Warning: this article discusses the loss of a child which some readers may find distressing.
A woman who used to be a sex addict has given people the advice she'd want to pass along to others who may be struggling with addiction.
Laurie Jade Woodruff said she spent 20 years struggling with a sex addiction which she says completely consumed her.
For two decades she went through various toxic relationships but it took a tragic loss for her to see how 'unhealthy' it was for her.
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Speaking to LADbible TV, Laurie said it was 'just really fun' in her younger days, but then things took a turn for the worse as she started attracting 'toxic' people and experienced devastating tragedy in her life.
She said that her life was 'out of control' in her 20s, and she later suffered through the tragic death of her seven-week-old son.
Following her son's death, Woodruff was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and has gone on to embark on a journey of recovery.
She told LADbible that she had some advice for the people who were struggling in the grip of addition, saying: "I want other people to know that they can have the life they want.
"Don’t spend all your time in that addiction. Addiction distracts you from your life purpose and what you're here to achieve and do.
"You’ve got that energy to go and be successful in whatever that is that you’re meant to do.
"Sometimes we just indulge in these addictions because we're masking that pain rather than just dealing with it.
"When you stop distracting yourself with that you can go and do what you want to do, you'll have so much more time and energy. You'll feel more clear and pure in yourself.
"You can feel like you really deserve what it is that you want, and you can go out and get it."
Laurie is hoping that by sharing her story it'll help inspire others to become the best version of themselves, to heal, to love and to accept themselves without judgment.
A number of people commented to say they 'admire this woman's courage and resilience' for speaking out.
Others said that what Laurie was talking about 'really made me feel understood', so it would seem that there are people out there who are glad to hear what she's got to say.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article, or would like to seek support or further information, you can contact Sex Addicts Anonymous on their website, where email addresses and phone numbers – including a dedicated women's line and LGBTQ+ contact – can be found.
Topics: Health, Mental Health, Sex and Relationships
Joe Harker