Lived experience of addiction - Recovery through the lens of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs

To quote Gabor Maté, it's not “why the addiction, it's why the pain?” This question would have helped me a lot when I was in active addiction. After all, for me, using my drug of choice was a way of escaping reality, numbing my intolerable feelings, and surviving the unimaginable. Maslow's hierarchy of needs has been a long admired theory, with its applications still relevant today.

To demonstrate, I will share how leaving a violent relationship, securing suitable housing, and financial stability were the first steps in achieving sobriety. My presentation will take you on a journey, sharing how addiction impacted every aspect of my life for 5 years; work, education, relationships, mental and physical health, and my self-esteem. I will also emphasise the importance of peer support, therapy, and compassion in helping individuals achieve recovery - and maintain it.

Nikki Mattocks has had a significant impact through using her lived experience of trauma, distress and mental health issues to educate, inform and inspire. Since the age of 16, she has been sharing her story in the media, at universities, even internationally at the European Parliament and with the World Health Organization. She is also the author of 5 books, multiple academic papers, and in her spare time hosts the podcast ‘It Can Happen To Anyone’. Ultimately, her goal is to help others feel less alone.