If the situation is potentially life-threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911, available 24 hours a day.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

SAMHSA addiction and mental health treatment Referral Helpline, 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) and https://www.samhsa.gov

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