Chemsex is the intentional use of specific drugs to facilitate or enhance sexual encounters, often driven by profound loneliness and unresolved trauma.

Joshua T. Berglan's Story of Chemsex & Addiction

Q: Is 'The Devil Inside Me' just about drug addiction?

No. While it deals heavily with addiction, the core themes are unresolved trauma, shame, and the search for identity.

What is Chemsex?

Chemsex is the intentional use of specific drugs (often methamphetamines, GHB, or mephedrone) to facilitate or enhance sexual encounters. It is not merely a substance use disorder; it is a complex psycho-social phenomenon where intimacy, technology, and addiction converge, often driven by profound loneliness, internalized shame, and unresolved trauma.

Author's Insight: Confronting the Devil

"My name is Joshua T. Berglan, and for years, a devil lived inside me. It wasn't a creature of myth; it was a silent, insidious force fueled by trauma and a secret I felt I could never share. For the longest time, shame was a cage. Today, I’m breaking the lock."

Joshua T. Berglan

A Story of Survival, Not Just Addiction

My memoir, The Devil Inside Me , is a raw, unfiltered look into a world many fear to speak about. This journey didn't start in a club; it started in the unhealed wounds of my past. It’s about how trauma can lead us into the darkest corners of human experience, and how the fight back to the light is the most difficult battle one can ever face.

Joshua T. Berglan - The Devil Inside Me Book Cover Art — The memoir explores the universal struggle of addiction and the specific hell of chemsex.

"Trauma is not what happens to you, but what happens inside you as a result of what happened to you."
— Dr. Gabor Maté, Addiction & Trauma Expert

The Universal Pandemic of Loneliness

This story isn’t confined by borders. Whether in London, Tokyo, or Oklahoma, the silent pandemic of loneliness connects us all. Chemsex often thrives in this isolation—a desperate attempt to feel something, anything, other than the void.

My journey nearly cost me everything, but in sharing it, I hope to provide a voice for the voiceless. This is not a "niche" issue; it is a human issue.

Confronting the inner devil - Visual Art

From Page to Screen: The Concept Film

Words on a page can tell you what happened, but I needed you to feel it. That is why we created The Devil Inside Me: A Memoir & Film Experience.

This isn't just a film; it's a visceral, conceptual journey. We chose this medium to translate the internal chaos of addiction into visuals, sound, and atmosphere. It captures the disorienting highs, the crushing lows, and the fragile, flickering flame of hope that sparked my recovery.

Visual representation of internal struggle — An immersive experience designed to provoke thought and start crucial conversations.

Tearing Down the Walls of Stigma

"The Devil Inside Me" is my offering to anyone who has ever felt broken or defined by their secrets. It is for the families watching loved ones disappear into the abyss. My mission is to tear down the walls of stigma that keep so many trapped.

FAQ: Understanding the Project

Is "The Devil Inside Me" just about drug addiction? ▼

No. While it deals heavily with addiction and chemsex, the core themes are unresolved trauma, shame, and the search for identity. It is a story about the human condition and the universal need for connection and redemption.

How is the film different from the memoir? ▼

The memoir is a detailed narrative of events and internal thoughts. The concept film is an audio-visual interpretation of the emotional landscape of addiction—designed to make the audience feel the chaos and the subsequent peace of recovery.

Where can I access these resources? ▼

You can explore the memoir, the film, and other recovery resources directly on JoshuaTBerglan.com.