Ten years ago, facing burnout at my fast-paced media job, I decided to run away from my problems to the Panamanian jungle—where my depression took a turn for the dangerous, and my substance abuse soon followed. I wound up trying several experimental (and wildly ineffective) mental health treatments, moving into two “intentional communities,” and appearing on one really bad reality TV show before finding a path to peace along a route I least expected.

I wrote this book not to be raw and salacious (though there’s plenty of that), but because storytelling has always been my avenue for connecting with people. My hope is that someone out there who struggles like I did—or who loves someone with similar afflictions—will read what I have to say and feel a little bit less alone. I want my story to serve as proof that triumph over even the darkest internal pain is possible. And big bonus if you’re entertained in the process!