Fausto Castellanos shares his story of surviving childhood SA, grooming, addiction, and years of shame that left him questioning himself and searching for acceptance in relationships, substances, and the people around him. After being abused at 7 years old and again by an adult man while struggling with meth addiction at 14, Fausto spent years trying to outrun what happened to him, eventually reaching a point where his substance use, seizures, and suicidal thoughts left him believing he might not survive.

Fausto opens up about finally asking for help, finding sobriety, and experiencing unconditional acceptance from a sponsor who helped him begin confronting the trauma he had carried since childhood. He also shares how becoming a counselor and helping others gave his pain a sense of purpose, but eventually forced him to confront another pattern: tying his worth to how much he could do for everyone else. Today, nearly a decade into his healing journey, Fausto has built a life around trauma recovery, addiction advocacy, mental health, and helping others find hope without abandoning himself in the process.

Fausto’s Links:

https://www.instagram.com/hopedealerfausto

https://www.youtube.com/@HopeDealerFausto

https://www.tiktok.com/@hopedealerfausto

https://www.facebook.com/faustocastellanoss

Resources:

Crisis Text Line

741741

RAINN

24/7 confidential support, online chat & hotline

1-800-656-HOPE

SAMHSA’s National Helpline (mental health and/or substance use)

1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Beyond the Monsters Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/beyondthemonsters

https://linktr.ee/BeyondtheMonsters

Disclaimer: This podcast shares personal experiences and educational discussion. It is not medical or mental health advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your own care.

Topic: CSA Survivor, Childhood Trauma, Grooming, Addiction Recovery, Trauma Recovery, Sobriety, Men’s Mental Health

If you have a story you'd like to share on the podcast, please fill out a form here:

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