A memoir — April 7, 2026
STIG-MA
Stigma
A mark of shame
Ma
Mother, in Afrikaans
A memoir of silence, addiction, and survival —
and the woman this was always for.
A memoir — April 7, 2026
A memoir of silence, addiction, and survival —
and the woman this was always for.
"Stigma doesn't always shout. Sometimes it whispers.
Sometimes it lives in silence.
And sometimes, it lives in the shape of a word —
the mark, and the mother."
Dedicated to Ma — who left this world on 26 May 2023
About the Book
The title carries two meanings, and both are intentional. Stigma — the mark, the label, the invisible weight that keeps people from asking for help. Ma — mother, in Afrikaans. The two are inseparable in this book.
Stig-Ma is a memoir by Namibian author Gerdus Kruger — a firsthand account of addiction, inherited shame, and the long, imperfect work of finding ground again. It moves between childhood, faith, loss, and recovery, and it does not flinch.
Gerdus spent nearly a decade in the United States, and the book holds both worlds: the silence of an African upbringing, and what he found — and didn't find — in American recovery culture.
It is dedicated to his mother, who passed away on 26 May 2023. She is the Ma in the title. She is the reason the book exists.
Who This Book Serves
For anyone in active recovery or still finding the door — this book reflects your experience without judgment. You are not alone, and you are not the label.
A firsthand account for psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and social workers seeking deeper insight into the lived experience of addiction and stigma.
A memoir that speaks the language of the rooms. For groups, sponsors, and facilitators — a resource that opens conversations where the right words are hard to find.
A tool for patient libraries, reading programmes, and treatment teams. Real stories reduce shame and increase willingness to engage in recovery.
An authentic, compelling narrative at a time when addiction, mental health and stigma are among the most urgent and under-reported conversations of our time.
For those who love someone struggling and need help understanding what they cannot always see — or say. This book is for you too.
Get the Book
Available April 7, 2026 — in honour of Ma.
For bulk orders — rehabs, institutions, reading groups — contact us directly.
Stay Connected
Launch updates, events, and the conversations Stig-Ma is opening.