NFX #35: Choose Your Struggle w/ Jay Shifman

For much of his early life, Jay Shifman was told that he was living with a debilitating Mental Illness. As his condition worsened, he was prescribed more drugs at ever higher doses until, in his early 20s, he was daily taking more than the estimated lethal dosage for multiple drugs and living with a full-blown Addiction to prescription pills. At 23, after two suicide attempts, an overdose, and time spent in an inpatient hospital and a rehab facility, he decided enough was enough and pledged to withdraw from all of his prescriptions. After years of having his struggle chosen for him—to simply make it through the day—he finally chose what to struggle for. 

He has written for publications including David’s Voice, New York Minute Magazine and Guy Talk. A graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a B.A. in Psychology, he strives every day to end the stigma around the topics of Mental Health and Addiction by telling his story and helping others tell theirs. Jay has certifications in Psychological First Aid, Drug Policy and the Social Contexts of Mental Health and Illnesses, Suicide Prevention, and Coaching, among others. You can learn more about his experience by visiting his LinkedIn page and you can find his podcast, the Choose Your Struggle podcast, on Stitcher, Apple, Castbox, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, and Spotify.

https://www.jayshifman.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayshifman
https://medium.com/authority-magazine/jay-shifman-how-to-develop-mindfulness-and-serenity-during-stressful-or-uncertain-times-8fe4d07006cd
https://www.safeproject.us/story/jays-story-why-i-carry-narcan-everywhere/