Addiction How to Overcome a Rough Past With Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. Learn about our editorial process Published on October 19, 2021 Print Verywell / Julie Bang Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Meet Nikki Sixx Why Nikki Sixx Is Mentally Strong What You’ll Hear on the Show What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength Quotes From Nikki More About the Podcast On The Verywell Mind Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Amy Morin, LCSW, interviews experts, authors, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and other inspirational people about the strategies that help them think, feel, and do their best in life. Follow Now: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Google Podcasts / RSS Meet Nikki Sixx Nikki Sixx is the co-founder, bassist, and primary songwriter for the legendary rock band Mötley Crüe. He’s also a member of the successful band Sixx:A.M. His book, "The Heroin Diaries," was a New York Times bestseller. In it, he shares journal entries from the days he was doing hard drugs. He also shares what that was like for the people around him to see his ascent into drug use. Now, he’s written a new book called "The First 21" where he shares how his upbringing shaped him. The adversity he experienced as a child is linked to his addiction. But he’s sober now and he’s sharing how his rough past made him mentally stronger. How to Stay Sober Why Nikki Sixx Is Mentally Strong When Nikki was young, his father left. His sister, who was born with Down syndrome, was placed in a residential facility. And then, his mother left the family too. He was raised primarily by his grandparents. The family moved frequently and didn’t have a lot of money. Fortunately, Nikki found music to help him cope. Unfortunately, however, he also found drugs. He battled addiction for years. Unlike many rock stars whose addiction ends in tragedy, Nikki was able to get sober. During his recovery, he worked through the unresolved issues from his childhood. He’s open about the fact that he attends therapy and that he makes his mental health a top priority. The Difference Between Mental Strength and Mental Health What You’ll Hear on the Show The “aha" moment that helped Nikki know what he wanted to do with his life How the first 21 years shaped Nikki’s life How feelings about certain events in our lives often come up later What it was like for Nikki to relapse after 20 years of sobriety How Nikki stays creative How Nikki uses meditation in his life Why stability is a major component of his current success How therapy has helped Nikki make sense of his past The role journaling has played in his life How he changed the story that he’d been telling himself about his childhood How to Support a Loved One Affected by COVID-19 What You’ll Learn About Mental Health and Mental Strength Childhood adversity can take a lifelong toll on us. It can certainly lead to unhealthy behaviors during adulthood, such as addiction. Fortunately, it’s never too late to learn healthier coping skills. Some strategies that could help might involve self-help strategies, like writing in a journal or reading books. Other strategies may include professional help, like seeing a therapist. It’s tempting to avoid the emotional pain that stems from past trauma or difficult experiences. But the key to becoming better and growing stronger is about addressing those issues head-on. Quotes From Nikki Nikki Sixx I'd say to anybody out there don't be scared of the work. Go to a therapist. — Nikki Sixx "It was through recovery that I was able to do the work.""I had to accept the fact that I'll be an addict for the rest of my life.""Meditation is a big part of my life.""I suggest putting the baggage down and seeing what life feels like to not be carrying around all this because it gets heavy." The Benefits of Meditation for Stress Management More About the Podcast The Verywell Mind Podcast is available across all streaming platforms. If you like the show, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings are a great way to encourage other people to listen and help them prioritize their mental health too. Links and Resources Buy Nikki’s book: "The First 21" Buy Nikki’s merchandise Follow Nikki on Instagram: @NikkiSixxPixx If You Liked This Episode, You Might Also Like These Episodes How to Heal From Trauma with Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kati Morton Friday Fix: How to See Vulnerability as a Strength, Not a Weakness Secrets to Stopping Alcohol Cravings with Dr. John Umhau By Amy Morin, LCSW Amy Morin, LCSW, is a psychotherapist and international bestselling author. Her books, including "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do," have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her TEDx talk, "The Secret of Becoming Mentally Strong," is one of the most viewed talks of all time. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? 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