Recovery Elevator

Latest Episodes:

RE 139: PAWS - Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms/Syndrome Oct 16, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Josh, with 15 months since his last drink.

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

This week's topic is PAWS- Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms/Syndrome. Paul explains what PAWS is, how to deal with it, and some of the signs to look for.

SHOW NOTES

[8:13] Paul Introduces Josh. I am from Phoenix originally, now living in LA; I am a digital content producer. I am 36 years old. I like hiking and exploring with my miniature golden retriever Diego.

[10:30] Paul- You left AA in recovery determined to find a way to drink normally. How did that go?

Josh- Once you've been introduced to recovery and then you go back out, it's tough because you can't enjoy drinking the way that you were. I just wanted to learn to drink responsibly. To me it felt like there were people with more serious problems than me.

[19:35] Paul- Why did things start to change after you adopted Diego?

Josh- It took me out of myself. Talking to others about their dogs. Going to the dog park, and meeting other people. I kept myself busy in early sobriety. Having Diego at home with me really helped me more than I can explain.

[27:49] Paul- Talk to me about outpatient treatment, what was that like?

Josh- I didn't feel connected to the group, it wasn't a good experience because I wasn't' putting the work into it. When I was finally ready in 2016, it was a really good experience. I went 6 days a week for the first month.

[35:07] Paul- Where are you at these days with 12 step programs? Do you go to AA meetings?

Josh- I do. I was anti- AA for a long time. I don't embrace everything about it. What I admire is that it is organized so well. There is a core connection of people there if you want it. I was going to 5-6 meetings a week the first year. I definitely get something out of it. It is not everything to me. I am working the steps.

[38:31] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? I blacked out in the middle of trying to go to Jack in the Box and moved my roommate's car out to the street where it got towed. We had to go to the tow yard and get his car.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? Too many to mention. One being at my friend's house and drinking his entire liquor collection. Another one would have been when I almost been fired from my work. I told myself I wouldn't drink at work anymore, and 6 weeks later I was.
What's your plan moving forward? My plan is to keep doing what works and stay connected. I count my day's everyday. I take pride in each day as a separate milestone.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? Diego, my dog.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "It's never too late to be whoever you want to be. I hope you live a life that you are proud of, and if you find you are not, I hope you have the strength to start over."
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? This has to be the most important thing in your life.
You might be an alcoholic if you are out with friends at a bar, and you go to the bathroom, but you stop at the bar to have a shot by yourself, and then return to the table to resume to drinking.

Resources:

Post-Acute Withdrawal (PAWS)

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 138: The Science of Addiction Oct 09, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Carey, with 40 days year since her last drink.

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

Paul summarizes an article from National Geographic "The Science of Addiction." Nearly 1 in 20 adults worldwide are addicted to alcohol. 21 million Americans have a drug or alcohol addiction. Making the disorder more common than cancer. Addiction is a pathological form of learning.

SHOW NOTES

[8:52] Paul Introduces Carey. I am 30 years old; I'm an RN from Rochester New York. I used to say I liked to do a whole lot of things, but I put a lot of it on the back burner when I was drinking.

[14:45] Paul- Did you have a rock bottom moment? What caused you to make this decision to get into sobriety?

Carey- I feel like there are so many situations in which I should have chosen that time. 40 days ago was the time I decided to make the decision for myself. I hated when people told me I should quit drinking.

[19:39] Paul- Before 40 days ago, was that your first time tried to quit drinking?

Carey- Back in the day when I first started noticing issues, I was trying to narrow it down. I went through the whole cycle. After the wedding I had quit drinking for 10 weeks. If I got into nursing school, I was going to celebrate with wine. A few months after starting nursing school I got a DWI.

[35:28] Paul- You were sick and tired of being sick and tired. You used the word excited. How has that shift in mindset?

Carey- I was excited at the fact that I didn't have to worry anymore. I didn't have to go out to dinner and worry if my second order of beer would be frowned upon. I am excited about meeting other sober people.

[42:39] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? Let me count the ways. One of the worst ones was when I got home from a concert, and drove to my friend's house because I thought I left my phone in his car.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? I would say my DWI. I also hate to admit that my dog was with me at the time. That scared me for sure.
What's your plan moving forward? Right now I want to keep learning and getting out of my comfort zone. I love Café RE, which has been amazing. I want to explore the steps.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? The Recovery Elevator Podcast. I am going to be sober today, and plan on being sober tomorrow.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? Tell somebody else. Do research, look into sobriety and come up with a game plan. You are not alone.
You might be an alcoholic if you don't like being called an alcoholic.

Resources:

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 137: The "ISM" or the Incredibly Short Memory Oct 02, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Adam, with 57 days since his last drink.

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

I want to talk about the word Alcoholism, more specifically, the tail end of that word, the ISM- Incredible Short Memory, the painful acute memories are sobriety fuel. We cannot do this alone.

SHOW NOTES

[8:50] Paul Introduces Adam. I'm 36; I live in New Hampshire, married with 2 awesome sons and a beautiful wife. I love being outdoors. I began drinking in my early twenties. I was drinking to get away from stress problems. It got to the point where I was drinking everyday.

[15:05] Paul- What was different on July 17th? Was it a shift in mindset? Did you go to an AA meeting?

Adam- It was more of a mindset. Everywhere I looked there was something about recovery. It was my mind putting it out there. I created the accountability, and it made it harder to go back on.

[21:40] Paul- Was there some sense of discomfort before you quit drinking? What was the source of pain?

Adam- It wasn't anything huge. I called myself a high bottom drunk. There wasn't anything that set it off. I was sick of relying on it everyday. Waking up every morning sleepier than I should be. It became too much a part of my life, and I didn't want it there anymore.

[23:56] Paul- What was it like the first 24 hours? The first couple of days, the first week?

Adam- It was not the easiest time in my life. I had a little bit of the shakes, some headaches the first 3-4 days was the worst of it. I remind myself how great I feel now.

[26:53] Paul- What's on your bucket list in sobriety? What do you want to achieve with this new life you've been given?

Adam- I want to spend more time with my family Instead of playing with the kids, the first thing I would do would be to grab a drink. They are 3 and 7 years old right now. Be closer to them. This time of their life I really want to remember.

[29:45] Rapid Fire Round

Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? Just realizing that everyday that was the first thing when I got home from work that I wanted to do.
What's your plan moving forward? Just to keep enjoying life, get to know my kids better, and getting healthy.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? It's the Recovery Elevator Podcast.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? The accountability. Creating that accountability and making it a real thing.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? Suck it up and talk to somebody. It has to be someone that you care about and trust and respect. Once you make it a real thing, you will not want to let them down.
You might be an alcoholic if you lie to your wife when you are sick as a dog, because you know she will say you don't need that beer tonight.

Resources:

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 136: One in Eight Americans are Alcoholics Sep 25, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Megan, with 11 hours since her last drink.

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

New data has revealed that one in eight Americans are now alcoholics due to an alarming rise in alcohol consumption in women, elderly people and ethnic minorities.

Experts at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism say that the rise could constitute a public health crisis that is being overshadowed by the opioid epidemic and marijuana legalization.

During an 11 year gap, the number of people who received a diagnosis of alcoholism shot up by 49 percent, meaning 12.7 percent of the population - or roughly one in eight Americans - are alcoholics.

SHOW NOTES

[5:15] Paul Introduces Megan. I'm from Baltimore, Maryland. I am 38, single, with a live-in boyfriend.

[7:19] Paul- What forced you to reach out to me again, and give us a little background.

Megan- The whole point of what you are doing is when you can relate to other people. I love that you are an advocate for the acceptance part of it. People are ashamed to come out so to speak. I didn't start drinking until late in college. I liked the way it made me feel. I wasn't self-conscience. It was never really a problem. One day in my late twenties I realized I was drinking everyday.

[23:49] Paul- Talk to me about your withdrawal symptoms.

Megan- It's usually worst the second and third day. The shaking and the anxiety is the worse. I can't shut my brain off.

[26:36] Paul- What's your plan? How are we going to do this?

Megan- I am going to get through today. One day at a time. Right now it is just getting through today. I know that I want to get sober and stay sober. Am I done yet? I'm not entirely sure. I want to be there, but I don't know if I am.

[32:36] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? Blacking out. I started drinking after a run; I woke up the next day and had no memory of how I got home.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? About a month ago, I got up in the morning and was walking to the grocery store and I couldn't walk. I inched across the street and went back home.
What's your plan moving forward?
What's your favorite resource in recovery? I love podcasts. The HOME Podcast, the Shair Podcast, Recovery 101.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? Don't beat yourself up.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? You are going to feel crappy. Don't make it worse on yourself by pouring poison into yourself. It's going to get a little bit better everyday.
You might be an alcoholic if the liquor store on the corner knows exactly who you are, and lines up 4 mini bottles of Fireball everyday at 9:00 in the morning.

Resources:

It's a public health crisis: 1 in 8 Americans are now alcoholics By Abigail Miller for Dailymail.com

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 135: Key Tips For Early Sobriety Sep 18, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Marybeth, with 8 months since her last drink.

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

Paul reads posts from members of Café RE answering the question: "What are some things that helped you in early sobriety?

There are some emerging common themes from these responses. Change, you don't have to change much, you just have to change everything. Accountability is the key, you can't do this alone. Alcoholism is a thinking disease. You can't think your way out of it. Knowledge is not power unless you use it.

SHOW NOTES

[8:40] Paul Introduces Marybeth. I'm 51; I live in southern New Hampshire. I am married with 4 children, 2 of which have special needs so that takes up some time. I like to visit with friends and family, downhill ski, and exercise.

[13:39] Paul- Tell us about your drinking habits, how much did you drink prior to November 26th, 2016?

Marybeth- I was a big red wine drinker. I did a sugar cleanse, and then I ended up sipping Tequila neat. Then I switched back to wine. I knew I would never be a morning drinker, or drink before 5:00. I typically had 2 glasses of wine a night for years.

[17:45] Paul- Was there a bottom moment, or were you sick and tired of being sick and tired?

Marybeth- I attribute my sobriety to an accident. I broke my ankle while I was walking and texting. It was difficult to be on crutches, and drink at the same time. I came upon the 30-day sober solution while I was in my cast.

[21:48] Paul- How important do you think accountability has been these past 8 months?

Marybeth- It's been really great. I couldn't handle my alcohol, and was passing out early. Now I can stay up late and have fun. I was asleep and numbing my self with alcohol. I was snared by it socially, and numbed by it unintentionally. I wasn't seeking to numb anything.

[29:05] Paul- What does your sobriety portfolio consist of? Walk us through a typical day of sobriety.

Marybeth- I wake up everyday and meditate for 30 minutes. I use the headspace app. It is like exercising a muscle. I connect with friends, and do things, which interest me.

[30:16] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? I was separated from my husband, and got into a car. I put the car in drive instead of reverse and ran over the curb.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? When I broke my ankle. I had a bloody Mary on board when that happened.
What's your plan moving forward? I am going to continue with meditation, my wellness, helping others, and reading books. Possibly attending an AA meeting.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? The Recovery Elevator Podcast. I love listening in the car on the way to work.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? My dad was a recovering alcoholic. He would always say don't sweat the small stuff.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? Just do it. You can always go back to drinking if sobriety doesn't work for you.
You might an alcoholic if you are at a weight watcher meeting and all you are concerned about is if you have enough points left for wine at the end of the day.

Resources:

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 134: What I Learned at the Recovery Elevator Retreat Sep 11, 2017

Show notes

Today we have 4 guests from the Recovery Elevator retreat in Bozeman with different backgrounds and sobriety times. Thanks for listening and hope to see you at an Recovery Elevator event soon.

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

Paul summarizes the Retreat, which took place in Bozeman, Montana.

SHOW NOTES

[13:22] Paul Introduces Kristin 238 days sober, Amy 11 years sober, Dave 12 days sober, and John with 18 and ½ years of sobriety.

[15:55] Paul- What did you think the retreat was going to be like?

Dave- I didn't have any set expectations. It has been sharing, but so much more. I have connected with every single person here.

[16:50] Paul- What surprised you so far on this retreat?

Kristin- I was surprised at how easy it was to talk to everybody here. I am not extremely comfortable around strangers. Since we have been in the online community the past year, it was easy to chat with everyone.

Amy- I enjoyed the camaraderie. It is beautiful here.

[27:30] Paul- Tell us what made you decide to come, and a little about your story?

Kristin- My drinking career didn't start until 2001. I realized about 5 years ago that I had a problem, and tried to moderate. My bottom was New Years Eve. I have not lost any friends in sobriety. It's been a wonderful 8 months.

Dave- I grew up in a household of Tea Totalers. I got into a high stress job with expense accounts. The "sick and tired of being sick and tired" resonated with me. There is a new chip on my shoulder.

Amy- I started drinking when I was 13. I had the epiphany that this was the missing link. I didn't think there would be this much joy in sobriety. You can't love other people until you love yourself. Everything I wanted alcohol to give me, I got sober.

John- My drinking career began in high school. My mom passed away when she was 47, many family members had alcohol related deaths. I became a daily drinker from college to 40 years old. January 5th of 1999 is when I got sober. My biggest breakthrough was writing a letter to my mother who had passed away. I stay sober due to the people in my community.

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 133: America's Drinking Problem Is Much Worse This Century Sep 04, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Kristi, with nearly 9 months of sobriety since her last drink.

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

Paul summarizes the article "America's Drinking Problem Is Much Worse This Century" by John Tozzi

Alcohol abuse has shot up since 2001, and the number of adults who binge weekly may top the population of Texas. Americans are drinking more than they used to, a troubling trend with potentially dire implications for the country's future health-care costs.

The number of adults who binge drink at least once a week could be as high as 30 million, greater than the population of every state save California, according to a study published on Wednesday in JAMA Psychiatry. A similar number reported alcohol abuse or dependency.

Between the genders, women showed the larger increase in alcohol abuse, according to the report.

SHOW NOTES

[7:09] Paul Introduces Kristi. I live in northern California near Stanford; I am 44, married and have 2 boys. I worked 25 years in software sales. I have been spending most of my time volunteering.

[16:28] Paul- When did you start realize after your Mom passed away, that this might be going in the wrong direction?

Kristi- Honestly, around 38-39 I started to realize I was drinking differently than I had in the past. I was working full time with 2 young kids, and I had to have 6-7-8 drinks at the end of the day.

[20:23] Paul- What was your first AA meeting like?

Kristi- I was so overwhelmed. It was 9:00 on a Saturday morning, and there were 300 people there. I realized that all meetings weren't this way. I jumped right in, started going to meetings, got a sponsor, and worked the steps. I was working on will alone. I don't think I realized the importance of a higher power, and letting go. I managed to stay sober for quite awhile.

[28:43] Paul- You sound like you are a high bottom drunk, and have a lot more to lose, am I correct?

Kristi- I didn't get the DUI, or drive my kids drunk. But I wasn't present. I can really sit and appreciate the moment now. I am feeling good; I have a skip in my step. When you live in gratitude, you can't live in fear and resentment.

[32:07] Paul- What's on your bucket list in sobriety, what do you want to accomplish in this life?

Kristi- I would like to learn Spanish. I would really like to write a book.

[33:31] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? My husband and I went to San Francisco. I took a small bottle of vodka with me. I got so wasted at the party I don't remember conversations I had, and I woke up in the hallway.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? Repeat times over and over again being drunk on a Tuesday for no reason.
What's your plan moving forward? Live in the present, and being of service.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? I really like the book "Living Sober" and the Recovery Elevator podcast.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? I don't have a problem I can't make worse by picking up a drink.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? Do it, you will feel better. You will live in a more honest and peaceful world. Quit poisoning yourself.
You might be an alcoholic if you are hosting a party, and drinking wine with the guests, and sneaking off to have shots of vodka by yourself.

Resources:

America's Drinking Problem is Much Worse This Century- By John Tozzi

A.A. Literature Living Sober

Recovery Elevator Retreat

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

RE 132: Don't Beat Yourself Up - Alcohol Already Does That Aug 28, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Tori, with 16 days since her last drink.

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

Self-Loathing is rampant in addiction, and it needs to be addressed and curtailed if we want to find long-term recovery. Self-trash talk is a double whammy when we judge ourselves harshly. We are both the attacker, and the attacked. Dr. Kristin Neff's book "Self Compassion" is summarized.

SHOW NOTES

[9:25] Paul Introduces Tori. I am from Gainesville Florida; I have lived here since I was 10. I am 24 years old. I am a proud mom to a Chi Wawa named Tucker. I like to craft, and go to the springs.

[14:39] Paul- What was the deciding factor to listen to the RE podcast, and contact the host?

Tori- My DUI was my bottom, the way I portrayed myself to the officer in December of 2015.

[18:35] Paul- I'm going to read one sentence from the email you sent to me. "I don't drink everyday, I don't have withdrawals, what I do have is the inability to control myself once I start drinking". Talk to me more about that.

Tori- During the workweek I like to keep my head on straight. The culture in town is to drink, and to binge drink. I have been doing these bar tours since I was 17.

[24:34] Paul- What has it been like these past 16 days?

Tori- I have been preoccupied with work. I was moving for one of the weekends. The hardest day was when two of my best friends came over and brought wine. I didn't drink, and they didn't care. I haven't had that breakthrough of clarity yet. I kind of feel that I am in limbo.

[32:58] Paul- To this point, what have you lost to alcohol?

Tori- A lot of my dignity, you gain more dignity in sobriety. Other things I have lost are trust with my parents. I have lost my sense of safety. I was taken to the back seat of a car and taken advantage of. I was beaten up, and had a concussion; I lost a ton of money.

[37:01] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? The DUI, it affected many more people than myself. The sexual assault was the worst, but I try not to associate drinking with that.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? Every single time I do something dumb. Every time I lose a notch of my dignity.
What's your plan moving forward? What I have been doing has been working. I like listening to the podcasts. Most of my friends probably all have a drinking problem.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? Take it one day at a time; realize that you are better than your addiction.
You might be an alcoholic if spend the night on a chair that is not yours in front of a house that you do not own or rent. Or if you choose to not take the advice of the people that care about you the most, and continue with your bad habits.

Resources:

Self-Compassion Dr. Kristin Neff

Dr. Kristin Neff- CMSC website

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

Re 131: The Hungry Ghosts Aug 21, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Peri, with 81 days since her last drink.

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

Paul summarizes a talk by Tara Brach named "Healing Addiction: De-Conditioning the Hungry Ghosts"

Addiction is addiction, it doesn't matter what it is, it is applicable. Tara talks about the "hungry ghosts" of addiction. There is a sense that something is missing. A feeling that this moment does not contain enough happiness. How you live today is how you live the rest of your life. When we don't have basic needs met, we reach out for a substitute. We must find a way to love ourselves.

SHOW NOTES

[11:11] Paul Introduces Peri. I have been sober since May 8, 2016. I am a bartender, I live in Salt Lake City, Utah. I am a poet, and have been writing more in sobriety.

[12:58] Paul- Describe your drinking habits, how much did you used to drink?

Peri- I think by the end I was drinking 20-30 shots of whiskey a day, and 5 beers. I tried all types of rules with most of them meant to be broken. I think I started to derail when I was 17 years old. I knew by the time I was 21, I had a problem.

[16:13] Paul- Talk to us about some of the things you have had to change?

Peri- A big thing for me is friendships. Almost everyone I associated with drank like I did. I had to cut almost everyone out of my life. I had to start fresh like I knew no one in the city.

[20:19] Paul- You quit smoking and drinking at the same time, tell us about that?

Peri- I quit soda at the same time too. 5 aspirin and a large Coke used to get me through the hangovers. I had massive blood clots, so I had to quit both to avoid the health consequences.

[25:11] Paul- What's on your bucket list in sobriety, what do you hope to accomplish?

Peri- Some days it is One Day at a time, others it is the moon. I am saving up for a truck, I would like to travel more. I would like to get off my blood thinners. Healing my body would be a huge moment for me.

[29:45] Paul- What do you do when you have the cravings?

Peri- I eat a lot of ice cream. Either Pistachio, or Peanut butter ice cream, sometimes Raspberry.

[35:27] Paul- How is it today? How are you on day 81?

Peri- I feel really great, doing an interview right now. Meeting up with my friends, having some dinner. I legitimately haven't experienced a sober birthday in 10 years. I am looking forward to remembering it. I have been trying the meditation. I have been researching alcoholism. I have been pretty active in Café RE. Occasionally, I will go to AA, but only when I need an extra boost.

[37:30] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? I don't know, there were a lot. I was hanging out with a shady group of people who had alcohol. I fell, and these people left me on a curb with a big gash on my head.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? My last job I got fired from, because I was taking shots of alcohol in the bathroom before my shift.
What's your plan moving forward? I'm going to keep digging in; reading, writing, and it will all figure itself out.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? Café RE. I listen to the podcasts, but the Facebook group is great to describe what I am feeling, and have the communication with the group.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? Anything in your life that is a toxic influence, get rid of it. It is not conducive to your sobriety.
You might be an alcoholic if you wake up on the sidewalk.

Resources:

Healing Addiction: De-Conditioning the Hungry Ghosts

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"

Re 130: When Things Fall Apart Aug 14, 2017

Show notes

Today we have Tyler, with 137 days since his last drink.

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

Paul summarizes the book "When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron.

How can we live our lives when everything seems to fall apart—when we are continually overcome by fear, anxiety, and pain? The answer, Pema Chödrön suggests, might be just the opposite of what you expect. Here, in her most beloved and acclaimed work, Pema shows that moving toward painful situations and becoming intimate with them can open up our hearts in ways we never before imagined. Drawing from traditional Buddhist wisdom, she offers life-changing tools for transforming suffering and negative patterns into habitual ease and boundless joy.

SHOW NOTES

[7:45] Paul Introduces Tyler. I'm 33, live in Austin, Texas. I am an editor for a national magazine, and I am an HIV pharmacy rep in Texas. I have 2 standard Poodles named Jones and Indy (Counting Crowes reference, not the movies).

[12:57] Paul- When did you realize that maybe your drinking is not normal?

Tyler- I started about 3 years ago evaluating my own behavior. I wanted to look into my own behaviors and recognize that I'm 33, and I am binge drinking 3 nights a week. I took a 30-day sober challenge, and then I was wasted on day 31.

[17:06] Paul- Was it a question in your mind that you were getting worse?

Tyler- I still question whether I was or not (having a problem with alcohol). Let's just go ahead and say I have a problem with it. My balance is none at all. If I weren't so exposed to alcoholism, it wouldn't have showed me what it could do to a person.

[21:21] Paul- It sounds like you woke up one day and said "I have a drinking disorder." How did that feel when you reached that conclusion?

Tyler- It was terrifying, I was going slowly in the process. I did go to an AA meeting my first month. It is a wonderful program, and I will never close my door to that program. It was organizing my thoughts around what I am, and what I'm not.

[29:19] Paul- Walk us through a typical day for Tyler.

Tyler- I am still figuring out how I do it. I went to a wedding in Mexico at a resort, which had, it struggles. I volunteer a whole bunch; I volunteer at an animal shelter, and at a local clinic. I do meditate quite a bit for 20-30 minutes a day. I am on a kickball team here in Austin. The hardest part about my journey is navigating my same social circles sober.

[32:47] Paul- What have you learned most about yourself in recovery?

Tyler- I'm honestly a very intense person. Alcohol used to water down my intensity. I have to find other ways of chilling out.

[35:23] Rapid Fire Round

What was your worst memory from drinking? The memory that I lost. The worst memory is having zero memories.
Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? It boils down to that one last night. It turned into an all night party.
What's your plan moving forward? To stay sober. We are getting married, and working on adoption. Talking about it publicly, and being an open book for others helps me keep my head on straight.
What's your favorite resource in recovery? A Recovery podcast episode- RE 74: 50 Ways to Stay Sober This Summer.
What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? Alcohol is literally shit, and why are you putting it in your body?
What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? If you are thinking about getting sober, do it. Lean to the side that says you have a problem, don't run the other way.
You might be an alcoholic if you wake up with a wig on, and you don't know how it happened.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

RE 74: 50 Ways to Stay Sober This Summer

Gay, Fabulous, and Drinking Myself to Death

"When Things Fall Apart" by Pema Chodron

Sobriety Tracker iTunes

Sobriety Tracker Android

Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com

"We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!"