#140 – George Brooks: Metta Association

#140 – George Brooks: Metta Association

Curious about how others handle their sobriety journey? This conversation between host Brett Morris and guest George Brooks goes straight into the messy mix of mental illness, addiction, family, and faith with refreshing honesty and a bit of dry humour. George, CEO of The Metta Association, shares what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder, PTSD and DID from the age of seven, while facing childhood obesity, abuse, poverty, a traumatic divorce and an eight‑year cocaine addiction.

He doesn’t sugar-coat it: “Addiction is nothing but a response to unresolved trauma,” he says, explaining how drugs became self-medication for pain he hadn’t faced. You’ll hear George break down why he had to tackle his mental health before his drug use, and why recovery only stuck once he accepted that “addiction is a choice” and took full accountability for each step in the process.

He talks about the grind of finding the right meds, sticking with therapy, and how faith, medication and talk therapy became his three pillars. A big part of the chat centres on stigma, especially as a Black man. George talks about cultural mistrust of medication and the idea that mental illness is “a white man’s problem”, along with the pressure on men to be tough and silent.

He and Brett swap stories about how that “be a man” upbringing makes it harder to ask for help or say, “It’s okay to say you’re not okay.” George also describes parenting a bipolar son, starting Metta Association to support people affected by mental illness and addiction, and why men going through divorce badly need support too. The tone is candid and down-to-earth, aimed at anyone dealing with addiction, mental health issues, or loving someone who is.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your pain could be turned into purpose, this chat might get you thinking about your next brave step.