Welcome to today’s show!

In today’s episode, I discuss a pandemic of loneliness and outline 3 ways to combat loneliness during Covid19.

On Measuring Loneliness

I reference a quote from Jack:

I received a DM from an old college friend the other day who said he missed me and wanted to catch up. I was so touched that I started to cry. I feel strange saying I'm lonely because I have a loving family. I repeat to myself, I have a wife and kids. But maybe I am lonely. With my week consisting of sitting in front of a computer on Zoom meetings by myself, the amount of people I come into contact with is slim.

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• The Gender Divide: How Men & Women differ when trying to connect with their same sex friends
• US Surgeon General (under President Obama) addressed loneliness and why people refuse to address the fact that they’re lonely but it’s actually a sign that our body gives us
• We discuss an example from Jack’s life
• Pick up the phone. And call at least 3 guy friends a week.
• Arrange a standing event.  Get something on the calendar and make it part of your routine (e.g. a standing walk around the neighborhood).
• Sleep. To increase your resistance.
• What the surgeon general says about even just trying to connect with other men
•  

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Episode 79: Resetting Your Recovery: rituals for healthy living
• Episode 82: Beyond Stress: training yourself to thrive in recovery

• Schedule a free 15 minute 1:1 Men’s group consult here.

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe on ITUNES

Welcome to today’s show!

WHAT WE’LL LEARN:

• How Liz’s deepest roots shaped her identity in the world which led her to write about stress and trauma. She says she is “exhibit A” of what she writes about
• How we as a society undermine resilience and how this shows up in addictions
• Liz’s definition of Trauma: “a condition when our survival brain perceives us to be powerless, helpless, and lacking control”
• What is the window of tolerance to stress arousal
• 3 ways we narrow our window over our lifetime
• The most important thing is that we can widen the window
• Why the habit of worrying has huge neurobiological costs
• Adina gets some answers on habit change and the all too familiar resistance
• How to build ourselves a ladder to help with re-regulating habit change
• What’s one thing you can do right now to widen the window-this is great!
• We can go in a virtuous cycle direction or a vicious cycle direction but it’s our choice
• What is Liz’s message to the AIR community (hint: it involves willpower)

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Elizabeth-Stanley.com
• Mindfulness Based Mind Fitness Training Course Free to public servants. Just head to the FAQ’s section to find the link.
• Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe to the A.I.R. newsletter where you will learn to identify patterns of dysfunctional thinking, change the dysfunctional thinking into something more positive, and find hope in recovery.

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

In today’s episode, I outline 5 ways Hypnotherapy Can Help you Find Unexpected Meaning in recovery.  Hypnotherapy is this podcast is a tool but it can be replaced with any resource you like: talk therapy, yoga, Memoirs (love a good memoir).

Digging for Unexpected Meaning

I reference a quote which I feel sums up the episode well. 

He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. – Friedrich Nietzsche

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• Take all things as ‘granted’  as gifts not “for granted” as entitlement

• Connection. (with your past & future selves)- I talk about bringing in props to the hypnotherapy session to help connect with loved ones at a time where connection is difficult for many
• Safety. We need to teach our CNS that it’s okay. We are safe at this moment. We identify 3 cues of safety in this present moment.

• Core Values. Hypnotherapy will help you identify who is your spiritual connection, your higher power, your future self. And when you’re not living up to your core values, Hypnotherapy will point this out (in a non-judgmental way :))
• We look at the story of Jack
• Service.  If you are in AA, you know how powerful service can be.  
• How hypnotherapy can bring us closer to our loved ones (living & deceased) And no I’m not talking about time travel. Or am I? :)

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Episode 80: How to Deal with Extreme Emotional Anxiety
• Episode 64: Writing as A Vehicle for Truth-Telling, Healing, and Recovery
• Schedule a free 15 minute 1:1 hypnotherapy consult here.

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
• Subscribe on ITUNES
• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

WHAT WE’LL LEARN:

• How Elizabeth’s deepest roots shaped her identity in the world 
• When she recognized how much of a lack of emotional attunement parents can have in their child’s lives
• Elizabeth managed those really hard emotions with substances because she did not know how to manage her emotional state and/or her Childhood Emotional Neglect
• Elizabeth defines Childhood Emotional Neglect
• We talk about how we “Numb” the emotions because we did not learn how to deal with them as a child
• Elizabeth talks about the challenges with starting a mindfulness practice & Adina jokes about what her clients think of mindfulness in general
• Elizabeth shares her practitioner wisdom about how to “feel the pain” and the power of brain health
• Why awareness is so important in healing 
• What’s the first step in starting a mindfulness practice (hint: it looks a lot like the first step one takes after they relapse)
• Elizabeth talks about her podcast, Women Worriers and what informed her decision to start her podcast

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Selfcompassion.org
• Insighttimer
• Headspace
• Calm.com
• @womenworriers-Instagram
• ProgressionCounseling-Facebook
• ProgressionCounseling.com
• ProgressionCounseling.com/womenworriers

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe to the A.I.R. newsletter where you will learn to identify patterns of dysfunctional thinking, change the dysfunctional thinking into something more positive, and find hope in recovery.

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show! 

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• How Derek earliest memories were rooted in religion but his connectedness and place of belonging was found (and still is) in nature
• While Derek was in active addiction he watched his brother, father, and mother pass away from complications due to alcoholism which threw him into a deeper state of depression
• It wasn’t until a suicide attempt, that Derek decided to put himself through rehab.
• Derek says as he passes his one year anniversary, routine & asking for help has been two great tools for healing

• Derek talks about the shame and “feeling like a burden” when asking for help
• How utilizing mentors instead of sponsors is what works for his recovery
• What his perspective is on how to “reset your recovery” 
• How he handles things that are out of his control-he gives examples from his own  life
• Derek discusses what he means by “slowing down to speed up”
• What Derek’s heartfelt message is  to people who are in active addiction or newly sober during the pandemic
• Tips on how Derek connects with others during the pandemic
• What’s Derek’s message to the A.I.R. community

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• [email protected]-Email

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe on ITUNES

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

Is low self-esteem holding you back? In today’s solo episode I outline 5 ways to banish negative self-talk, increase self worth and take back your relationship with yourself to keep you from “ruining” your recovery.

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• Listen to your language. They are the sentences that begin with, ‘I am…’ or ‘I am not…’. 
• Who AM I? (think of the messages you received from childhood) Many factors went into creating this inner self.
• The Goal is, No Self-Esteem. The “cure” for low self-esteem isn't high self-esteem, it’s no self-esteem. 
• The Story of David
• How to Accept Yourself for Who You Are. Stop judging yourself!
• Questions to ask yourself. (an exercise).  Write these questions down and answer them. Our brain is a problem solving vessel!

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• The Masculinity Dilemma:  covert depression and self-sabotage

• Schedule a free 15 minute 1:1 hypnotherapy consult here.

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.
• Subscribe on ITUNES
• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

In today’s episode, As we embark on the New Year, I outline 3 things to let go of in the form of verbs (and 3 things to hold onto). This can apply to your recovery but it can also apply to your everyday life-your finances, your sexual story, your relationship with self & others.

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• Hypnotherapy can be a highly effective tool in the early stages (as well as the maintenance stages) of recovery
• Hypnotherapy addresses those feelings we work so hard to push down (and we consciously may not even know we do this) or dismiss
• The verb: To Ask.
• The verb: To Take.
• The verb: To Receive.
• The struggle with vulnerability (the story of Ann) 
• In conclusion, what verb would you pick to strengthen in the new year 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Schedule a free 15 minute 1:1 hypnotherapy consult here.

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe on ITUNES

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show! 

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• How David’s earlier experiences helped him to realize his calling was to help cultivate stories in other people.
• How living near a crime scene had prompted David to ask “Why do people commit crimes” and further searching questions like: “Why did his life turn out this way?” And “Does he want a better life?”
• David discussed a story from the book about Naji who is five years old at the time and dealing with issues of race
• How to start writing and the cathartic effect it can have on us
• What to say to yourself when you think you’re not a good writer
• How to rewrite the past just by writing the story as you remember it
• How you can start a writing group right now
• What’s David’s message to the A.I.R. community

.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Episode One of  Writing our Way Out Podcast
• Writing Our Way Out Prompts
• Writing Our Way Out Book
• Writingourwayout.com
• [email protected]

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe on ITUNES

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

In today’s solo episode, I’m sharing a book that has helped me to better understand Depression-especially male depression. In the show, I outline 5 takeaways from the book.

WHAT WE’LL LEARN

• Here is what I want to spend time highlighting as if we were sitting together having an iced decaf mocha!
• How you can pass depression on from parent to child like a chain of pain
• For men, pain is something you should rise above and when we “fail” that is when the shame comes out
• The difference between overt vs. covert depression
• How depression leads to numbing the pain with behaviors & addictions
• Gender differences in how one handles depression
• The story of David
• Autobiographical thread throughout the book is riveting and raw especially how Terry Real turned his life around by breaking his own toxic legacy
• Adina’s PSA to the A.I.R. community

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Episode 52-where Adina talks about R.A.I.N.
• I Don’t Want to Talk About It: Overcoming the Secret Legacy of Male Depression
• atheistsinrecovery.com/audible

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe on ITUNES

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.

Welcome to today’s show!

WHAT WE’LL LEARN:

This episode features 15 of our past guests. Each guest submitted an audio recording answering the question: “What’s the one thing you wish you knew in early sobriety.” This show was so much fun to work on. This episode is also a celebration of sorts as we mark the one year anniversary of the podcast! After this episode, I am taking a much needed break but will be back in September with brand new episodes. 

• Joe C. shares his message to his younger self and his analogy between recovery time and flying a plane is a good one!
• Joe’s website is Rebellion Dogs Publishing
• Tom Bannard discusses how the hard recovery work will pay off. Tom’s website is VCU's Rams in Recovery
• Bari Cohen shares what she wishes she knew about a connection to a higher power and fully committing to the 12 steps. Bari’s Facebook page is, Bari Cohen
• Liv Pennelle’s experience is, recovery is fluid and your needs change as you progress. Liv’s website is: Liv's Recovery Kitchen
• Bill Greer discusses learning how not to be overwhelmed at the start. He uses great imagery to drive home his point. His website is:  Smart Recovery USA
• Duane Osterlind shares there is nothing to be afraid of when asking for support and nothing to be ashamed of for getting support. His website is: Novus Mindful Life
• Nicole Burgess talks about what she would tell clients who are starting their trauma recovery journey. Her website is: Nicole Burgess Coaching
• Peter Finger shares that recovery gets easier as you go and having new coping skills to replace the old ones helps to exercise that recovery muscle. His website is:  Smart Recovery South Dakota
• Dr. Liz discuses how your whole life is going to get better in recovery and your future self will thank you. Her website is: Dr. Liz Hypnosis
• Julie Cole says she wishes she knew to slow down in early recovery and to treat it like a marathon and not a sprint. Her website is: Cole Wellness
• Rev. Edie Weinstein shares recovery is a process and not a one and done event. Her website is: Opti Mystical
• Matt Markowicz discusses loneliness and disconnection with self as being his primary battles in early sobriety. You can reach him on Linkedin: Matt's Linkedin Page
• Diane D Rodriguez (Dee Dee) discusses how loss and grief can show up in early sobriety and help to keep us stuck. Her website is: Live Life Changed
• Chris Marshall-says that fun needs to be a focus in your sobriety. His website is: The Sans Bar
• Mishka Shubaly says both laughing til it hurts and inappropriate jokes are still available to you in sobriety and to have fun! His website is: Mishka Shubaly

For more info, head over to atheistsinrecovery.com and subscribe to our email list. And thank you for listening!

• Leave an honest review on ITUNES.  Your ratings and reviews really help and I read each one.

• Subscribe to the A.I.R. newsletter where you will learn to identify patterns of dysfunctional thinking, change the dysfunctional thinking into something more positive, and find hope in recovery.

• If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share it with friends, family, and other professionals by using the social media buttons on this page.