Ayja Burg

Peer Support Specialist (She/Her/Hers) 🏳️‍🌈

Special Interests: Living with Chronic Pain & Illness (Hidradenitis suppurativa) | Medical & Religious Trauma | Sexual, Mental, Emotional, Physical & Narcissistic Abuse | Parent/Partner Suffering with Addiction | Abandonment | ADHD, PTSD, Anxiety & Depression | Self Harm & Suicidal Ideation | LGBTQIA | Art  

Ayja grew up in small-town Wisconsin and uses the company of animals, gaming, art, & community supports to foster her recovery. She displays grit in her determination to create the life she has always wanted and uses these skills to help others navigate the trials of life for themselves. 

While growing up, Ayja lived with her mother as her primary caregiver as her father abandoned the relationship at a young age. During childhood, Ayja survived sexual, emotional, physical and narcissistic abuse due to her mother’s drug addiction. She became the primary caregiver for her brother who was diagnosed with Autism when she was 14 until she left home. She came out during high school and experienced sexual and religious trauma without anyone to turn to. During school, Ayja struggled significantly due to undiagnosed ADHD but persevered, as college was a way out of her situation. 

While attending college in the Twin Cities, Ayja was misdiagnosed for years regarding an auto-inflammatory condition, HS, and experienced constant medical trauma as a result. During this time, Ayja was spiraling due to worsening mental health, navigating multiple med changes, chronic pain, and lack of support. 

After college, Ayja began her professional career but due to worsening mental health resulting in self-harm and suicidal ideation, committed to in-patient psychiatric care. Working consistently was an impossible struggle as mental and physical health challenges were controlling her life. Ayja began dating her wife whose experience with drug and alcohol addiction resulted in a co-dependent relationship. Achieving stability in life became more and more impossible and the two moved back in with Ayja’s mother in Wisconsin as working was no longer possible. 

While living with her mother, Ayja experienced consistent abuse from her family which contributed to an inner ear injury causing vertigo for years. After moving to Eau Claire searching for respite, the pandemic hit. Ayja found support in a gaming community to get her through. Ayja then enrolled in Comprehensive Community Services and was able to achieve a level of stability through recovery that had never been possible before. She is dedicated to helping others in their recovery to show what is possible and that everyone has inner strength.