The Premier Of Addicted in Discovery Fit and Health

Season Two of Addicted will premier Tuesday August 28 on Discovery Fit and Health at 10pm, and I am asked each day how I am feeling about the day approaching.

Being a part of an award winning TV show was never on my radar, not planned or even dreamed about. 19 years ago, I was hopelessly addicted, homeless, hungry, cold and despairing, wanting to die every second I was alive. Finding recovery at 21, I slowly rebuilt my life, healing my spirit, facing the viscous and haunting memories of the street, made amends and peace with the people I harmed, and began to walk into a future that was uncertain and with sobriety, wide open.

 Intervention is a calling. Great interventionists are not created through studies and training but come from within. Intervention is the art of connecting instantly with addicted individuals, in a way that allows them to come forward and open themselves to the opportunity for change. This is a skill that cannot be taught, it is innate. Intervention is far more than my work, intervention is my calling and it has been an extraordinary way to spend half my life.

Addicted has been a life changing experience. For this addict from the streets, jumping in front of a camera, feeling vulnerable and afraid to expose my work, life and my heart, swallowing hard, standing face forward, chest out, feeling the fear and jumping anyway, has left me with a new sense of courage.  I don’t pay attention to the cameras anymore; they truly fade away as soon as I am in front of the addict and family. Addicted might be a TV show but the work is real, the families and stories are real, and that it what matters most to me. Addicted might win awards, could go onto season 3, 4 or 5and 6 but what matters most is the families, the work and the recovery. I am proud of Addicted and I am proud of the 16 very brave families who trusted me enough to allow their stories to be told. And long after the cameras and crew are gone, long after edits are complete, and long after the excitement and press about Addicted is over, I will still be here practicing intervention, working with addicts and their families and waging the war against addiction.

 I am humbled every time I see myself on TV. Honestly, I do don’t see it as my ‘success’ but a shared success with recovering addicts everywhere. 19 years ago I was hopeless as a person could be, my life was small and dark and purposeless and if I can come back from addiction, anyone can. I hope to be example to all addicts and their families that we can and do find recovery, sobriety is possible, change does happen and redemption and freedom are possible.

 Thank you for your continued and unwavering support.

 Sober and Shameless,

Kw

As many support emails and letters I have received, I have also received hate messages for Addicted, doubting the authenticity of the show and calling me a 'worthless and fake interventionist.'  There is nothing you can say to me, that will hurt, stop or slow me down; You matter not. I take great offense however, to doubting the authenticity of the show and the treatment. To all the haters and doubters of me and the show, These are the beautiful faces of Addicted. 

Jeremy from Season One; Aaron and Lindsey from Season Two; Sober, Shining and Healthy

 

Comments

[Mia Vanderbilt]

Ok I am one of your fans, but I disagree with the training part. I think what you do is awesome, and you give so many people hope. However, I do think people need to be professionally trained, and they need to have a license before they are allowed to do intervention. I have experienced both good and BAD therapy, and most of the bad therapy evolved from lack of education, and not because they chose to be bad therapists
"Great interventionists are not created through studies and training but come from within. Intervention is the art of connecting instantly with addicted individuals, in a way that allows them to come forward and open themselves to the opportunity for change. This is a skill that cannot be taught, it is innate. "
Education teaches one to think differently, and a license protects the public. Just my opinion, and you know I am a fan. Peace sister and hope to see you around. Mia

[Kristina Wandzilak]

Hey Mia, always great to hear from you. You are right about the training. I agree completely. Forgive me as I was unclear. Yes training is mandatory, intervention skills and techniques can be learned, and the models of intervention can be shared and each have week long trainings. I meant, compassion and empathy can not not be taught, those are within. The kind, firm deep and non judgmental, insight into the despair of addiction and the ability to ignite a small light of hope within every addict, can not be taught. I always appreciate your thoughts my friend and I am grateful for your support. I hope to see your face around soon, Kw

[Mia Vanderbilt]

ha ha excited for you sister. Keep rocking the world.

[Chattycatrn]

I just finished watching what you'd call a "marathon" of the show. Ok, so it was only the first five episodes of the second season, but still :-). I am so thrilled to see Aaron and Lindsey looking so happy and healthy! I honestly can say that I cried to see how wonderfully they did in their first 30 days of treatment! Please keep up the good work!

[Valerie Swan]

i'm late to the party, but i just caught up on this season's addicted and have much renewed inspiration... and love for you as an outstanding role model kristina for so many.

i so agree with your post above, and your supplemental comments are right on- you have an innate gift and passion for this work and we are lucky you are sharing it with the rest of the world. i'm a fellow inspirer too, and i know exactly what you mean in that it just comes naturally. knowing i've got "it" too (combination of my personality traits and life experiences), i'm in the process of figuring out how best to let my light shine with helping others in a more formal way- exciting. congratulations on your amazing journey! i'm a huge fan :)

[Thedusts]

I love Addicted. I'm inspired every time I see the show and I can see and hear your passion, Kristina. I volunteer at a ministry called Celebrate Recovery and I've learned so much about honesty and unconditional love from your show. Thank you for your openness with both addicts and their families. It's inspiring to me and it keeps me going to continue to serve and love from my heart to theirs.

[Mary Tevlin7]

Kristina:
I am going to school for my BA in Psychology with a minor in Substance Abuse. I hope to some day be an interventionist just like you are. I watch everyone of your episodes of Addicted and am sad when the season is over. You are truly an inspiration to me with the work that you do. You see my story is a little different, I am on the other side of the fence on this, you see, I have never been addicted to anything, thank God! But for me to go to school and study what I am is truly my calling. I made the Dean's list and work hard for the "A's" that I get. I hope you are not offended by this because I want to be an interventionist but have never quite had the experience of being where the addict has been. I do everything I can outside of school to find out about the addict. I attend open AA and NA meetings, read a lot of books. By the way, yours was fantastic!! This is something I have a passion for and am going to do. I just want to help these people to see that they can have a life full of joy and happiness without that fix.