Edwin Young's Escape: From Isolation to Online Sobriety
Episode Overview
Edwin's upbringing in the Jehovah's Witness community and the challenges he faced The impact of leaving the community and losing his support system Edwin's coping mechanisms and struggles, including heavy drinking How Edwin found sobriety through Lion Rock Recovery's online treatment The importance of community support and connection in Edwin's recovery journey
I knew something was wrong with the picture. It just doesn't seem like love to me. So when I was 10, they were already grooming me. The only way that you could commit yourself to God was to commit to the organization. You couldn't do one without the other. The reason I use the Truman show as an example is all my friends, everything all had to do with people that were in the pain.
Imagine growing up in a tight-knit community only to be completely cut off from it overnight. That's what happened to Edwin Young. Raised within the Jehovah’s Witness community, Edwin was an Elder by the age of 20, deeply entrenched in its inner workings. But behind the scenes, he witnessed corruption that left him conflicted.
The final blow came with the tragic death of a friend linked to the church, prompting Edwin to leave the community—and lose everyone he loved in the process. Struggling with the pain of isolation, Edwin turned to alcohol, leading to a two-decade-long battle with addiction. His story could have ended there, but Edwin found a lifeline through Lionrock Recovery’s online treatment program.
In this episode of 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast', Edwin opens up about his journey from despair to hope. He shares how he found a new sense of belonging in an online community that offered the support he had always craved. Now sober and working on a book about his experiences, Edwin is dedicated to helping others find their own paths to healing.
Whether you’re grappling with addiction or supporting someone who is, Edwin’s story is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible, even after the darkest of times.