Parham Nematollah: Prenatal Bomb Shelters and AnxietyParham Nematollah: Prenatal Bomb Shelters and Anxiety
The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast
Parham Nematollah grew up in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war where he lived through frequent bombings that sent his whole family fleeing for safety. At 16 he moved back to the US for good but the constant change caused him to feel outside of both cultures and desperate to fit in by any means necessary. His anxiety (rooted in the early trauma of war) and the desire to fit in, caused him to start using alcohol and cocaine to deal with it all. At 25 he overdosed and finally found sobriety while sitting across from his sick mother who happened to be at the same hospital for treatment. He wondered what she did to deserve her sickness and what he was doing to her.
58:02•5 Jul 2022
Parham Nematollah: From War-Torn Childhood to Sobriety
“I do believe to my core that there's certain things that my father actually didn't know how to do, but that's even okay.”
Imagine growing up amid the chaos of war, where bomb shelters are as familiar as playgrounds. Parham Nematollah's childhood in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war was marked by frequent bombings and constant upheaval. This early trauma, coupled with the stress of moving back and forth between Iran and the US, left him grappling with anxiety and a desperate need to fit in. By age 16, Parham had permanently relocated to the US, but the cultural dissonance only intensified his struggles.
Turning to alcohol and cocaine as coping mechanisms, he hit rock bottom at 25 when he overdosed. This life-altering moment occurred while his mother was in the same hospital for treatment, prompting Parham to question his life choices and their impact on his family. In this episode of 'The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast', Parham opens up about his journey from a war-torn childhood to finding sobriety.
He shares how he transformed his life, becoming a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor and earning a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Parham's story is a poignant reminder of how intergenerational trauma can shape lives and how compassion and communication can pave the way for healing. His experiences highlight the importance of understanding and breaking multi-generational patterns of dysfunction.
Tune in to hear Parham's inspiring tale of resilience and recovery, offering hope and insights for anyone navigating similar struggles.
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