The Truth About Addiction

New York-based Dr. Brooke Scheller is a doctor of nutrition. With 15 years of experience in the field, Dr. Scheller uses her knowledge from a science standpoint to explain the connection between nutrition and alcoholism, utilising nutrition to support changing your relationship with alcohol and healing your body from past alcohol damage.

Dr. Scheller had a drinking problem since her teenage years. Now at two and a half years sober, she has successfully released her highly anticipated book: ‘How To Eat To Change How You Drink - a revolutionary guide to leverage food and nutrition to reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption, develop mindfulness, and promote a healthier relationship with alcohol.’

Follow Dr. Scheller on her Instagram page @drbrookescheller and order her book here: 

https://www.functionalsobriety.com/network  

If you'd like to connect with me or have recommendations for my show, please use the links below:

www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

 Thank you for your support. One day at a time.

This is not just a story of a woman getting sober, but rather the inspiring journey of a devoted mother who made the decision to quit drinking for the sake of her son. Allow me to introduce Kim Bellas, an extraordinary individual who demonstrated that alcohol was not a prerequisite for having a good time.

Kim's youngest son, Matthew, faced the challenges of full epilepsy, rendering alcohol off-limits for him. Witnessing his feelings of exclusion when socializing with friends, Kim made the courageous choice to abstain from drinking. What began as a three-month personal challenge has now transformed into an impressive eleven-year journey of sobriety.

Through her unwavering dedication, Kim has not only become an impressive role model for her children but has also trademarked the phrase 'Sober Is The New Cool.' Her overwhelmingly positive energy radiates, leaving a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to cross her path.

Follow Kim on her Instagram for more inspirational content on sobriety and mental health @sober.is.the.new.cool

If you'd like to connect with me or have recommendations for my show, please use the links below:

www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

 Thank you for your support. One day at a time.

Wise beyond his 38 years of age, Kohdi Rayne is currently digitally working with 1700 people through his online programs, spreading awareness on addiction recovery via various platforms with over 700K followers.

Kohdi’s drinking lasted for over 24 years, starting from the age of 8. At the peak of his alcoholism, he consumed nearly 2 and a half bottles of vodka a day to stay alive, suffering convulsions if he went without a drink.

In 2017, Kohdi faced a 'near-death' experience and was given less than a week to live due to Esophageal Varices (the veins in his throat burst, filling his stomach with blood), liver failure, and heart failure. It took him 18 months to recover and learn to walk again. Six years later, Kohdi proudly stands as the founder of Beyond Sober. He is dedicated to helping people save themselves, teaching programs based on his own experiences with an understanding and empathetic approach.

www.SoberNotSober.com
Instagram and Tiktok @kohdi.rayne

If you'd like to connect with me or have recommendations for my show, please use the links below:

www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

 Thank you for your support. One day at a time.

Tim worked in the music business for over 20 years. It wasn’t until the breakdown of his marriage that he wanted to do something different, something he really loved. He found his true passion in photography.

It took a lot of time to repair the damage from his challenging addiction days. Today, Tim is a highly sought-after photographer and is critically acclaimed in his field. Tim describes the incredible gifts he gained from recovery, emphasising that “Recovery is the only thing you can’t take from me”.

https://www.timbradshawphotography.com/ 

Instagram: @timbradshaw.visuals

If you'd like to connect with me or have recommendations for my show, please use the links below:
www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au  
Thank you for your support. One day at a time.

Soberdave's journey is a testament to his strength and resilience, as he overcame a 40-year reliance on alcohol. Despite receiving comments about his drinking problem, Dave initially took offence and turned to solitary drinking to avoid judgment. He experienced numerous rock bottoms and faced various health issues such as high blood pressure, weight gain, acid reflux, and depression. Dave attempted Alcoholics Anonymous and sought solace in ‘God’ but found no success. However, everything changed when a close friend proposed a three-month sobriety challenge, which Dave accepted. This experience led him to discover a new approach to sobriety, understanding that the path taken matters less than the destination. 

Dave dedicated years to training as a therapist, specializing in grey area drinking with Jolene Park. Now, he is a multifaceted motivational speaker, best-selling author, grey area drinking coach, and the host of the popular podcast ‘One For The Road’. Through his teachings, Dave emphasizes filling the void with healthier options and working on self-esteem and self-worth. For more insights into Dave's successful life and to access his coaching and support network, follow him on Instagram @soberdave.

https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/
https://www.davidwilsoncoaching.com/ 

If you'd like to connect with me, please see links below:
www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

‘I just couldn’t get it right.’

Having known him since birth, Leks grew up in a tumultuous and dysfunctional home environment alongside my good friend, his father, who was battling a raging heroin addiction. By the age of 11, he sought refuge in the wrong crowd, leading to his experimentation with drugs. Driven by financial pursuits, regardless of the legitimacy of the business deal, he picked up an ice habit at 14, and ultimately landed in jail.

Yet, amidst the struggles, Leks found his support system. As his father embraced recovery, he brought Leks to Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Through incredible effort, Leks recently celebrated a significant milestone - marking one year clean on October 15th. He stays active in NA meetings, remains committed to his recovery program, and prioritises his mental and physical well-being. Today, he channels his experiences into his passion for rap music, recently releasing his debut soundtrack, 'Take One.'

I invite you to offer your support on his remarkable effort and commitment to recovery. Check out Leks on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube channels: ‘Leks’

Instagram: @leksrichyy
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWFA6vJnHasneE5cIqvMRow 

If you'd like to connect with me, please see links below:
www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/   
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

In today’s episode, we are honoured to feature Dr. Evelyn Higgins, the Chief Executive Officer and inventor behind the patent-pending panel at Wired For Addiction. Dr. Higgins is an international expert in the epidemiology of addiction, having dedicated nearly two decades to the research of the science of addiction recovery. 

Started out 35 years ago in pain management, she observed that patients were transitioning from pain medication dependency to addiction, as prescriptions and higher doses were dispensed effortlessly.

Dr. Higgins, who was married to an alcoholic with multiple addictions, had a variety of experiences both on a personal level and throughout her medical career. Leveraging cutting-edge technology that only became available in 2015, her research has unveiled a groundbreaking revelation that substance use disorders and mental health conditions can now be identified and measured in our DNA. This discovery is a game-changer and opens up countless possibilities for innovative approaches to the treatment of mental health and substance use disorders. 

Connect with Dr.Higgins on Instagram @doctorevelynhiggins for uplifting and motivational content, and @wiredbiohealth for more information on her impactful research. 

If you'd like to connect with me, please see links below:
https://www.instagram.com/thetruthabout_addiction/ 
www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Stepping back into the world of Lebanon in the 1980s, Mo confronted haunting recollections of warzone, political tumult, safety concerns and abandonment. Mo suffered from emotional neglect and a sense of rejection throughout his childhood, due to his hardworking parents having to leave him to seek employment abroad. Consequently, it brought forward a lot of anger and behavioural issues. He harboured animosity with other kids who had parents. He even stabbed a kid at school who hit his brother. 

Mo poured his emotional instability into outlets such as boxing, rigorous training and regrettably, married women. The element of abandonment was exacerbated with each relationship breakup, driving him to turn to substance abuse. Upon meeting his now wife, Mo found solace in that he finally found someone who genuinely loved and cared about him. 

Mo’s initial approach to counselling was misguided. He knew that he needed help, but his ego was overpowering ‘I wouldn’t allow anyone to help me, I would help myself.’ So he decided to commit to the field of counselling. He wanted to save himself.

Fast forward to 2012, Mo graduated with a Master Of Addiction Counselor credential and became the Clinical Coordinator for The Department Of Correctional Facility Housing before transitioning to a position in a detox facility. He has since then opened up his own private practice Premier Counseling. 

Follow his Instagram @mo.thecounselor for more insight into Mo’s journey and inspirational life coaching content. 

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au 

Growing up in Rockhampton, Angie’s parents arrived in Australia on a boat in the late 1950s. Angie was always the ‘naughty kid’ who frequently found herself in the principal’s office facing suspension, while her excellling sisters were Dux of school. Negative attention is still better than none. She was often labelled as ‘the Devil’s Child’. 

Angie and her sisters confronted racism dominantly during their school years, which left her self-conscious and resentful of her background. ‘I didn’t accept the Wog side of me.’ She didn’t want to speak her native language, didn’t want to be near her sisters at school. She distanced herself from her family. Angie’s shame surrounding her identity and origins led her down a troubling path.

Angie described going through the natural progression of substance abuse, finding solace in heroin which it provided her with a sense of wholesome, completeness, warmth and comfort - all the perfect illusions. Angie didn’t stop at stealing, shoplifting, prostitution, credit card and cheque fraud, she even robbed her father. 

When Angie found Narcotics Anonymous, she found her tribe, the connection she had always sought. It wasn’t an easy journey. Relapses were real, and her depression was flying high. With multiple relapses on the record, after 22 and a half years, she sadly picked up heroin again. “Having a habit in your 50s is not pretty.”

Returning to the embrace of Narcotics Anonymous, Angie embarked on a new path in life. She established her own cleaning business and teaches yoga. She is now helping others with drug and alcohol addiction while pursuing her diploma in counselling. 

She had always been a chameleon throughout her life. Today, Angie is on a journey of self-discovery and learning to get comfortable with who she is. One day at a time.

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au

Michael gave us a compelling insight into his arduous battles with multiple sex and drug addictions, from the young age of 15 leaving home to the darker side of the world, becoming a drug dealer and his attempts to change his belief system. 

Michael had a love affair with Meth. It reached a point where he didn’t do it for enjoyment anymore - ‘I shot Meth to die’.

Michael emphasised his embedded beliefs from the ‘dark side’, which was where he stayed hidden for decades of being an addict. Yet he discovered the way out through finding Cocaine Anonymous and newfound spirituality. 

Read more about his story and how he navigated his way to transform those deeply held beliefs and behavioural patterns to the remarkable Michael today. 

‘Break it down with Michael. This Junkie’s Path To Being A Spiritual Warrior’

https://www.booktopia.com.au/break-it-down-with-michael-michael-haynes/book/9781952281570.html 

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/break-it-down-with-michael--this-junkies-path-to-becoming-a-spiritual-warrior/37123108/#edition=65089513&idiq=58404347

www.thetruthaboutaddiction.com.au