 Hey, weirdos on Facebook. I have never done a live Facebook video before but I thought I'd use this as an opportunity to do so and also Because I wanted to share something with you. I'm going to put this in tonight's podcast But this is so important I think just by itself that I wanted to share it with you in a separate video Which I might be able to share later on on YouTube and and share this elsewhere But here's the here's the email I received from Lindsay. She says First of all, love the show. It really connects with me I've long held to believe that the world is so much greater and so much stranger than many of us realize And I love hearing about others experiences in that area That said my reason for writing today is actually to express my appreciation for your approach to mental health issues Specifically depression but also addiction. I've suffered from both as is all too common I found that substance abuse was the only cure for my immovable feelings of hopelessness and despair With help though, I've been clean for three and a half years now I'm doing well though I have long since accepted that this is something I will struggle with for the rest of my life However, prior to the last three and a half years, I spent a decade of my life addicted to drugs. I'm only 28 now The last two years of that were spent using literally anything I could to numb myself through opiates Though opiates were my main addiction as a result I was injecting heroin every day my survival through that dark time was something like a miracle In fact, I was barely revived by paramedics after an overdose though. That's a story for another time Unfortunately over the years. I've lost several dear friends that were not so lucky. I Write all of this not for shock value or sympathy But in an attempt to convey how much I appreciate your understanding of issues like these as well as the message of hope you deliver Years ago. I saw no other path or future for myself. I couldn't imagine my life any other way in addition I was crushed by the shame and secrecy of my situation and felt that no one could possibly Understand or accept my day-to-day existence. I would not wish those feelings On anyone but sadly there are many who know that state of mind all too well I cannot express how much it means to me to hear you trying to get through to people who need help and It's such a compassionate and understanding way. I can only hope it'll make the path out of the darkness easier to follow for those Who hear thank you is not enough and please keep doing what you're doing signed Lindsay What an amazing email, right? Lindsay it took me a few brain cells to figure out how to reply to this What an amazing email. I am both grateful that you found help Also sad though that you had to go through all of that in the first place It's it's cliche for people to say, you know What only what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger and I'm not really sure that I buy into that But I will say that God can use what you've been through To help others. I don't know where you're where you live in in your spiritual life, but I mean you've been through this All right, you found help And while it is a daily struggle and you admit that that in itself is a victory Don't be surprised if someday soon if it's if it hasn't already happened somebody's gonna come into your life and Need the exact advice from somebody like you who has been there and can hold their hand in the next step towards recovery So thank you for this beautiful email. It shows how much Organizations like iFRED and the the national suicide prevention hotline How much they're needed how important they are? This world's a lot darker than some people want to admit, but on the flip side It's also a lot brighter than many realize if they would just find a way to be lifted out of the darkness and Hopefully your email will do that today Thanks, Lindsay