Adam and Tom are joined by Myles today. Myles is 23 years old, and this is his first serious time in treatment. When he was 19, his parents forced him to go into treatment, but his heart wasn't into it. He left after 20 days. He shares his journey and how alcohol contributed to a serious health issue.

Myles is now committed to treatment. In this episode, we talk about what has changed for him and what has shifted in his head to convince him to take treatment more seriously. He also shares how he went from a lonely place to feeling connected and being part of the community.

Show Notes

• [03:57] Myles started drinking at the bar, and then just started drinking about a fifth of whiskey each night.
• [05:43] His parents got divorced when he was six.
• [06:44] His dad got remarried when he was seven, and he had a new stepmom and two step sisters.
• [07:23] Myles was by himself when he was six during those formative years. Drugs and alcohol became an escape for a period of time.
• [08:14] He loved pot the first time he tried it.
• [08:41] When he was a senior in high school his pot smoking really took off.
• [09:23] He played division 3 NCAA football. He was an offensive line left guard. He was around 300 pounds.
• [10:21] He lost around 70 lbs in his first year of football. He then packed all the weight back on, because he was drinking. Then he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and ended up in the hospital and lost all the weight.
• [11:00] The doctors think the congestive heart failure was related to the drinking.
• [13:19] Drinking and smoking weed temporarily made Myles problems go away.
• [15:47] Myles went to live with his grandparents in Savannah, Georgia. The isolation became worse, and he started drinking again.
• [18:25] Father Martin says if we don't handle our emotions they will always handle us.
• [19:07] If you hold emotions in, they are going to come out in negative ways.
• [20:23] Myles loved it when he first came to Florida. He needed help, because he couldn't put the bottle down by himself.
• [22:07] He is harnessing his past as a positive.
• [23:58] Myles wants to feel like he belongs and being part of the recovery community is helping him get there.
• [24:38] He found that he can contribute to the community and that life is worth living.
• [26:25] Myles was reluctant to feel vulnerable, because it made him feel like he was searching for pity or that he didn't deserve sympathy.
• [27:35] He finally saw that he had to be vulnerable to heal. He is getting over a lifetime of holding things in. This made him feel lighter.
• [30:04] Not letting people in can feel safe, but it's also very damaging.
• [31:17] Myles was actually thinking about continuing to smoke weed, but he realized that it wasn't a good idea for him.
• [33:35] Reach out don't make excuses to be alone in life.

Links and Resources:

• Father Martin's Chalk Talk on Alcohol