It's Depression Mode. I'm John Moe. I'm glad you're here. I'm always glad you're here.

This time, I'm especially glad you're here because it's our 50th episode, the big 5-0.

I didn't even know that until the middle of last week when I realized we had just released our 49th.

So, yeah, an episode for each of the 50 states. Welcome to our 50th. Welcome to Wyoming.

Or Hawaii, depending on how you're sorting it. My guest this week is Patty Shemmel, and Patty

has been on a journey. Holy Cats, what a journey she has been on. Patty Shemmel was a drummer

in Seattle when she was young, late 80s, early 90s, punk bands, probably none that you've heard of. She was far from

famous, but her hard pounding style impressed some people who were very important in the

Seattle music scene, which was exploding right about then. Kurt Cobain liked her, so did Courtney

love, and Courtney hired Patty as the drummer for Hole.

Soon, Patty Shemmel was playing for one of the biggest bands in the world.

And then, in a very brief span, she lost everything and was living on the streets of Los Angeles.

That's because Patty Shemel has a mental illness called substance use disorder.

People with SUD become fixated on using a certain substance.

Alcohol, could be drugs, could be tobacco, even though they know that it's causing them problems.

Here's what the American Psychiatric Association says.

Quote, people with a substance use disorder may have distorted thinking and behaviors.

Changes in the brain's structure and function are what caused people to have intense cravings,

changes in personality, abnormal movements, and other behaviors.

Brain imaging studies show changes in the areas of the brain that relate to judgment,

decision-making, learning, memory, and behavioral control, unquote. Patty has been clean for some time.

It was a long way to get there, and she got there. She's not cured of addiction. That's not how it works.

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