Parkhurst resident and author Costa Carastavrakis launched his book I am Costa at Exclusive Books in Rosebank Mall on 29 August.
This autobiography explores his journey of self-exploration and celebration as he went from crystal meth addiction to running marathons and becoming a motivational speaker.
Carastavrakis began his talk by quoting Plato who said, “Man is a being in search of meaning”. His talk then explored how he came to know and understand himself.
It explores the bullying he experienced as a child and his journey to come to grips with being gay and understanding his sexual identity.
“It explores the compulsive behaviours I had as a kid which led to alcohol abuse and later, drug addiction. It shows how I was brought to my knees by crystal meth. It is about perseverance to health through running,” said Carastavrakis.
He recovered through attending support groups and working through a 12 step programme to become clean of alcohol and drug addiction.
The book’s overarching theme is shame and its destructive force.
“Addiction is a shame-based disease. Your identity becomes flawed and defective. It makes you feel abnormal and rejected, hopeless and worthless. This led to me taking my first line of meth to take away the pain I didn’t know how to feel.”
Carastavrakis became emotional when describing a dear friend of his who died from a heroin overdose, which brought him to the realisation that shame kills.
“It is about forgiving and handing back the shame and finding meaning in it all… I am Costa and I will carry this shame no more.”
Related articles:
Westdene resident Janina Pechova launches children’s book The Sock Rat in Rosebank
