Recovery Elevator

Recovery Elevator

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Recovery Elevator episodes

  • RE 390: The Secret to Change

    Today we have Jess. She is 37, from Ontario, and has been sober since May 7, 2022.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE IT! Anyone who doesn't quit quitting eventually creates distance from alcohol. "The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not fighting the old, but building the new." Socrates. This journey is about transformation. It's an invitation to create a life where alcohol isn't needed. It's about letting part of you go. It's about saying goodbye to the aspects of your life that aren't working,

    Paul suggests fighting the old is a waste, and addiction is a messenger letting you know your life is out of balance. Desperation leads to surrender, which leads to openness and willingness. Don't resist change as it is one constant you can count on.

    Music Submissions - email edited versions to: [email protected]

    [11:31] Jess has been sober for two months. She is an accountant for a rehab hospital and enjoys reading, camping, cooking, and paddleboarding with her dog. She lives in Ontario, Canada, and has two children.

    Jess came from a family of drinkers. Her Dad was a heavy drinker. She started experimenting with alcohol in her early teens. At age 14, her Dad died suddenly, and her Mom's mental health deteriorated as a result.

    Jess hosted parties and smoked pot. Since her family didn't talk about things, drinking was an escape. All her friends drank and smoked, so it seemed commonplace. At one point, she started skipping school, and her sister intervened. Jess slowed down and appreciated the attention from her sister.

    After high school, she took some random jobs and habitually stopped working, excusing her behavior with feigned sicknesses. She made lots of excuses but never addressed the root problem. She quit her jobs before she got fired. Her temper flared when her drinking hit a certain point, and she became a monster. Jess moved back in with her Mom to curb expenses, and her drinking slowed slightly. Six months later, she moved in with her boyfriend, and they were drinking buddies.

    Jess got pregnant and abstained throughout her pregnancy but picked up again as soon as the baby was born. She bought into the "mommy wine culture ."Her Mom had dementia. Being around someone with dementia was difficult, and Jess' drinking escalated. Eventually, she went to an online AA meeting and cried. She felt so welcomed. She counted minutes to hours, and finally, it got easier. She is now grateful to be present with her kids and is learning to like herself.

    Kris's Summary

    Kris is looking forward to Recovery Elevator's sober retreat. Kris has learned to listen to others, be present, and hold space for them. He has fun with his sober people. Kris encourages listeners to find their way to go deeper and have some fun. Challenge yourself to take the next step.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator-

    It all starts from the inside out.

    I love you guys.

    56 min
  • RE 389: Journal Speak

    Today we have Christy. She is 42, from Denmark, and has been sober since April 5, 2022.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    Paul talks about "journal speak," an informal, off-the-cuff style of journaling. The point is to get unprocessed, uncomfortable emotions out of you. It makes you feel less alone and more connected to yourself. This is a significant component connecting with the raw, unheard, vulnerable, pissed-off version of you. When you feel a craving coming on, this is one of the best times to do this because a part of you is screaming to be heard. Paul suggests starting with 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes at night. Make it informal, with no spelling or grammar check, and toss or burn it when you finish. Generally, you will find that you feel better and have cleared your mind.

    [10:58] Christy has been sober for eighty days. She lives in Denmark, is from North Carolina, and is an agile coach in IT. She is married with two children,

    Christy describes herself as a boring child who didn't get into trouble. She was active in sports and music. Alcohol was always present in her life. She remembers the DARE program in high school and decided to avoid drugs and alcohol. She met her husband and married young. Christy drank socially, but there were no red flags.

    In 2004, her father was diagnosed with lung cancer. He was age 47. Christy knew she needed to be strong. He passed in 2007. Unaware of how to process the grief, Christy pushed through, went through some counseling, and had a baby. After giving birth, she experienced anxiety and high blood pressure. She spiraled downward. Alcohol was a great way to shut down her brain. She gave birth to her second son and immediately returned to drinking and felt okay because the Mommy wine culture made it alright.

    When moving to Denmark, she knew she needed to address her drinking because she had started sneaking alcohol. The geographic solution didn't work. The trauma of her Dad's death brought on emotions Christy could not process. She began taking days off and going to the liquor store early while her husband was at work and her kids were in school. Her drinking progressed, and she could secretly consume a whole bottle of wine. Her panic attacks got worse, and she didn't realize it was the progression of her drinking that was causing the panic attacks.

    Christy told her doctor about her problem. She started listening to recovery podcasts and saw a new counselor to deal with her grief and health anxiety. Her self-talk was, "don't think, drink." The anxiety was debilitating. She was depressed and had the shakes and the shame of uncontrollable drinking.

    COVID and having the kids home 24/7 was challenging. When she got to the point where her children had to put her to bed, she knew she had hit rock bottom. Her marriage was in jeopardy.

    Christy enjoys Café RE and often hosts some of the chats. She attends AA and Smart Recovery as well. She has learned it is okay to be vulnerable and not strong. Leaning on her husband is okay. She no longer has to be "the rock." Her anxiety has improved, and her counseling is helping. Her greatest joy is that her son says he has his mom back.

    Paul's Summary

    Paul talks about the anxiety that came with trying to fix his printer. He loves that he has learned to let emotions flow through him. Paul believes in all the listeners.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator-

    It all starts from the inside out. You can do this.

    I love you guys.

    54 min
  • RE 388: Who Do I Think I Am?

    Episode 388 - Identity

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Kris

    After returning from a trip to DC, Kris realized that connecting his identity to his accomplishments is something he left behind. Presenting his achievements as a "Who I Am" was typical for Kris when he was in active addiction. Kris hoped that showing others the good in him might help him to see the good in himself. Approval seeking was directly linked to his self-worth and what others thought of him. This created conflict because Kris felt like he was leading a double life: the list of accomplishments he shared with others and the poor self-esteem that felt more like the "real Kris."

    Ultimately, Kris hit a tipping point that led to his recovery. During those early days, he identified with the bad things he had done while drinking. With treatment, counseling, and spiritual support, Kris learned that he was responsible for his harmful behavior but eventually realized that what he did wasn't who he was. He had to clean up, but he gained clarity on what he did vs. who he is.

    Kris found a new identity in recovery. The greater good prevails, and instead of looking for an atta boy, he tries to connect to how he can be part of something bigger.

    Kris asks listeners where they find their identity? Does it bring you peace? Can you make shifts in your identity without shame?

    [10:45] Liz has been sober for five months. She is from California, has two dogs, works for a healthcare start-up, and enjoys entertaining, cooking, gardening, and music.

    Alcohol was part of Liz's life from an early age. She described a lot of drama and trauma in her childhood. She developed a fear of drinking while observing her parent's drinking.

    Liz and Kris talked about the behaviors we develop in childhood because of trauma and learning to give yourself grace as you reconcile those behaviors and learn healthier ones. They discussed how shame doesn't support your recovery. They also talked about surrender being an essential step in recovering yourself.

    Liz relies on Recovery Elevator and Café RE, meditation, self-care, recovery tools, and community to support her sobriety.

    Kris's Summary

    Kris talks about embracing challenges and turning them around to support the greater good. Move forward with grace, love and encouragement. Learn to love yourself and share that love with others. If you feel stuck in your story, know you are not alone. Keep it simple and focus on the next right here. We are here for you.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator-

    You're the only one who can do this, but you don't have to do it alone.

    I love you guys.

    55 min
  • RE 387: Why Some Make it, and Some Don't

    Today we have Becca. She is 43, from Montana, and took her last drink on September 18, 2017.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Sober Travel Update – Costa Rica 2023. Stay tuned for dates. www.recoveryelevator.com/events

    Highlights from Paul

    Paul believes that taking responsibility for your drinking or choosing not to be a victim increases your likelihood of "making it" L." listening to this podcast means that you are open to new ideas, pathways, resources, and a new outlook on life. Paul suggests telling yourself that you will make it or are already there. Awareness that you have a drinking problem is the beginning, then ownership of the solution.

    Paul believes a drinking problem is an invitation to a new life. Never quit quitting. Paul says yes, you are going to make it. You are already making it.

    [11:07] Becca has been sober for nearly five years. Becca worked for 18 years as a chef/bartender. She rescues dogs, loves art, and reading. She went from food addiction to alcohol in her early twenties. She had a gastric bypass in 2005. She pre-gamed a bottle of booze before going out with her friends. She was able to lose 268 pounds and kept it off, but she was able to drink a lot of alcohol.

    Becca describes several signs on the way to quitting drinking. She eventually went to Great Falls for inpatient treatment. After 17 years of constant drinking, the strict rehab included a lot of self-discoveries, and she had to earn privileges. The physical withdrawal was difficult because she was having seizures. Becca transitioned over to sober living. Shame was part of her inner dialogue. After eight months of sober living, she began working out. She opened her first business.

    Becca's life is so much better. She would rather be involved in a national disaster than go back to her rock bottom with alcohol. Recovery isn't black and white. Routine is important, but she has learned to embrace the challenges that come with everyday life. She can hear the birds and the river in ways she hadn't before.

    Daily reflections, post-it reminders, journaling, embracing nature, equine therapy, and surrounding herself with healthy support have been critical to maintaining sobriety. At five months sober, Becca was able to testify against someone who beat her up. She moved to Gardiner, MT, and fell in love with the area.

    She studied coffee, created her own coffee recipe, and is proud to serve the best coffee on earth. She has strained out the things she no longer needs. Check out Bear's Brew in Gardiner, MT, if you head to Yellowstone.

    Paul's Summary

    Paul hates the term "making it" and knows that comparison is a trap. Internal goals can be problematic because of the ego. The gifts of recovery include: being present, enjoying the moments, and knowing that you have already made it. All pathways lead the way home. Paul embraces problems and tries to heed the lessons that come with them.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator-

    Go big because eventually, we all go home.

    I love you guys.

    53 min
  • RE 386: The One Mistake People Make When Quitting Drinking

    Today we have Shad. He is 46, from Indiana, and took his last drink on March 19, 2021.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    Don't quit drinking without learning coping strategies, understanding why you drink in the first place, and get some tools for your recovery toolbox. Don't sell yourself short on how rich your life can be without alcohol. Say yes, to as many recovery opportunities as you can. Books, podcasts, quit lit, retreats, spiritual teachers, music, chats, meetings. Some of it is work. These investments of time into yourself will pay HUGE in the future. A whole new world awaits you after the bottle.

    [10:50] Shad has been sober for 433 days. He is married with five children, three grandchildren, and three dogs. He loves skateboarding, archery, trail running, and anything outside. He describes nature as his church, particularly above the timberline.

    Shad experienced severe child abuse in early childhood and was from a family with a history of addiction to drugs and alcohol. His grandfather was a friend, a father figure, and a heavy drinker. Shad created chaos with alcohol. After his divorce, he doubled down on alcohol; then, he tried to drink himself to death after his grandfather passed. Shad lost his brother to a drug overdose.

    Consequences were minimal for Shad. His first wake-up call was waking up to an empty gallon bottle of whiskey. A year later, running inspired him. He started running longer distances. The stride, footfalls, and measured breathing were meditative for Shad. He still had not dealt with his emotions. He stopped drinking in 2014, ate clean, started ultra-running, and completed a 100-mile run. His ego kicked in, and he drank again because he thought he could handle it now. He got drunk on the eve of his wedding and again on his wedding day. Shad didn't believe he had a drinking problem; he thought he had a depression problem. Running replaced alcohol for those 2.5 years. After his honeymoon, he tried several attempts at moderation. It worked until it didn't, then he went downhill fast.

    Shad describes himself as addicted to everything – he can't have just one. Gradually his drinking progressed. His middle son developed a drinking problem observing his Dad. The guilt of his son's drinking drove him to drink more. Covid became another excuse to isolate and drink. After a night of extreme drinking, he told his wife he tried to kill himself with bourbon. She agreed to get him some help. Shad began reaching out. He found a community that didn't judge him but supported him. A friend introduced him to a group called, Punks in Recovery. Shad embraces many avenues of sobriety, including AA and ACA, and he is open to whatever works.

    Kris's Summary

    Kris talks about reflecting on his goals and tools and evaluating what works and doesn't. He encourages listeners to look without judgment at what went well and what could have gone better. Shame doesn't have a place in recovery. Leverage gratitude and do the next right thing. Growth takes time. Let it do its job.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources:

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator- You are the only one who can do this, but you don't have to do it alone.

    I love you guys.

    1 hr 3 min
  • RE 385: You're Free

    Today we have Steve. He is 34, from Boston, MA, and took his last drink on February 18, 2021.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Bozeman Retreat

    Upcoming Courses: AF Photography and AF Mindfulness

    Service Project

    Courses: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/cafere/

    Bozeman Retreat: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/bozeman/

    Highlights from Paul

    An elementary view of freedom is free will or doing what you want. A more rewarding form of freedom includes commitments, discipline, and boundaries for extended periods. Freedom also includes sleep, routine, forgiveness, being present, being of service, overcoming fear, and adding value. Freedom gives you choices; the most important choice is to be your authentic self.

    [8:40] Steve has been sober for over a year. Steve's parents were born in El Salvatore, and Steve is first generation American. In college, he stumbled upon neuroscience. He enjoys running, boxing and music. A classmate passed, and the grief and mystery around his death felt impossible to process at the time. Alcohol put noise cancellation on his thoughts, his anxiety, and the reality of death. Steve never grieved. Over the years, his drinking progressed from weekends to weekdays to whenever he wasn't working. He learned quickly he couldn't have 1-2 drinks. Moderation didn't work. Last year on his birthday, he drank to excess in front of his parents, siblings, and partner. He resolved you quit drinking. You get to keep everything else or give up everything and keep drinking.

    Steve attempted moderation. Eventually, he went to therapy to learn how to navigate his feelings, anxiety, and urge to drink. He realized he had a family history of alcohol abuse and anxiety. On a particularly bad day, his friends expressed concern and suggested some things to explore. After his first Café Re meeting, Steve felt more comfortable with his thoughts; that was his Day 1. The RE community gave Steve the push he needed. Listening to others, he felt accepted, nourished, and supported. He described never feeling more human and letting vulnerability take center stage. Day count fell aside, and it became "no matter what."

    Steve's non-negotiables started with not letting alcohol influence his work. Now it's about being present and letting life happen.

    Paul's Summary

    Declare freedom over alcohol. Never quit quitting.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator –go big because eventually, we all go home.

    I love you guys.

    49 min
  • RE 384: The Path of Least Resistance

    Today we have Matt. He is 40, from Edmonton, Canada, and took his last drink on April 8, 2019.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    Sobriety is the path of least resistance. Moderation was miserable, and drinking is killing me. Paul describes his own experiences with moderation and points out that with moderation, you continue to have decision fatigue and only moderately heal. Moderation is often a step along the journey toward ditching the booze.

    The path of least resistance means – you won't get a DUI or be sent home from work because you smell like booze. Your sleep improves, your liver health improves along with your connections and relationships, and you enjoy more fun (and skittles).

    [13:06] Matt has been sober for three years. He is a recovery coach, engaged, and enjoys music, nature, hiking, camping, and his dogs. He is learning about sound therapy and how music can influence your mindset.

    Matt came from a family of heavy drinkers. He remembers listening to the excitement of the adults' conversations while drinking when he was young. He was often given sips of beer if it felt exciting. As a teenager, music became a way to express himself. The rock and roll lifestyle complimented the music, which included booze. Drinking helped Matt to overcome his shyness and awkwardness.

    His early 20s presented the perfect storm of opportunities to drink excessively. He went from a happy-go-lucky drunk to having a chip on his shoulder. He began to recognize his drinking habits were changing. A breakup with his girlfriend sent him into a tailspin of depression, and his drinking escalated. External pressure to quit drinking led to rebellion, and Matt learned that change had to come from within. Matt was hospitalized with acute pancreatitis after a drinking binge. He continued to drink and had another health incident. He took some time off work and launched it with a bender, then turned to a friend to bring him to an AA meeting. His first meeting was a profound emotional/spiritual shift that led him to over three years of sobriety.

    Matt's firsts during his first year of sobriety was difficult and rewarding. It was his first opportunity as an adult to experience life without alcohol. Self-help books, podcasts, and a growth mindset helped him embrace sobriety. He was quiet about his sobriety. At a friend's wedding, he had a shot of tequila, and the wave of the high hit him quickly. He had a creative outburst and wrote ten songs. He convinced himself that the drinks enabled his creativity. He repackaged all his views of alcohol to return to drinking moderately. The moderation bargaining started, and at one point, he heard a voice telling him, if you keep doing this, it will kill you. Matt continued drinking. After a sloppy party weekend, Matt realized it was time to stop while driving to his dad's celebration of life. He decided to stop the cycle as a tribute to his father.

    Matt recently made a plant-based medicine retreat. His healing journey continues, and the sense of peace has returned. He is focused on a growth mindset and allowing the journey to happen because life is not a to-do list.

    Matt's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-recovery/id1618862620

    Kris's Summary

    Embracing summer plans as a sober person is new for many of us. Give yourself grace. Create accountability, set boundaries, try new things, create new habits, and remember it's okay to go slow.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator –it all starts from the inside out

    I love you guys.

    1 hr 13 min
  • RE 383: Chapter 4 - Clearing Space

    Today we have Phillip. He is 46 and took his last drink on February 28, 2019.

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    It's hard to visualize a sober life when you are still drinking because your body is using every drop of energy to get rid of the poison that is alcohol from your body. Paul suggests once you ditch the booze, sit back and be the observer to watch your life unfold and resist the urge to control everything. In his eighth year of sobriety, Paul bought a home in Costa Rica, a longtime dream. After quitting, his life became a blank canvas, and now he is exploring his love for nature in his new home – which would not have been possible if he was still drinking. Paul feels connected to his inner child and is grateful for his life today.

    In chapter 4, Paul wants to showcase listeners' talents. Feel free to send an edited MP3 file in under 3 minutes to [email protected], and you may hear yourself on the podcast.

    [12:55] Phillip lives in Minneapolis, lives with his partner, has no kids, and works as an attorney. He is a marathon runner. Phillip started drinking in college. As life unfolded, he noticed drinking was part of all his life activities, from work to time with friends. He realized he drank every day, even the night before running a marathon.

    In 2017, he started to question if he had a problem. The thought of quitting drinking felt like quitting fun. In 2018, Philip decided to explore his relationship with alcohol as his New Year's resolution. He quit for four months with few problems. He kept a diary that tracked his cravings and triggers. He drank during a vacation which ended his streak. He found several reasons to start and stop. By the end of 2018, he returned to daily drinking and stopped keeping his diary, and brandy was his drink of choice. He noticed he was gaining weight, and his depression was worsening. He realized that moderation was a challenge. Choosing to drink or not drink daily was exhausting and caused decision fatigue. Phillip's sleep was terrible; one day, he found himself drinking at 3 AM so he could sleep … two hours before a run. It occurred to him that he was now drinking in the morning.

    As he reflected on his behavior, he saw three paths: continue drinking, moderate, or abstain altogether. He concluded that quitting was the past of least resistance because moderation involved constant decision fatigue. He joined the "no matter what" club. He got sober, learning how to get through the moments. He kept a spreadsheet that became a diary of his cravings. He tracked his cravings to he could identify trends. His most challenging moments came later in sobriety. Three months in, Memorial Day weekend was a huge struggle. Podcasts are a huge part of Phillip's recovery. He joined Café RE and began to connect with people. Many say you are the average of your top 5 people, and surrounding himself with non-drinkers has brought his life to a better level. He now enjoys a runner's high when he runs, which he never experienced when drinking. Phillip believes sobriety can be for everybody.

    Paul's Summary

    Keep track of how much energy your addiction takes. Write it down. Never take yourself too seriously. I love you guys!

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator –it all starts from the inside out. I love you guys!

    I love you guys.

    53 min
  • RE 382: So Now What?

    Today we have Ryan. He is 40, from Denver, and took his last drink on January 7, 2013.

    Highlights from Paul

    Paul shares Odette's wise words, "we can't be hard on ourselves when we do hard things." He also examines those who abuse alcohol and the correlation with being hard on ourselves. Could the pace you are setting for yourself be driving you to drink?

    Not drinking isn't an activity. I quit drinking, so now what? You are making space for a new chapter in your life. A theme you will find in that chapter is your relationship with yourself.

    [11:15] Ryan has been sober for over nine years. He is the founder of Free Spiritual Community for addicts to break the cycle of addiction. He is married and has four kids. He loves being outside, the mountains, travel, and family life.

    Ryan has been in ministry for 14 years, and sobriety brought him a spiritual awakening. He went to bible school, and during the first month, his brother was killed in a car accident. The addiction began to take over. Alcohol helped Ryan deal with pain, fear, and uncertainty. He experienced shame and fundamentally did not like himself as a person.

    Ryan didn't know how to stop the pain or creating pain. While in the seminary, his drinking escalated. One Christmas Eve, his sister asked him not to come around anymore because she didn't want her kids to see him drunk. He describes putting on a mask, so nobody could see who he was. Ryan describes the grace that helped him connect to his relationship with God, knowing that God was there during his addiction.

    Admitting that he was spiritually disconnected created spiritual freedom that changed his life. Shame, anger, and self-hatred helped him connect to God and explore a different way of life. An intervention from his wife made the difference. She used the word "we," and knowing he didn't have to do it alone propelled him into recovery.

    Nine years in, Ryan still practices letting go. He began his journey in 12-step programs, and he went from sitting in the back of the room to actively engaging, getting vulnerable, and being of service. Today, Ryan and his wife have a church filled with addicts, loved ones of addicts, and spiritual refugees,

    https://freespiritualcommunity.com. Insta: freespiritualcommunity, YouTube: freespiritual community.

    https://wagoncoffeeroasters.com/

    Kris' Summary

    Kris talks about his wife Aimee being on the Recovery Elevator podcast. Check out episode 321. Kris thanks listeners for giving him the room to grow.

    Keep going. Finds some peace.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator –it all starts from the inside out. I love you guys!

    I love you guys.

    1 hr 4 min
  • RE 381: We're All Addicted to Something

    Today we have Amy. She is 39, from Canada, and took her last drink on August 21, 2016

    Today's Sponsor: Café RE Use the promo code CONNECT for one free month in the alcohol-free community Café RE.

    Highlights from Paul

    Paul talks about a book he is reading called, The Urge. It's about an Indian in the Seneca Tribe named Handsome Lake. He developed a program similar to AA about 150 years before Bill W and Dr. Bob created AA. Connection pulled people out of addiction. The Urge: https://amzn.to/37KVS3Y

    Paul describes an experience at a Sauna in the hot springs where a group of men started talking about addiction. It began with one man sharing that he had ten years without a drink and moved to Montana for a fresh start. After he burned the ships, the other men in the sauna talked about their struggle to control substances beyond alcohol and drugs. When one person opens up and shares from the heart, it gives others a safe space to do the same.

    Paul reminds us: 1) It's a challenging universe to live in; 2) we are all addicts trying to survive, and 3) we all need help. Continue exploring coping strategies, and you will find the ones that work for you.

    [10:55] Amy has been sober for six years. She is from Toronto, Canada, and works as a sobriety and mindset coach. She loves reading, cycling, traveling, cross stitching, is single, queer, and has a cat.

    Amy started drinking at 16 and grew up in a family dealing with addiction. Alcohol relieved Amy from the trauma and complication of her parent's separation and divorce. She was hiding alcohol and drinking alone very early into her drinking. The volume and frequency of her drinking progressed rapidly, and she was prone to blackouts. Externally she was high functioning. Internally, she struggled quite a bit.

    Amy was overcome with grief after her dad's sudden death, and her drinking escalated to cope with her volatile emotions. She achieved six months of consecutive sobriety and committed to being done with drinking. Her first attempts included moderation, rewards, and bargaining, which continued for a year. In 2015, questions started to emerge for Amy, forcing her to examine her drinking.

    Amy became a coach and learned to share her story more publicly. She now helps other women create change for themselves. She has taken her life and her power back. Breaking the cycle of addiction has been very empowering for Amy. Compassion and sadness have become her primary emotions. Compassion for her father and sadness for what she went through and what might have been had her childhood been more stable.

    Small steps, habit stacking, and new habits created momentum for Amy. Committing to making real change, even with discomfort and struggle, helped Amy to stack days. She began to follow other sober women on Instagram, which made her feel hopeful. Learning about addiction and alcohol, from biology to mental health, helped Amy strengthen her commitment to abstinence. She avoided events, social situations, and people who created a risk to her sobriety. She shifted her priorities to change her life.

    Find Amy on Instagram @MsAmyCWillis and Holandwell.com.

    Odette's Summary

    Odette discusses non-scale victories and tiny wins that are difficult to measure. She encourages listeners to be mindful of those small victories that snowball into meaningful momentum.

    Remember that you are not alone and together is always better.

    Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:

    • You can find more information about our events

    Resources

    Recovery Elevator YouTube - Subscribe here!

    Sobriety Tracker iTunes

    Recovery Elevator –please believe in yourself. I believe in you.

    I love you guys.

    50 min

About Recovery Elevator

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