Recovery Elevator

Today we have Randy Raphael, who has 8.5 years of sobriety. This is how he quit. Randy tells how getting sober doesn't have to be such a struggle.

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

Today we have Eric, who has 14 months of sobriety. This is how he quit. At six months sober, Eric found himself in a wheelchair — and still didn't drink. He shares what he thought sobriety was going to look like, and what he's learned to expect instead.

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

Today we have Paul, who has been sober since 1981. This is how he quit. Paul shares how alcoholism is a progressive disease. Below are the key points Paul discusses.

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

Drinking destroys the intelligence

After 34 years is still taking it one day at a time

Drinking destroys in this order: Spiritual, Mind then body. Healing is in reverse order

This disease is beautiful (the solution, continuing to be of service to the community and others)

ISM – incredibly short memory

Wants to be reminded on a daily basis that is doesn't get any better

Gets gooder and gooder and gooder

Sick and tired of being sick and tired

Today we have Moira, with 9 months of sobriety. This is how she quit. She has lost 55 pounds and explains how her life is so much better without alcohol.

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

A dry drunk is someone who:

1. Has made no emotional or behavioral changes.

2. Someone who simply doesn't drink and does not work a programs or invest time into their recovery

7 Characteristics of a Dry Drunk:

1. Selfish

a. Alcoholics are all extremely selfish and we think we are in total control at all times. We think we have beat the system

2. My Way or the Highway – Tom Cochrane "Life is a highway"

a. Spontaneous decisions with only one person in mind

3. The Blah……

a. Things are getting boring. You've quit drinking, you're riding the pink cloud, but soon things start to get mundane and boring

4. We start to forget

a. The magic of how our brains are wired to forget the past

5. Sunsets aren't quite as magnificent

a. Interesting things in life have lost their allure

6. Negativity

a. A continuous trend in negativity

7. You're still bat shit crazy

a. Drinking is a thinking disease and not a drinking disease

b. Our drinking is but a symptom of our disease

Today we have Maggie, who has 14 days of sobriety. This is how she quit. In her interview, she explains how she made it this far and what gave her the motivation to stop drinking alcohol.

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

Here are some of the resources discussed in Episode 10

AA on Air Wellington

Hello Sunday Morning

Foundations Recovery Network

And of course, the battle with the iPhone

Today we have Tom, with 196 days of sobriety. This is how he quit.

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

In this episode I discuss 6 ways you can take action before really taking action.

1. Wake up - set a routine

2. Pray, say something positive to yourself and meditate

3. Make healthy meals

4. Clean - organize the space you live in

5. Exercise - walk, jog, run, stretch

6. Get busy - keep your mind off alcohol with healthy time consuming tasks

DIY Pete has a great website that walks viewers through building great projects STEP BY STEP. This is a great resource and healthy activity in early sobriety!

Today we have Nate, with nearly 5 years of sobriety. This is how he quit. Nate is about to become a father and removing alcohol from his life was key.

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

Paul climbed Machu Picchu in 2014 while sobering up and the trek mentally and physically kicked my butt. In 2015, he dominated the trek becuase sobriety was with my every step of the way.

In this Episode Paul talks about speaking to the girls in the Peruvian Promises program, which is part of the non profit Peruvian Hearts about the topic of alcoholism. Although none of the girls in the orphanages and the Peruvian Promise program are alcoholics, several of their parents are. Portions of the donations submitted through the website and mobile app will be given to the Peruvian Hearts program in addition Paul will be organizing a trip in 2016 to the volunteer again.

Paul speaking to the girls of the Peruvian Promise program

Paul and Nate hitch hiking in El Salvador in sobriety! You can tell it's a little warm at the time this photo was taken!

Today we have Rochelle, with 19 months of sobriety. This is how she quit.

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

I was headed to Cusco, Peru as a chaperone for a group of highschool students around this same time last year, and when I started drinking on the first flight I kept drinking all night and up until moments before meeting the students. It was insane, which is exactly what this disease is.

Today we have Daisy, with nearly 1 year of sobriety. This is how she quit.

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

Alcohol is the most dangerous drug in the world and you probably don't even realize it.

David Nutt, psychiatrist at imperial college in the UK and former Chairman of the UK advisory council on drugs.

- Kills 3 million people worldwide

- Was fired for suggesting alcohol was most dangerous drug

- In the USA alcohol is responsible for 1/3 of all traffic fatalities

- With homicides ½ were intoxicated and 2/3 of domestic violence victims

- You're likely to be a victim is doubled as well

Harm score from

- Measures drugs on a score of 16 (9 measure harm to individual user and 7 measure societal factors)

- Heroine, crack, and Meth are more dangerous when only individual factors, but even so, alcohol is the 4th.

- Tobacco is the 7th most harmful drug. 9/10 people can handle alcohol, but 0/10 people can smoke. QUIT SMOKING NOW

- Important to not confuse legality with dangerousness. The reasons some drugs are legal are mainly cultural and political.

- Marijuana is the gateway drug? Nope. It's alcohol and even more dangerous than ecstasy and LSD

Today we have Elliot, with 16 months of sobriety. This is how he quit.

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

When I found out one of my brother's best friends is an alcoholic I was blown away; an a little upset that we hadn't connected years before so we could have been working together.

Here are some of the resources that Elliot likes.

Joe and Charlie

Rich Roll

Sandy Beach

Like Elliot mentioned, if you would like to get in touch with Elliot, email [email protected] and we will put you in touch with him.