My name is Angie Lynn Arceneaux Boswell. I am an Author, a mother, a recovered addict. I am also an LSU student at 41 years old. I am interested in helping the addicted mind that co-exist within a mental health patient or traumatized abused victim. My major is Criminal Justice with a focus of Criminal Psychology. I am most interested in learning about the mentality of humans and how to help them.
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Mental Illness: The Reality We Can't See
Mental illness is not imaginary; it is deeply real. Yet, those who have never experienced a chemical imbalance in the brain often dismiss it as attention-seeking, weakness, or an act of self-pity. Phrases like “You’ll be fine,” “It’s all in your head”, or “Stop acting stupid,” are common responses to what they don’t understand. Ironically, they’re right about one thing—it is in our head. But what they fail to grasp is that our brain is our control center, the lens through which we experience the world. When the mind is in turmoil, our entire reality is altered.
The human imagination is powerful, capable of shaping thoughts, memories, and emotions. But for those struggling with mental illness, imagination can become an uncontrollable force. It can project fears, voices, or visions that feel as tangible as the world itself. The difference is not a lack of strength—it’s the lack of control over the brain’s misfiring signals. Imagine seeing, hearing, or feeling something that your mind insists is real, even when others can’t perceive it. That confusion, fear, and exhaustion are the unseen battles of mental illness.
Our brains dictate every sensation we experience. When we cut ourselves and see blood, the brain sends a signal that produces pain. But for someone living with a mental disorder, that same brain can send pain signals even when no injury exists. If told there’s blood on their skin, they might see it, feel it, and even experience the pain of a wound that isn’t there. In their world—it is real. Dismissing that as “just in their head” erases the truth of their suffering.
What we perceive defines our reality. Each mind is a universe, unique and complex. For those living with mental illness, that universe can sometimes turn against them, distorting what they see, hear, or feel. But this does not make their pain less valid or their experience less real. It demands understanding, compassion, and the humility to accept that the mind—our most powerful organ—can both heal and harm.
Until we see mental illness with the same empathy and urgency as physical illness, too many will continue to suffer in silence. Understanding begins not with judgment, but with listening.
Thank you for reading —Angie
I am so ready to do what others said I couldn't do. I am gonna reach my dreams and publish the greatest books and be the number one and Best Selling Author!
Addiction Awareness: Is it a Choice?
Things happen in people’s lives that bring them to their lowest point — moments where hope feels lost and life feels like it no longer has meaning. In those dark times, the devil rarely shows up with horns and fire. He comes in familiar faces — in someone you trust — convincing you that trying drugs “just once” will help numb your pain. You believe them when they say, “It’s not addictive,” or “You’ll be fine.” But addiction doesn’t knock politely. It enters quietly and takes over before you even realize it.
Depression is one of the leading causes of addiction. No one chooses to be depressed. No one wakes up one day and decides to become an addict. People simply want to stop hurting. They want the pain to stop — and sometimes they reach for whatever promises relief. That doesn’t make them weak; it makes them human.
To clarify, friend — I speak from experience. I am a recovered and rescued addict. Everyone’s story is different. Some people fall into addiction through no fault of their own — prescribed pain medication after an injury or surgery, unaware of how powerful those drugs are. And in those cases, the “trusted friend” is often a doctor.
For me, it started with alcohol. I drank to numb the pain of abuse. When the abuse became repeated, and I was raped, my depression deepened. I felt trapped in a world that no longer cared. My self-esteem vanished as my body changed from drinking and despair. That’s when I fell for another lie — a “friend” who swore that meth could fix everything: my weight, my energy, my sadness.
Yes, I made the choice to try it. But what I didn’t choose were the lies, the consequences, or the addiction that followed. If only someone had seen my pain — if only someone had listened — I would have begged harder for help. I didn’t want to die. I just wanted to stop hurting.
Now, I am over a year healed and recovered. I no longer drink, I no longer use drugs, and I no longer live under the weight of depression. I am a believer in a loving God who rescued me when I thought I was beyond saving. My recovery date is 08/08/24 — the day I truly began to live again.
My greatest desire now is to tell my story — to help others find peace, healing, hope, and help. Because understanding from others matters. It saves lives. When we judge less and care more, we create space for healing before it’s too late — before curiosity turns to use, use to addiction, and addiction to death.
So yes, trying drugs might be a choice at first. But staying silent, ignoring cries for help, or judging those who struggle…. — those are choices too. And those choices can cost lives.
Please, don’t let someone’s recovery date become their death date. Addiction is not a moral failure — it’s a disease. And like any disease, it takes all of us — a community of compassion, education, and love — to fight it.
If you’ve never battled addiction, I congratulate you. But don’t assume others “chose” theirs. You can’t know what it’s like until you’ve lived it. Recovery is not weakness — it’s the greatest act of strength there is.
To every person fighting addiction, depression, guilt, or trauma: You are not your mistakes. You are your comeback.
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