When love becomes a lifeline—and then a trap—how do you find your way back to yourself? In this deeply personal TEDx talk, Vandana Hiranandani shares the raw, untold story of living in the shadows of addiction, not as the one struggling, but as the one trying to save them. With gentle courage, she traces her path from silent suffering to self-discovery, illuminating the quiet pain of codependency. Her message is a call to reclaim your identity, not by fixing someone else, but by choosing to heal from within ? Her Work So Far: ? Podcast Guest on Little Fixes Podcast – discussing addiction myths, recovery, and the Anatta approach (coming soon) ? Led Drug Awareness Drives across institutions and public forums ? Facilitated podcasts as follows: “Dentistry & Addiction” with Dr. Neetika Modi “Unlock the Benefits of Meditation” with Mr. Anil Chandwani “Why Do People Develop Addictive/Depressive Patterns?” with Mr. Chintan Dalal and many more ? Conducted interactive awareness sessions on addiction and emotional health at: Terna Dental College Mithibai College Atlas SkillTech University? Legacy of Transformation:Having grown up in a family affected by addiction, Vandana turned her story into service. Her workshops, talks, and therapy sessions ignite healing not just for the individual—but for the entire emotional ecosystem around them. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx