Years After Losing Son to Suicide and Ex-Husband to Alcoholism, Boxing Icon Mia St. John Names the Only Thing That Saved Her Life While Struggling With Sobriety and Mental Health 

Mia St. John invokes a sense of inspiration whenever her story is iterated. A true transgressor of norms, and a heart made of steel, the former boxing champion has led the world to know when there is darkness looming, you become the light of hope it needs. People aware of her boxing prowess can never remain alienated from the turbulent life she’s led.

As she emerged victorious in the ring, she kept losing battles in her personal life. With one blow after the other, Mia had no respite as she navigated through immense pain in her life. Her teenage years were stained with drug abuse and alcoholism stemming from the trauma she faced growing up in an abusive household. As she channeled her anxiety into boxing to heal from the drug and alcohol dependency, her life with the kids and former husband turned sour.

Mia St. John’s Ode to Healing

Recently, in an interview, she spoke vividly about what motivates her to remain on this path to healing. She said that “all the kids” she currently works with are the reason why she lives and goes on to be the voice of them.

For the uninitiated, Mia runs an organization called the Mia St. John Foundation. The organization aids folks who suffer from mental health concerns, homelessness, addiction, and poverty.

Mia said, “All my kids. All the kids I work with. They save my life everyday. Because they remind me so much of my son. You know, they’re drug addicted? They suffer mental illness, a lot of them are homeless, and my son was in same situation many times. You know? “

Her first loss in life came when she lost her son to suicide. Julian was 18 when he was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. He lived with it for a long time but received no diagnosis for it. Speaking of those times in her book, Mia said, “They won’t give you a diagnosis until you’re 18. But I had a sense.” When her worst fears came true, she had to buckle up in order to provide the best care for her son.

Talking about how she felt once the diagnosis was in the open, she elaborated, “And with my psychology experience in school, I knew the symptoms of schizophrenia. So I had a fear growing in me that this was schizophrenia. And he was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, but I already kind of knew.”

Soon her son in distress would resort to drugs. He was found abusing meth. Mia admitted Julian to a rehab facility to get him the help he needed. But when he turned 24, Mia received news that would change her life forever. Her beloved son had passed away by suicide.

Personifying Resilience- Mia leads the walk toward mental health

Still grieving from her son’s death, Mia saw no respite from tragedies. In 2019, her former husband and the man she called the ‘love of her life’ had succumbed to alcoholism. Kristoff St. John has passed away due to a heart disease that was exasperated by his alcohol abuse. In the later years, she would also realize that her daughter, Paris was also suffering from severe mental health complications.

In April this year, the police arrested her daughter for indecent exposure, resisting arrest, and escape. She was discovered alone, engaged in prayer inside a supermarket. When the police attempted to apprehend her, she fled the scene. Clarifying the details of the incident and her daughter’s struggles with mental health, Mia said, “My daughter is recovering & making progress, thankful to her doctors.”

Also Read: Mia St. John Provides Health Update About Daughter Months After Hospital Release

Amidst her battle through such strife, Mia found her mission in life.  She stands today hands in hand with every such person who seeks help. That is her story. Reflective of strife and a will to fight.

What do you think of the inspiring story led by Mia? Let us know in the comments section below.

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