Becoming a Shadow of Myself

Johnny Allison’s substance use started as a way to cope with the trauma of war and chaos of military life. His recovery started as a way to become the soldier and person he knew he was and could be. Today, he is a Veteran, SMART Facilitator, and the Lead of the SMART UK Veterans Program.

In this podcast, Johnny talks about:

• What motivated him to join the British Army
• The ties between his boxing career and serving in the military
• Why his substance use started and not understanding what was happening
• How the COVID isolation affected his mental health and well being
• How he was becoming a shadow of himself
• His drive and commitment to finally getting help
• Finding SMART and how it helped him manage his thoughts, feelings, and behaviors
• Why he wanted to become a facilitator
• Creating the 1^st Annual International Veterans and First Responders Webinar
• The best things about attending a Veterans meeting