Just Show Up

Just Show Up

What can we learn from those who have battled addiction? Horizon Heart to Heart’s "Just Show Up" centres on one simple but powerful idea: reaching out is often the hardest step, and also the most important. Host Christina Pearl talks with Crystal Powers, Director of Operations for Horizon’s mental health services, who has spent over a decade working with people facing depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and everyday life transitions.

Crystal shares her view that "recovery really means freedom… freedom from the things that grip you," whether that’s mental health symptoms or substance use. You’ll hear how stigma keeps many people silent, and how symptoms like isolation, irritability, fatigue, sleep problems and anxiety can trick someone into thinking they’re alone or just "not themselves" rather than recognising a treatable condition. Crystal stresses that you don’t need perfect words or a clear diagnosis to ask for help.

As she puts it, quoting Brené Brown, "sometimes the bravest and the most important thing you can do is just show up." The conversation is especially useful if you’re unsure where to start. Crystal talks about choosing services that fit your values, asking for a clinician whose age, background or style feels right, and why feeling comfortable enough to be open and honest is key to getting meaningful support.

Parents of teens and young adults are likely to pay close attention to the part about school-based support, with clinicians working directly in local schools to make help easier to access. Throughout, there’s a strong emphasis on community: connection as an antidote to depression, anxiety and the urge to use substances.

If you’ve been wondering whether what you or a loved one are going through "is serious enough" to warrant help, this conversation gently suggests that simply reaching out and showing up is more than enough. What might change for you if you just took that first step?