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Subscribers should now be fixed!
🎉 Good news! 🎉 The subscription feature for Detour From Hell should now be working correctly! 📧💜 If you’ve been wanting to subscribe to receive notifications when new blog posts are published, now is a great time to give it a try. If you experience any issues subscribing or don’t receive the confirmation email, please…
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Happy Chemical Series Part 7 (final): The Brain Behind This Hot Mess
A Summary of the Happy Chemicals and How They Have Shaped My Life Content warning: This article discusses addiction, trauma, domestic violence, grief, death, anxiety, depression, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Please take care of yourself while reading. 💜 Over the past several weeks, I have written about the chemicals and systems that influence motivation, mood,…
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Happy Chemical Series: Part 6
Cortisol: The Survival Chemical We Mistake for the Enemy For the last several weeks, we have talked about the chemicals connected to motivation, pleasure, confidence, connection, and pain relief. Part 1: went over the Happy Chemicals in general: Part 2: Dopamine helps push us toward rewards. Part 3: Serotonin plays a role in mood, confidence,…
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Happy Chemicals Part 5: Endorphins — The Brain’s Natural Pain Relief
Introduction: The Final Chemical Before the Stress Chemical *Content Warning: This post discusses addiction, trauma responses, emotional pain, unhealthy coping patterns, and survival mode. Please read with care and take breaks if needed. Throughout this series, so far, we have talked about the chemicals in our brain that influence happiness, motivation, connection, mood, attachment, survival,…
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Issues When Subscribing?
Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that a couple people recently has reached out and said they tried to subscribe to the blog and they were not getting an email. I wonder how many people have had the same issue. So, I have submitted a ticket and hopefully get an answer soon!…
Finding Serenity in Chaos; Surviving Hell
(and making it something beautiful)
In Loving Memory of Dustin Gene Gotham, Forever 32
Mental Health
Domestic Violence
Addiction
Favorite Quote:
When someone says, ” I can’t change”
Some part of them wants to change, but the payoffs for his present behavior, are greater than the payoffs for changed.
Behavior, or his fear of change is too great
Ladies and gentlemen, it takes courage to live your dreams
It takes courage to manifest your greatness
It takes courage to decide to live.”– Les Brown
If you’ve ever felt like life threw a couple, or a hundred too many challenges at you, and you have found it difficult dealing with all the different things that are happening in today’s world, you’re in the right place. My story isn’t polished or pretty — I am an open book. It’s messy, heartbreaking, sometimes darkly funny, and absolutely real. However, it is also about overcoming, rising above, breaking cycles, setting boundaries, and achieving happiness and success after trauma. I decided to start this page to not only get the conversation going on these topics that have too much stigma around them, but also for my own mental health, and hopefully my new career.
Detour From Hell: The Mind of a Hot Mess is where I lay it all out — the raw truth, the ugly cries, the dark humor, the science behind healing, and the wins that keep us moving forward. There will also be a lot of shocking statistics related to MH, Addiction, and Domestic Violence. In this website, you will also find resources, events, a memory board, and more.
Here, you’ll find:
- Personal stories from my journey from the beginning through recovery and mental health
- Honest conversations about addiction, trauma, and domestic violence and the stigma behind it
- Factual insights into what’s really happening in the brain and body when we damage and heal
- And maybe a laugh or two — because sometimes humor is the only thing that keeps us sane!
This isn’t a self-help blog. It’s a self-truth blog. A place for survivors, strugglers, and anyone who’s ever felt like their life took a wrong turn and they’re just trying to find the map again. Even if its just in a part of your life.
So please, grab a cup of coffee (or energy drink 😁 or whatever floats your boat), settle in, and join the conversation. Healing’s a hell of a detour — but we don’t have to walk it alone.
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About the Author
Ashley Alexander, author and creator behind “Detour From Hell”, and I am passionate about sharing real stories, sharing shocking statistics, and providing resources. Read full bio and purpose of blog here.
