Newcomers vs. Oldtimers in addiction recovery and 12 Step programs.

Real Sobriety Ep. 55

Addiction recovery podcast from Real Sobriety filmmaker and sobriety coach, Robert McClellan. Down to earth, humorous, inspirational and sometimes irreverent - always a good listen to help you in your recovery journey.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Health & Fitness

After 232 episodes I simply don’t have much else to say on the subject of addiction recovery.  Like a lot of you, getting sober was the best decision I’ve ever made. I am certain that if I did not get into recovery I’d be dead today. Instead, I am living the life of my dreams. And I’ve always said - okay, sometimes preached - that just quitting drinking or drugging should never be the goal, but living a happy, successful life in recovery was the best possible outcome

The Last Episode - Saying Goodbye to this Podcast

If you attend traditional 12 step meetings at groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, you have probably noticed the overwhelming presence of the Christian God in the room.  

Drinking The A.A. Jesus Juice

I hope I never get to the point where I think I'm the smartest person in recovery and I can't learn from a newcomer or someone with less time than me.    It is a fairly well known practice for oldtimers around 12 step meetings to tell newcomers to “shut their mouths and open their ears.” That’s what my first sponsor told me all those years ago. I can’t think of anything more disrespectful and potentially damaging to say to someone who is brand new in recovery. The newcomer is fresh off the playing field, maybe better described as fresh off the battlefield of addiction. Their perspective is raw and their need for connection and acceptance from the group is acute.    We can’t proclaim that we are praying for the alcoholic or addict who still suffers and then, when they show up in our rooms, tell them to sit down and shut up.

Newcomers Are The Smartest People in the Room

Our sobriety is about a lot more than stopping our drinking and drugging. It is about improving our quality of life one day at a time. When I first stopped drinking the last thing I could imagine was my life improving in every way possible. The only thing I could think of, through the fog of my detox was -  When will I stop feeling like crap? When will all the guilt and shame and self loathing stop? How will I ever piece my life back together? RealSobriety.com

It's About More Than Not Drinking

Welcome Back to the NEW Real Sobriety Podcast! Ep. 228 Real Sobriety started during a series of conversations with my wife, the acclaimed Canadian underwater explorer Jill Heinerth. We were just beginning our lives together and Jill was interested in, and very supportive of my recovery. We each had been married before, and lived extremely different lives. We held no secrets and promised to accept each other for the people we are today, not the messes we were in the past. As a documentary filmmaker, Jill suggested that I share my recovery journey with the world. The result is the award-winning documentary film “Real Sobriety.” Expanding on the purpose of the film, I decided to continue the conversation with the Recovery Community through this podcast. You can find examples recent episodes posted below, and over 200 past episodes at the side bar link - or just click here. Going forward, I plan to post a new episode each week, and occasionally invite special guests to share their stories with you as well.   Thanks for being here for me and remember - Go out there and Love One Another!

Real Sobriety Ep. 55

Download our free app to listen on your phone