Grief, Addiction & the Fight to Feel Again

Did you know that roughly 50% of people will experience the sudden death of someone close to them in their lifetime? The impact of that kind of loss is real—and for many young adults, it hits during a season when life is already heavy.

In this emotional and powerful episode of Mental, we meet Emily, a standout athlete at the University of Maryland whose world is turned upside down after the tragic death of her younger brother and best friend, Jake.

What started as a single pill to quiet the pain slowly spiraled into a dependence that cost her the one thing she thought she’d always have—lacrosse.

This story isn’t about perfection. It’s about pain, recovery, and the unexpected strength that comes from asking for help. Because healing doesn’t start when things feel easy—it starts when we stop pretending we’re okay and start reaching for what we need.

📍 This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt lost after loss.