In this powerful and deeply honest conversation, I sit down with David Shamszad, author of I Am Someone You Know: The Fight for Recovery and Mental Health, to talk about the hidden pain behind high-functioning addiction, growing up in an alcoholic home, and the courage it takes to heal.

David shares his journey through childhood trauma, undiagnosed bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation, and eventual recovery, revealing how vulnerability and self-care became his path to freedom.

We explore the power of telling your story, breaking cycles of generational trauma, and how choosing courage—moment by moment—can transform a life.

👉 If you've ever felt "high-functioning but secretly falling apart," this episode will speak directly to your soul.

Before we get to it, it's time for "I have a question for you!" where you get to share your thoughts with the thousands of people listening to the podcast, across the world.

Last week I asked about self-forgiveness with the question "What do you need to let go of?"

What was interesting about the responses, is that they ALL came through DM's! I think there's still a lot of shame about things that are hard to let go of, but here are some of the responses.

James sent me a DM on Instagram saying "Things I did before I got sober. There are people I can't make amends to."

Tammy messaged me to say "Anger towards my ex! I wish he wasn't so controlling. He always makes everything so hard!"

Ezra shared "I have to let go of the idea that I'll ever be able to drink normally."

We all struggle with letting go at times, but the old cliche is true. The level of our serenity is in direct proportion to the level of our acceptance. For me, self-forgiveness is a practice that helps me let go of things I can't control.

This week's question is about family. Thanksgiving is next week and for a lot of people, it's a stressful time. There's an old saying that family can push your buttons because they're the ones that installed them.

So my question for you is "If you're spending Thanksgiving with your family, how will you take care of yourself if you feel triggered?"

Share your thoughts on instagram and follow my account arlinaallen or odaatpodcast

So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think!

👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life?

Here are 3 ways to get started:

🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist

Grab your copy here: https://www.soberlifeschool.com

☎️Private Coaching: Make Sobriety Stick

https://www.makesobrietystick.com

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