13 July 2025: Preston O’Brien was born into a house marked by sexual abuse at the hands of his father. In response to this early trauma, he shut down emotionally, blocking out large parts of his childhood. To numb the pain and shame, he turned to drugs, alcohol, and sex - chasing dopamine in a life shaped by undiagnosed ADHD and unresolved trauma. He describes living in a state of passive suicide, repeatedly finding himself in life-threatening situations: car crashes, overdoses, being stabbed and shot - passively waiting for someone or something to end it all.
Eventually reaching rock bottom, Preston found sobriety and began a journey of healing. Now in recovery, he helps other men reconnect with themselves, each other, and their families.
He shares his story with counsellor Mick Andrews and clinical psychologist Ingo Lambrech.
With thanks to NZ on Air.
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