In this episode, as Eric shares his life story, you will hear how addiction to alcohol slowly crippled his life. You will hear about his battles, the consequences, the ups, the downs, and his efforts at sobriety. He talks about how your environment and circumstances can keep you stuck in that ‘addicted’ zone. He also shares how a single person (in Eric’s case, his cousin) can have a tremendous impact on your path to recovery. 

What we discussed during the show: 

• 00:00 Intro
• 01:24 Eric's favorite quote: “Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life.” ― J.K. Rowling
• 01:14 How Eric got started drinking
• 04:15 How his drinking progressed
• 07:39 His coping strategies for cravings
• 11:37 A profound conversation with his cousin
• 17:32 What has Eric accomplished in his sobriety journey so far, and, what he hopes to accomplish in the future
• 18:06 How learning to do uncomfortable things helps him heal
• 19:53 Eric’s thought on key to finding long-term success in sobriety
• 23:19 Eric’s rock bottom
• 28:21 Happiest moment of life
• 31:40 Has Eric forgiven himself?
• 34:29 What do people often get wrong about him
• 35:44 Rapid Fire round - 5 Questions
  1. What's on his nightstand: Two books -  The Four Agreements, and, Alcoholics Anonymous
  2. Favorite meal: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo
  3. No. of hours of sleep every night: 6
  4. Favorite TV show: Ozark
  5. One thing he's grateful for today: That he’s able to get out of bed without waking up in a cold sweat and shaking, not knowing where his next drink is coming from.
• 37:40 Eric’s advice to anyone struggling with addiction or lost & confused

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SoberSide Chat Podcast Details:

• Website: https://SoberSideChat.com/
• Shownotes & Transcript: https://sobersidechat.com/eric-r-life-story/
• Instagram: @sobersidechat
• Twitter: @sobersidechat