Kintsugi Heroes
Ross Durkin · 51 min
After 13 years trapped in gambling and alcohol addiction — and on the brink of suicide — Ross Durkin found recovery through one honest conversation, and has spent nearly two decades giving that same lifeline to others.
You don't have to be in crisis to call.
For 13 years, Ross Durkin gambled and drank to escape the pain of feeling like he didn't belong. It started in Year 12 at an all-boys school in Sydney, where he was isolated and struggling. Placing a bet at the local TAB offered temporary relief from the negative thoughts consuming him. He was trapped: every Thursday he'd get paid, spend everything by Saturday, and struggle until the next paycheck. By his mid-twenties, he had credit card debt, no friends who knew the real him, and a brother who eventually told him to leave after 18 months of secret gambling. He was homeless, thinking about suicide, and had tried and failed to stop countless times.
The turning point came in early 2002 when an old school friend walked into a Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Instead of judgment, this man shared his own story: jail time, recovery, and the professional help that had saved him. For the first time, Ross dropped the tough-guy mask. He became vulnerable, cried, and felt hope. That friend introduced him to a psychologist and cognitive behavioural therapy, which taught him that his thinking drove his feelings and behaviour. He could interrupt the cycle. He threw himself into the fellowship, supported others, and slowly rebuilt his life around his stepdaughter and newborn son. He wanted to be present for them in a way he'd never been present before.
Now sober for 20 years, Ross works with Lifeline Australia supporting regional communities. He holds a counselling degree and spends his time helping others find the same lifeline he found. His message is simple: find one person to tell. It doesn't have to take 13 years of pain. Recovery is possible, and it opens a life of genuine connection that he never thought possible.
⚠️ Content advisory: this episode discusses addiction & recovery and suicide & self-harm prevention, which some listeners may find distressing.
If you need support, you're not alone. Help is available: • SMART Recovery Australia (addiction): smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au • ReachOut: au.reachout.com • Lifeline (24/7 crisis support): 13 11 14 · lifeline.org.au
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Kintsugi Heroes · Registered Australian not-for-profit · kintsugiheroes.com.au ↗