Mary Beth OConnor - From Junkie to Judge: One Womans Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction

From Junkie to Judge

One Womans Triumph Over Trauma and Addiction

Mary Beth OConnor

Praise for

There is often an unspoken hierarchy in the recovery community, with IV drug users unofficially labeled least likely to succeed. Mary Beths story counters that assumption in the most inspiring way. Her tale of trauma, loss, and ultimate victory over addiction is a testament to the strength of empowerment approaches to recovery like Women for Sobriety. If you are struggling with the idea that there is only one way to get sober, you need to read this book!

Adrienne Miller, Women for Sobriety president and CEO

Judge OConnor casts an unflinching gaze over the past to explore the factors that contributed to her demise into drugs, abusive relationships, and self-harm, and the resources that helped her build an empowered life. Harrowing and hopeful, her story assures readers that recovery is possible.

Jean McCarthy, podcast host of The Bubble Hour, author of the Unpickled series

A riveting memoir about a harrowing childhood and the deep abyss of drug addictionfollowed by an inspiring story of recovery and a practical guide to building an individual recovery planno higher power required.

Mary M. French, administrative law judge, retired

Recovery, like Rome, is a destination with many roads. There is an abundance of stories where recovery is laid at the feet of some notion of God. But only a small minority of addicted persons actually walk that pathway. Much larger numbers find recovery elsewhere. Mary Beth OConnors memoir begins to fill the information gap about recovery for people who, like many younger Americans today, check none of the above when it comes to religious affiliation. Starting in her teens, Mary Beth did about all the drugs you can do. She could have been a poster child for the victims of dysfunctional family life. Yet eventually she pulled out of it. She tried 12-steps and found it wanting. She took charge of her own recovery. She achieved not only abstinence but big-R Recovery, overcoming her inner demons, and demonstrating the competence, intelligence, reliability, and social skills necessary for professional advancement. This is an inspirational story of survival and renewal.

Martin Nicolaus, founder, LifeRing Secular Recovery, author of Empower Your Sober Self and Recovery by Choice

From Junkie to Judge is an essential addition to addiction and recovery literature. Mary Beths remarkable and gripping story smashes stereotypes about professionals and drug use. An avowed atheist, she also gives hope to those whove been told recovery requires faith.

Lisa F. Smith, author of Girl Walks Out of a Bar: A Memoir, co-host of Recovery Rocks podcast

What a wonderful example of the possibilities that are inside us all! This is a deeply relatable story of childhood pain that is transformed through the trials of addiction and recovery. This compelling account of triumph over adversity speaks to the challenges we all face and the hope of what is possible once we do the work of healing the past. As a person in long term recovery, I found From Junkie to Judge to be a valuable resource for those considering a life free of addictions.

Arlina Allen,One Day at a Time podcast host

From Junkie to Judge is a story of hard-won grace, and a remarkable tenacity to persevere. Mary Beth narrates an extraordinary journey of transcendence and advocacy. We are so fortunate to have her record, and this guide to recoveryand recovering wellthat finds witness in her overcoming adversity, becoming oneself, and blazing the trail for others to follow.

John Evans, author of Young Widower: A Memoir and Stanford University lecturer

Very rarely do you find a person who has the courage to be so honest about not only their particular experience but the human experience. Judge OConnor exhibits that courage in spades in her memoir. She takes you in detail through her struggle and her subsequent recovery from addiction and trauma. It is an unbelievable example of the indomitable will to not give up. As a person in long-term recovery and an addiction clinician, it was great to read something that details just how real addiction is, how hard getting sober can be, and wonderful tools to help all of those in the fight. To anyone reading this who is strugglingyou are worth it and deserving of all the beautiful things the world has to offer you.

AJ Diaz, LMSW, CASAC-T, co-founder of You Are Accountable

Disclaimer: Some of the names and characteristics of people have been changed to protect their anonymity. The author does not endorse one specific method of recovery. Before embarking on any recovery program, you may want speak to a healthcare provider or a professional.

www.hcibooks.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available through the Library of Congress

2022 Mary Beth OConnor

ISBN-13: 978-07573-2456-7 (Paperback)

ISBN-10: 07573-2456-8 (Paperback)

ISBN-13: 978-07573-2457-4 (ePub)

ISBN-10: 07573-2457-6 (ePub)

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

HCI, its logos, and marks are trademarks of Health Communications, Inc.

Publisher: Health Communications, Inc.

301 Crawford Blvd., Suite 200

Boca Raton, FL 33432-1653

Cover, interior design and formatting by Larissa Hise Henoch

I FIRST MET MARY BETH OConnor in the fall of 2018, at a coffee bar during our She Recovers in LA Conference at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. It was a brief encounter, but Mary Beth really made an impact. My frenzied energy likely indicated that we had but a few minutes to chat, so Mary Beth cut right to the chase. She told me that she had become addicted to meth by 17, found recovery at 32, and had accumulated over a quarter century of sobriety. Oh, and she was a federal judge and had written a memoir. I was captivated and would have liked to sit down with her and dig into her story right then and there. Alas, my event responsibilities beckoned, so we bid adieu, and both got back to the task at handcelebrating women in recovery.

Ive had the honor of getting to know Mary Beth since that first meeting. Weve spent time together at recovery events, we have a relatively consistent Messenger relationship, and she joined the board of our non-profit foundation in 2020. I also love following Mary Beth on Facebook where she shares tidbits of her life with her beloved partner, Doc.

Through reading this real and raw memoir, I now know Mary Beth on an even deeper level. From Junkie to Judge is a triumphboth as a literary project and as a life story. Mary Beth details a childhood and young adulthood rife with trauma and neglect. She reminds us that we become addicted because of what happens to us, not because there is anything wrong with us. Her story is stitched together with poignant details of abuse and pain but also moments of lightness and possibility. She never descends into shame or self-pity, and her generosity in seeking to understand those who hurt her most is nothing short of inspiring.