Recovery Elevator

Zach has been sober for 3.5 years... This is his story… Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE! SHOW NOTES "You gotta get through it to get to it..." Open your eyes and start to notice those around you. Often, you'll find others who don't drink. Talk to them, discover why they don't drink... Some of these people quit for religious reasons, some for health, and others for personal reasons. Some are able to just quit on the spot, others not so much. Yeah, not all of us are so lucky to just suddenly decide to quit drinking... These individuals who do own up to their problems and the fortunes in their life. They take ownership. There are tons of studies highlighting different stats on sobriety (check out the links in the show notes below). [ 10:53 ] Paul introduces Zach. Zach has twin boys and has been sober for 3.5 years, his last drink was March 9th (4 years ago) at about 3am. Zach is 27, and born and raised in a small city just North of the Atlanta area. He has been married for two years. By day Zach is a marketer and by night he is a self-proclaimed beat-boxer for his kids. [ 13:28 ] Talk to us about your Elevator. What led up to you quitting drinking? "I quit 1,000 times in my own head... It's a revolving circle." Zach started drinking when he was about 12 years old, when he had about 3 Budweisers and remembered waking up in the pool. "I remember at that point wanting to make my life all about drinking." Zach continued to drink all through high school... Zach got expelled from school for the last half of his senior year due to drinking. "That's kind of where I kick-started my 'drinking career'." Zach was 19 when he got his second arrest due to drinking and had to spend 30 days in jail. This was the first time when Zach thought, "Ok, this is me, this is alcohol." [ 18:25 ] What were your drinking habits like? The second Zach got out of jail he found a Bud Ice in a friend's fridge and was at the bar that night, still underage. Zach usually took Mondays and Tuesdays off... In his early 20s it shifted to needing a drink to feel calm. "I started buying airplane bottles of rum. I was living with my girlfriend at the time and she knew I drank often, but I would drink all day long when she was gone and then pop a beer open when she came home in the evening, acting like it was my first drink." [ 21:31 ] Did you ever try to moderate? "I'd kick liquor away and just focus on beer. I'd binge drink real hard on the weekends. Right at the end of 22 I started diving into other substances... I got into meth and then I didn't have to drink. Once I made that leap I felt really defeated." Zach's own father introduced him to meth. (Unfortunately, his dad is still walking that story.) Thankfully, Zach didn't get addicted to meth and was able to back off of that substance, which let the drinking pick back up. [ 25:02 ] Alcohol is an extremely addictive substance. How do you feel about that? "I completely agree. It was like relearning to walk and talk (on choosing sobriety). Everything used to spike my interest in drinking... It's so highly addictive." [ 26:36 ] Zach talks about his father and living with a family of addictive patterns. [ 28:56 ] How did you do it? Talk to us about how you got sober. "It was just an ordinary night... I got home at about 3am. I had to crawl through the window because I couldn't find my keys. I slept in 'til about 10am and awoke to missed calls from my girlfriend..." Zach had missed her Crossfit competition, something that was extremely important to her. "It was like the 10th time I had missed something. She was broken... Mentally, I couldn't tell another lie. I was exhausted." When she came home later Zach broke down and asked for help. Those first few months were tough. "I was trying to fit in, I was not answering any phone calls. I was rationalizing it... I was white-knuckling it for about 2 mos. I was just a dry drunk..." Zach ended up at an AA meeting on his way to the liquor store... He was blown away by the diversity of the room and yet everyone was telling 'his' story. Zach discovered his first glance of hope at this AA meeting. "You can have a better lifestyle, a better life." [ 35:23 ] Zach talks about getting a sponsor and working his program. Buddy, from RE #67, became Zach's sponsor. [ 37:53 ] How do you stay sober today? "I try to get up earlier than my kids so I can read... If I meet with Buddy we go through the step work, the stories or just kick it and drink some coffee... I try to hit 3 meetings a week, it allows me to share. It helps me hold myself accountable. I'm involved in a non-profit, Orphan Aid Liberia. Humility has been a big word in my recovery... Now, I can actually look outward and give back." [ 41:23 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "Blue light. Anything to do with a cop." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "

Val has been sober for 6 months... This is her story… Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE! SHOW NOTES If you drink enough alcohol over time our brains will change due to the response to alcohol. Some of the damage is irreversible, thus proving that you can pick up right where you left off (upon relapse). This is because there is still a dopamine hypersensitivity. Relapse is part of Paul's story… After being sober for 2.5 years, Paul got another 8mos. of drinking under his belt, picking up right where he left off. There was no ramp-up phase because Paul's brain is hyper-sensitive to alcohol. Good news! Even though in the brain there is this environment where dopamine hyper-sensitivity still exists, if you don't drink then it's not activated. This change is irreversible, but, if you don't drink then it doesn't react… Check out RE 87 for more detailed info on dopamine and our crazy brains. [ 06:34 ] Paul introduces Val. Val took her last drink on April 8th, 2016, just about 6 months ago. She is 44, married, and has 3 kids and one grandchild. She is originally from Billings, MT and has lived in the Big Sky area for 20 years. She loves to bake, knit, garden, camp, hike and just be outside. [ 09:25 ] Talk to us about your Elevator. When did you hit bottom? "Well, I've hit many bottoms in my life, but I finally reached that point where I knew I needed to change or else I was going to lose everything." This was not Val's first attempt at quitting drinking. She first tried to quit in her mid-20s when she decided to start having kids. Val quit drinking for 8 years, but was miserable. After owning a restaurant and dealing with the stress of that, Val broke down and started drinking again… After 8 years of sobriety! "That's just how I dealt with stress. (Drinking) was the only way I knew how." [ 11:03 ] What is a dry drunk? "I was not drinking, but my mind was still crazy. I was still trying to control everything around me, I didn't understand life and I always felt that life was out to get me, that I was the victim." Val explains her unhappiness as afraid of people, not being comfortable in her own skin, not having a higher power and trying to do everything herself… Now, Val is asking for help. "Before, I felt that I was a failure if I had to ask for help. My expectations that I held were so high and I could never meet them." [ 12:57 ] How much did you drink? Talk to us about your drinking habits. Val was drinking at least a bottle of wine a night, and more like two bottles a night. "Because I was drinking wine, I thought it was not a big deal, that it wasn't a problem." Val tried every rule in the book: just on the weekends, or only in the evening... "When I started drinking during the day, that's when I started having oh-shit moments." Val always used the stress of work to qualify needing a drink. [ 14:30 ] Val talks about losing her restaurant and the feelings of failure and stress that accompanied the experience. [ 15:48 ] How did you do it? Walk us through the first day, the first week. "The first day was a morning that I was so sick that I couldn't go to work. I was so sick, sicker than I had ever been. It was a Tuesday night, and I was just sitting at home watching Netflix." Val was watching Amy (the Amy Winehouse documentary) and discovered that Amy had died from alcohol poisoning… Val had a huge wakeup moment, realizing that the same thing could easily happen to her. Val white-knuckled it for about 30 days before she started drinking again. After connecting with Paul on a webinar, she accepted help and went to her first AA meeting. [ 18:59 ] Tell us about your program. "I read in the Big Book everyday if I can, usually before bed. I know a lot of people try to start their day with a reading, but I have a kid to get ready…" Val goes to her home group meeting every week, has a service position, meets with her sponsor every week and she is on a committee. Val chooses to stay involved. [ 19:49 ] Do you feel more confident with 6mos. of sobriety? We are all shaky when we step onto new foundations. "It is getting better, but I know I have work to do. I need to keep working on my program. I'm on the 4th step right now… Writing stuff out has been very helpful." Val shares one of her resentments which is part of the 4th step, taking responsibility for her actions, emotions and experiences. "You need to forgive yourself in order to let the anger out… It feels awesome. I look at the world in a different way." [ 24:39 ] What have you learned about yourself through sobriety? "I've been very dishonest with myself throughout life and I don't want to be that way anymore. I just want to be who I am… I always felt that nobody would want to know the real me, but that's not true, that's the disease speaking." [ 25:46 ] What are your thoughts on relapse? "Well, I'm only a drink away from relapse. It

Kenny has been sober for 1 & 1/2 years... This is his tale... Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here! SHOW NOTES Why did alcohol stop working for me? (***Spoiler Alert*** If it still works for you, IT WILL STOP working.) I needed more and more of it to fill the same effects, a.k.a. the pleasure… We know that alcohol increases cravings in the brain by releasing dopamine… But, dopamine is actually the LEARNING chemical in the brain. Thus, it teaches us where to find pleasure… After we have found pleasure, i.e. tipping a bottle back over and over again, the body will eventually turn down alcohol to protect itself. Our brain is a beautiful system that has kept us alive for millions of years… How does it do this? The brain produces another chemical, which turns down the stimulation. I've learned that I have enhanced dopamine receptors. Now, if we lived in the age of saber-toothed tigers and always having to fight for our food, this would have kept me alive, however, not now and no longer! Over time, I needed more and more alcohol to get to the point of stimulation, of pleasure, I even needed it just to feel normal… This is an evolutionary mechanism built inside of us. However, the pleasure that we should be seeking is food, water, shelter, and Cinnamon Pop-Tarts! Not alcohol!!! [ 06:18 ] Paul Introduces Kenny. Kenny has been sober since April 3rd, 2015, about one and a half years. Kenny is 27 and grew up in a small farm town in California. He spent some time in Riverside, CA before moving to Montana to attend grad school. He is a PhD student, studying statistics. Kenny loves to work on his truck, build bikes and computers and wander around in nature, getting lost in the wilderness. [ 07:30 ] Talk to us about your Elevator. What led up to your desire to stop drinking? "It was a long, slow descent with a lot of bumps towards the bottom." Kenny's roommates started to notice and comment on his drinking habits. "Last March I missed classes because I was too drunk to get to class, this had never happened before… I had a BIG eye-opening experience and realized that this wasn't just about me. I had to take responsibility." [ 10:02 ] How much did you drink? Did you ever try to put rules in place? "It started when I was 21… I realized that it kind of helped me get my Math homework done. I'd have a gin and tonic or two, nightly or whenever I needed to get stuff done and then from there I was drinking like half a ⅕ of brandy in one afternoon." This gradually progressed to being hungover or still drunk the next morning. Eventually Kenny was blacking out and waking up on a strange couch… "I came up with some schemes. I was supposed to call my best friend to stay accountable, which just led me to lying to her about how much I was drinking, which made me feel worse. My next scheme was that I got a little notebook, thinking that I could be accountable to myself and do it on my own…" This turned into Kenny tearing himself down and feeling guilty. [ 15:33 ] Kenny talks more about his Elevator... "I started talking to my new roommate who's father had turned his life around after connecting with AA. She suggested that I give him a call, which I did. He completely understood the craving and how when I drank it was just never enough…" [ 17:05 ] Kenny discusses "that feeling in your head." [ 18:08 ] What was it like when you quit drinking? Kenny checked out a few AA meetings after talking to his roommate's Dad… It took a couple times before he was ready to change his life. Sometime around April 3rd, 2015, there was a party… Kenny went to it having decided that he would try to drink just one drink and then go home. Kenny nursed that one drink for 1 ½ hours and was so proud that he took the opportunity to do shots with a buddy, waking up the next morning on a couch and not remembering anything from the night before… That next morning Kenny decided to give AA a shot. [ 21:15 ] Kenny talks about his first experience at an AA meeting... [ 22:00 ] Walk us through a typical day and how you stay sober. "I usually get up at 4:00 or 4:30 am, I realized I'm a morning person! I make a nice big breakfast, take a shower and then head to school. I ride my bike and get to see the sun come up… In the evenings I try to meditate for 15 minutes or so and play my guitar." Kenny has been working on mindfulness, trying to clear and calm his mind, becoming more aware of what's going on inside his body. "I just close my eyes and focus my breath, just acknowledging what kind of breath I'm taking, just trying to pay attention to what's going on inside." [ 35:17 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "When I was visiting my mom for Christmas and I got a call from my housemates saying that they couldn't put up with my drinking any longer and that I needed to find a new place…" Did y

Jenny has been sober for 13 months... This is her tale... Resources mentioned in RE 86: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meet-ups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. Sobriety Tracker Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES Ok, so you're doing a pretty good job of following your rules, your systems, or you're experimenting with sobriety… Have you ever said the words "I got this"? "I would say these words over and over again while putting these rules, systems, games, etc. in place when trying to get sober on my own…" Paul was sober for over 2 years when those mean little words came back, "You know what Paul, we got this… We're totally good." And, DAMN IT! After two years of sobriety, we drank (me and Gary)... "We didn't got this…" If you ever catch yourself saying, "Hey, you got this…" be very cognizant, very aware, and very, very cautious... "I got this," the three most dangerous words an alcoholic can say. [ 05:33 ] Paul Introduces Jenny. Jenny has been sober for just over a year, since August 25th, 2015. "My life is better than it was when I was drinking." Jenny grew up in Helena, MT and currently lives in Bozeman, MT. She is married to an amazing man and has 4 kids, ages 4-14. She loves to run, workout and go to the gym. "If it involves exercise, I love to do it!" [ 06:59 ] Jenny speaks about her drinking history. The alcoholic tendency has always been there for Jenny… "I don't think that ever in my life I had just one drink. It was always like game-on. In High School I was "the party girl." Jenny knew she had to stop before she hit the absolute bottom. [ 10:46 ] What was it like drinking and taking care of 4 kids? (Paul openly admits that he could barely take care of Ben, the Standard Poodle, when he was drinking…) "When the drinking started to escalate, it was sort of the perfect storm. My husband is a firefighter and started working 24-hr. shifts… Things really started to get out of control. When I was drinking, I felt like I was the best mom in the world… But, I was really checked out. I was selfish. In the back of my mind I was always concerned with refilling my glass." Saying those words, "Yes, I am an alcoholic," was the scariest thing Jenny has ever said… "Admitting that I didn't have all of my shit together…" [ 14:06 ] Jenny talks about how admitting "I am an alcoholic" is liberating. "That dirty little secret I had been carrying around... I had been doing all of these things to convince myself that I didn't have a problem. I was volunteering, doing insane workouts at 5am (sometimes still drunk)... After, a lot of moms came to me and said, "Hey, I think I have the same problem." [ 16:43 ] Talk to me about Run for Recovery. Run for Recovery is a run supporting Alive Again Life Recovery Mission which exists for the purpose of creating a safe Christian environment for individuals of all ages to fellowship, learn and heal from addiction and addiction-related effects. Running and exercising has helped Jenny so much through this process (choosing sobriety). [ 18:39 ] How did you do it? What was Day 1 like? "I just did it. I just quit. I went moment by moment, minute by minute. I binge listened to Recovery Elevator. After about a week I got into my crying phase. I was ashamed. I beat myself up over poor choices and poor parenting…" [ 20:20 ] What other methods besides running do you use? "Reading a lot, educating myself, and sometimes just forcing myself to sit still. Forcing myself to feel those feelings." Jenny has found that her athletic performance has increased since being sober. "I feel one million times better than when I was drinking." Working out is definitely an outlet for Jenny. "It's definitely better than vodka." [ 29:06 ] What's on your bucket-list? "Half marathons, Spartan racing, keep volunteering, discover more about myself, and to be a little kinder to myself…" [ 30:02 ] What have you learned about yourself? "I'm a type-A, over-achieving, control freak, and working on being a little nicer to myself… We need to be nice to ourselves. We need to talk to ourselves like we talk to a friend. We really beat ourselves up." Jenny has learned about what triggers her and how to manage cravings (they do come). She finds other things to do, like playing with her kids, going for a run, or just sitting with the craving and letting it pass. [ 35:17 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "4 or 5 months before I quit drinking, my husband and I went to Las Vegas. My husband went to bed and I went to the "gift shop," which just meant that I went drinking. I couldn't get the key to work to get back into the room and I ended up passing out just outside of our bedroom. My husband found me at 3am." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "That panick

John has been sober for 5 years... This is his story... Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meet-ups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. Sobriety Tracker AA Recovery Elevator Episode #1: Do You Have a Drinking Problem Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES "In Episode 1 of RE, we (the human Paul & the dog Ben) do a test to determine if I am an alcoholic. The results… Blatantly clear. Yes, I am an alcoholic." Paul found it extremely difficult to stop drinking after having just one drink. For about a decade, he lived in the pickle of "one drink was too much and 1,000 drinks was just not enough." How the hell do you navigate that? Well, the answer is definitely, "Don't drink." Now, at Episode 85, Paul has an even better test to determine if you've got a drinking problem. Preliminary steps before taking this self-assessment: Make sure you are hydrated. Drink lots of water (if you are already drinking a beer during this portion, then yes, you too are an alcoholic). Stretch out. Loosen up. Maybe even do some burpees! Make sure you've got enough lead in your pencil and ink in your pen! Take some deep breaths. Paul's Self-Assessment Test: (***This is going to be the new metric moving forward, I guarantee it! No need to go spend a ton of money on any other tests...This assessment is free and accurate.***) Have you ever wondered, "Do I have a drinking problem?" YES or NO ***FEEL FREE TO PRESS PAUSE, GRAB A GLASS OF WATER, SHARPEN YOUR PENCIL, ETC., AS THIS IS THE HALF WAY POINT OF THE SELF ASSESSMENT TEST*** Have you ever asked yourself, "Would my life be better without alcohol?" YES or NO CONGRATULATIONS!!! You have just finished the Recovery Elevator self-assessment! Answer Key: Listen to Paul on RE 85 @ [ 5:11 ] "Quitting drinking isn't easy, but my life is exponentially better since I've quit drinking." In the previous 84 podcasts, there's a pretty good roadmap already laid out for you… Not only will your life improve (yes, there will be speed bumps), but the lives of those around you will improve too! In all honesty, these self-assessment tests are this simple. It's not easy, but it's better. [ 10:25 ] Paul Introduces John. John was born and raised and lives in Wichita, Kansas. He has a 3-year old son. He enjoys working on his car, experimenting with cooking, and comic books… He is engaged to be married to a woman who is also in the program (AA). John's last drink was August 28th, 2011… John kept trying to do it (quit drinking) on his own, but time and time again, it just didn't happen! After telling himself, "I'm just going to have two beers..." 3 or 4 beers, a few mixed drinks, sake for the whole table (they were going to a bar after dinner) and a $400 bar tab later… "I woke up on the floor in my undies, covered in puke (puke in the hallway, puke in the bathroom)... I just felt that someone was telling me to get help." John realized he just couldn't do this alone. [ 20:29 ] When did you decide to first quit drinking? "I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I kept trying to do it myself, but I'd always find a "special" occasion to drink." This is one of those things (choosing sobriety) where you actually have to do the work! [ 22:19 ] "I think I got this." John explains what this means for him... To John, this phrase means that he's letting his ego tell him how to run things. "I tried on my own without a program, guidance or a schedule and it just wouldn't stick. Ever." When John got his 2nd DUI, he knew something was up… John knew that if he drank again, he would get behind the wheel. [ 24:15 ] Talk to us about Alcoholics Anonymous. John was completely blown away by the spectrum of diverse people that made up his first AA meeting, which was quite contrary to what he "knew" AA was going to be! [ 31:08 ] John discusses weight loss, cooking and what he does with all his booze-FREE time! [ 32:59 ] What's your favorite dance move? Thanks Paul for getting in some humor! In his sobriety, John has really enjoyed running, but he does not prefer the "Running Man," and claims that the "Robot" is more his style... [ 35:48 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "I had the DUI 50-moped (the scooter I rode when I had my license suspended) and I had been drinking. I got on the moped… I just could not stop myself from drinking and driving." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "That day that I swore to myself that I'd only have 2 beers at the restaurant and ended up wondering, "How the hell did this happen?" What's your plan moving forward? "Keep going to meetings, keep being thankful for my sobriety, keep asking for more sobriety, keep being honest with my sobriety, and keep reaching out to people." What's your favorite re

Elaine has been sober for 15 days… This is her story... Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meet-ups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. recoveryelevator.com/survey Sobriety Tracker AA Elaine's podcast: Throttle Podcast Instagram: @throttlepodcast Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES "Today, I want to talk about feelings…" Feelings. Fun, right? We often hear that "drinking is but a symptom…" But, what the hell does that mean? It means we have feelings, experiences, and other life situations that we don't want to deal with, so we choose to cover them up with distractions, like drinking… "Two years and one week ago I used to drink all of these emotions away." Through some serious research, Paul has discovered that dogs (thanks to Ben for being part of this study) can teach us something about these feelings. Ok, so it's obvious that humans and dogs are different, but dogs can actually teach us how to lean into negative sensations and feelings… Take riding in a car for example, a dog (like Ben) will actually lean into uncomfortable sensations like curvy roads and the blowing wind. We can learn from our four-footed friends. 5 Strategies for Leaning Into Emotions: When you feel that negative emotion, lean into it. Don't categorize emotions as good or bad, just notice that the emotions are here. Breath and count to 10. Recognize where these feelings come from and begin to let-go. Let-go of the sensation, let-go of the experience. Know yourself. Begin to observe yourself from a 3rd-person point of view. Just watch. [ 09:24 ] Paul Introduces Elaine. Elaine's last drink was 15 days ago! Elaine has lived in a number of cities across Canada. She's in her 40s and does freelance work. She has been happily married for 25 years. She loves practicing karate (green belt), archery and riding her motorcycle. She is an introvert and an atheist. Elaine loves karate because of the mental part. "You really have to be focused and mindful." [ 13:44 ] When did you decide to first quit drinking? "That's a long road…" This time around, Elaine has joined AA. "My husband came home one day and told me a story about a great friend who was doing AA and it completely changed my view of AA." Elaine didn't feel that she had a rock bottom, but really resonated with the group the first time she joined an AA meeting. "I just couldn't fool myself any longer. It's a really open and honest group and I am an alcoholic." [ 17:31 ] What was it like, your first 24 hours, 72 hours…? It was a Wednesday, the day before we were leaving for a trip to my husband's family cottage, typically a long-weekend that involved drinking. "It was a white-knuckle weekend. I wasn't really sure what to do with myself." Elaine realized that in prior years the cottage was always an excuse to drink. [ 21:26 ] Talk to me about depression? Elaine has lived with depression since her teens. "When you mix alcohol with depression, it's never a good thing." During bouts of depression, everything becomes very arduous. Elaine now has the awareness to notice when depression is creeping up on her. "I used to start off with a couple of cocktails, have wine while making dinner and during dinner, and then finish off the night with a few night-caps. I would wake up the next day and feel terrible and would spend the whole next day beating myself up about it (the depression and the drinking). It was a vicious cycle." [ 26:44 ] What have you learned about yourself in the last 15 days? Elaine has learned that it is okay to feel really vulnerable and that it can be really hard to ask for help, but that she is also stronger than she thought and can do this and ask for help often. [ 27:56 ] What is your plan moving forward? Elaine plans to continue going to AA meetings where she finds a lot of strength in sharing stories with others and building camaraderie. "I really value their honesty. I find that alcoholism is like depression in a toolkit sense. I make sure that I get enough sleep, and I incorporate meditation and mindfulness. Fortunately, I have built these practices up in dealing with depression." [ 29:47 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "The things that I don't remember due to blackouts." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "So many! Waking up from being asleep and rather than going back to sleep I got up at 3am and made myself a vodka tonic…" What's your favorite resource in recovery? "Other alcoholics, the Recovery Elevator podcast, and going to meetings." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "Stand up and take the 24-hour sobriety chip at the AA meeting." What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinki

Kendall has been sober for 130 days… Here's his story... Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meet-ups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. recoveryelevator.com/survey Sobriety Tracker AA Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES Paul on Lowering the bar… "I have a podcast about being okay with the way things are, and I'll admit, this episode is not perfect, there are some things left out." Paul has been sober for 730 days. "Life at two years sober is better than life 730 days ago… My anxiety, that has pretty much gone away. But, on day 729, I had a near meltdown… The bar of expectations I had put in place for myself, had slowly risen up over the past 1 ½ years. On day 730, I realized that I needed to be kind to myself, to be patient and to get realistic. 2 years is not a long time, I still have so much more to go. On day 729, self-loathing showed up… again… I was so far out of my comfort zone, but that is where the growth happens, and that is where I have been for the past year and a half. So, I'm lowering the bar, I'm going to take the time to observe what I've done, what's going on around me and enjoy the moment. What's my plan moving forward? Well, I'm not going to change a darn thing." Paul is taking this one day at a time… One day at a time… [ 10:16 ] Paul Introduces Kendall: Kendall is 28 and has been sober for 130 days. "It feels great, I'm free. I don't have to carry the weight of being drunk." Kendall is from Lawrence, Kansas and moved to Montana 5 years ago as a professional painter, in his free time he likes to head up into the mountains. [ 11:25 ] What made you want to stop? Kendall surrendered to alcohol on the anniversary of a death of a best friend who died from a drunk driving accident. Kendall reset his sobriety date after smoking a bowl after attending another funeral of a close friend. [ 13:42 ] What were your drinking habits like? "I would drink at least a 12-pack if not more. I'd start in the morning just to calm the jitters, then the moment I got off work the fun began." Kendall used rules like "no hard alcohol," "just O'Douls," anything to maintain his sanity. "I got to drinking on the job, anything to keep my mind on alcohol." After being dismissed from a family Christmas dinner, Kendall knew something was up. [ 16:28 ] How did you do it? (on choosing sobriety) Kendall utilized the rules of AA. "They spoke my language, they have a plan and they know how to do it." Kendall felt connected once he got a sponsor, a home group and started doing service. "It works if you work it." [ 17:55 ] "Drinking is but a symptom…" Kendall dives into this idea. [ 18:32 ] What was it like, your first 24 hours, 72 hours…? "Oh boy, was that something else!" Kendall's brain was so hard wired to drink. "The people in the world aren't the problem, I always played the victim… It was all me. Selfish and self-centered." "The moment that you're able to accept some humility, that's when the freedom begins." Now, in sobriety, Kendall feels like the world is brighter and clearer. He can focus, eat and sleep, and do the things we do to be able to take care of ourselves. "It's crazy how I'm now able to read a chapter and comprehend what I'm reading… It's a gift." [ 23:36 ] What have you lost to alcohol? "I'd say I lost my job, an education, an opportunity for an education, family, friends, relationships…" [ 24:50 ] Have cravings come and what do you do to move forward? Kendall will pray and utilize his sponsor. "One time I went to the Wal-Mart parking lot and pushed carts back just to do something, to get out of my head." [ 27:34 ] What does your recovery portfolio look like today? "The moment I wake up, I pray. I have gone through "the big book and the 12 & 12". The first 30 minutes of my day are all geared towards AA. I use the serenity prayer. The moment I get off work I go to a meeting, come home, cook dinner and go to bed. I like to keep it simple." [ 28:37 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "Christmas dinner when I wanted to see my family but I couldn't because I had been dismissed because of my habits." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "The morning after I had been fired for drinking on the job and I had to go meet with my boss… I just couldn't." What is your plan in sobriety moving forward? "To serve others and keep going to meetings." What's your favorite resource in recovery? "My sponsor." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "Keep coming back. It works if you work it." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? "Keep your head out of the clouds and feet on the ground. Go to your local AA meeting." QUOTABLES "So

Chad, with 37 days of sobriety shares how he is doing it... Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meet-ups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. Join Cafe RE in April for a trip to PERU! Trip details can be found here: http://www.recoveryelevator.com/peru/ Reddit Stop Drinking Forum - /r/stopdrinking SMART Recovery Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES Paul Introduces Chad Chad has been sober for 37 days! Boom! Chad racked up about 2.5 years of sobriety in a previous life... "It doesn't get any easier. The best thing you can do is to get sober and stay sober." Chad is 25 and works in the communications field. He was born and raised in Atlanta and has lived all over the world. Chad is currently single (and recommends staying this way in early sobriety). Chad is really into backpacking... He got totally hooked during his time in rehab. What were your drinking habits like? "I avoided drinking and other habits until the summer before I went to college. I was afraid that something would happen to me if I drank. Little did I realize that that would become a self-fulfilling prophecy." Chad joined a fraternity in college and was drinking close to a 750ml of "nasty" Burnett's vodka a day... Did you ever try to "cut-back" and put rules in place? "You name it, I did it... But nothing ever worked." Chad went to rehab around age 22/23 to a place in the Pisgah National Forest, where he relearned how to live life -- survival techniques, meditation, etc. Chad attributes the program to his sobriety. After 2.5 years of sobriety, what was your shoelace? What made you drink again...? "Oh man, as with so many men in sobriety, it was a lady friend..." Chad was going on a first date with a girl that he perceived to be way out of his league... Chad was so nervous and remembered how embarrassed he would feel if he had to explain on a first date that he doesn't drink... Looking back, Chad now knows that honesty is the answer. "One drink led to two drinks... And three months later I was back to blacking-out..." The girl left Chad after two months when she realized something just wasn't right. Chad believes that he had this experience so that he could add it to the long list of reasons why he doesn't drink. Chad talks about recovery and his recovery portfolio. Chad is working with a sponsor (AA) as he feels that he needs to get relief quickly. Chad is working one step every week right now -- it's like a mini 12-week program. AA is working for Chad and he is going to keep doing it... Besides listening to the RE podcast (Chad's favorites are RE 67 with Buddy and any that highlight the newly sober). "These relationships that we form (in recovery) go way beyond the face value of most relationships. People in recovery can relate on such a deeper level." When your next shoelace comes, when life happens, what do you plan on doing differently? Chad is now asking for help. "It's admitting that you need help, that I need to reach out for additional resources. I see this as a sign of being a man." It's calling his sponsor, connecting with his recovery groups/contacts, and listening to the RE podcast. It is a courageous thing to be vulnerable and ask for help. Who's your favorite Atlanta hip-hop star? Listen in to get an update on ATL stars from Paul & Chad! Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "In November of 2015, I got behind the wheel of my car and decided to visit a friend 4 hours away... Short of the long of it, I woke up in jail the next day in Raven Co. I was off by quite a bit..." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "37 days ago when a co-worker pulled me aside and asked me if I was drunk in a meeting. It was no longer a personal thing." What is your plan in sobriety moving forward? "Continue to utilize and build 'that' network. I'm so afraid to ask for help, so if I'm constantly surrounding myself with other alcoholics in recovery I know that I can always reach out for help." What's your favorite resource in recovery? "On Reddit - Stop Drinking sub-Reddit, where people can chat in a forum, and SMART recovery." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "Footwork. It's what action you're taking in order to stay sober the next day. Putting one foot in front of the other." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? "Listen to the examples that people have provided, examine the evidence and determine for yourself what you're willing to do to get back on track and to be happy because what you're doing right now clearly isn't working. Take an objective look and take action." QUOTABLES "When you make it through a craving, that feeling of accomplishment, that g

Julie, with 118 days of sobriety, shares how she does it... Resources mentioned in this episode: RE needs your input! Follow the link below to fill out a quick survey to determine the future of the RE Podcast! Recovery Elevator Survey Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can have unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meetups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. Join Cafe RE in April for a trip to PERU! Trip details can be found here: http://www.recoveryelevator.com/peru/ Rockstars Who are Sober: http://www.soberrecovery.com/recovery/12-rock-stars-proud-to-be-sober/#/most-popular http://www.eonline.com/news/271628/amy-winehouse-s-cause-of-death-accidental-alcohol-poisoning-blood-level-five-times-the-legal-limit Good reads mentioned by Julie: Drinking: A Love Story, by Caroline Knapp Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship, by Gail Caldwell Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES Paul Introduces Julie Julie has been sober for 118 days. Julie is 46, she grew up in Annapolis and Germany. She has been working with the same marketing company for 20 years. Julie is on her 4th year in a relationship with a great guy who is a normal drinker. She loves to stay active and be outside. What are you going to do differently this time? Julie was sober for 129 days before relapsing at a wedding. Now, the next thing for her is to get to 130 days. Julie was "white-knuckling" it, doing it all on her own. This time around, the difference is that Julie is reaching out and connecting through Cafe RE, sober friends, and she is holding herself accountable. Julie speaks on how to tell your friends, "I don't drink," Talk to me about your bottom? "I let down a friend. I had promised to help a friend at a certain time. I drank. And I passed out… Sleeping through my commitment." Despite many other signs that somehow didn't get Julie to quit for very long… this was the final trigger. "I'd have many incidents where I would stop for one to three days, but this last one was it." What were your drinking habits like? "I was a wine drinker. When one (referring to either 'red' or 'white') would present a problem to me, I would switch. Sometimes it was 'red' and then it was 'white.' I don't like beer or hard liquor. In High School I felt that my shyness was hurting me, so I started drinking to "loosen-up." Come college, I'd be the one passed out on the couch. It never occurred to me that I had a problem. In my 30s, it got pretty scary. I started drinking alone. I just took the ball and ran with it." Did you ever try to "cut-back" and put rules in place? Julie played games. The 'red' wine, 'white' wine game. She wouldn't keep wine in the house, but would play games where she based her whole lifestyle around the wine shop hours. She used day/time constraints to "control" the drinking… Shockingly, it didn't work. "I remember standing on my front porch thinking, drinking is my biggest problem ever." Julie used to drink to calm her anxiety, but what she found was that drinking actually caused anxiety. Walk me through the start of your sobriety. "Whatever works for you, grab it and go with it!" Julie does not participate in AA, but sees it as a very valid way to support a sober journey. Julie uses the Cafe RE Facebook group to connect and create sober like-minded friends. Julie reads a lot of books, listens to podcasts, and connects with others. What does your recovery portfolio look like today? "In recovery, I have a whole lot more free time." Julie is very connected to Cafe RE's Facebook Group (unsearchable and private group). Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "I passed out in an Uber and the driver couldn't wake me up when he got to my house so he called an ambulance." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "I had a couple of these… My habit was that I would take my wine to bed. I wanted to be safe, so I'd take my wine to bed… If I woke up at 6am and there was still wine left, I'd finish the bottle." What is your plan in sobriety moving forward? "I'm going to stick with Cafe RE, the facebook page, and continue reaching out and connecting and sharing with people." What's your favorite resource in recovery? Besides Cafe RE! "Drinking: A Love Story, a book by a woman who has now passed away. She wrote about her drinking story in a way that I was able to connect with." Julie also mentions, Let's Take the Long Way Home: A Memoir of Friendship. What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "Life is better sober." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? "You can do it. It is absolutely possible. You just can." Julie recognizes that she is in early sobriety, "But, it is doable!" What did you lose to alcohol? "I lost a lot of self respect and

Lo, with 7.5 months of sobriety, shares her story... FYI! Alcoholism does not segregate. It is straight-up an equal, all around ass-kicker… Alcoholism does not care about your gender, race, social status, height, weight, athletic prowess, economic status or celeb status. Yep, that's right, this mean celebrities can be alcoholics too! It's just that you don't ever hear about the list of celebs that fade away because their drinking habits become too much… They just literally fade away. Adios… But, what you maybe didn't know is the list of recovering alcoholics that run the Hollywood gamut. So here it goes, a short list of the Famous & Sober: Stephen King, Ben Affleck (rehab in 2001), Michael J. Fox, Jamie Lee Curtis, Diana Ross, Mel Gibson, Johnny Depp, Mickey Mantle, Eminem, Anthony Hopkins, and Harry Potter (became sober is 2010). Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you can unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meetups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. RE Community Forum [email protected] Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES [ 08:40 ] Paul Introduces Lo Lo has been sober for 7.5 months. She is originally from Northern Minnesota with a bad (but proud) habit of moving back to Bozeman, Montana time and time again. "It has been a good place to keep coming back to." Lo is a massage therapist. She enjoys running, hiking, coffee, theatre, and is rediscovering her passion for art. "There are so many more hours in the day now that I'm practicing sobriety," comments Lo on making time for creativity and art. [ 10:52 ] What brought you to the decision to stop drinking? "I surrendered enough." It took Lo close to a year to truly decide to get an AA sponsor and stick with the plan. "The previous day I had wanted to drink so bad. The next day it returned, so I drank. It was enough, the shame, the guilt, the wanting to commit suicide the next day. It was enough. My emotional hangovers were just so heavy." [ 14:29 ] Did you have any 'plans'? "Sometimes I would wake up and feel shitty enough that I didn't want to drink. My therapist told me to try to have only x amount of drinks per week… I usually hit the mark by Monday or Tuesday. I would tally up the drinks at the end of the week, and I just never could make it…" [ 17:23 ] How did you do it 7.5 months ago? "I finally got serious with the program (referring to AA). It took me several months to come to the understanding that I was an alcoholic. It was time to take the program seriously." [ 19:45 ] Paul refers to the idea of "breaking up with the word alcoholic." Check out RE #75 for more on this! [ 21:07 ] Lo speaks about her struggles, discovering who she is and what having a higher power means to her. "I have to learn to trust it. To let go." Lo finds relief in this technique, knowing that she has relief from her mind and anxiety. [ 25:39 ] What does your recovery portfolio look like today? Walk me through a day in recovery with Lo. Lo gets out for a morning run a couple times a week, drinks coffee, meditates, and tries to stay conscious of being connected to her higher power. Lo also stays in contact with people from the program (AA), texting, calling and just connecting. [ 31:48 ] Lo talks about the 'Pink Cloud' that has not shown up yet. [ 29:00 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "Last summer when I drank TOO much. I wasn't planning on drinking that evening and then had a suicide attempt." What is your favorite Flow Riders song? "That's a great band!" Paul is also a comedian... Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "The same night that I had the suicide attempt. My actions were just going down a road that I wasn't even thinking about." What is your plan moving forward? "Keeping up with my friendships, connecting, going to meetings and listening to RE." What's your favorite resource in recovery? "AA Program and the Podcast (RE)." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "The goal is not to feel better about life, but to stay sober." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? "It's worth all the hard work and it will pay off. Don't quit before the miracle happens." QUOTABLES "Adios alcohol, welcome back hobbies and passions." - Paul "If you're concerned enough about your drinking and you're at an AA meeting (you're probably an alcoholic)" - Lo "We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!" Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Randy, with 124 days of sobriety, shares how he did it. Ponder this. We have been conditioned to think that alcohol is relaxing. Now, cue the visions of a Corona commercial; a couple on the beach, kicking back beer after beer… In fact this notion of "relaxation" has the exact opposite effect on our bodies. Alcohol actually slows down your brain's function, affecting two neurotransmitters, Glutamate and GABA. Glutamate is an excitatory neurotransmitter that is released by nerve cells in the brain. It is responsible for sending signals between nerve cells, and under normal conditions it plays an important role in learning and memory. When we consume alcohol, Glutamate production slows W-A-Y down, completely bogging down your brain's neuro-highways. GABA, is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that reduces energy and slows down brain activity. Alcohol increases GABA productions…. Folks, that is just not a good thing. This process starts instantly after just one drink… And stays with you long after you stop drinking… Resources mentioned in this episode: Connect with Cafe RE For $12.00 per month, you receive unlimited, private access to groups of like-minded people via in-person meetups, unsearchable Facebook groups, and travel. First month FREE with Promo Code: Elevator. RE on Facebook RE on Instagram Jason Vale's book : Kick the Drink...Easily! Support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ SHOW NOTES [ 07:34 ] Paul Introduces Randy Randy has been sober for 124 days (using the sobriety tracker). "It feels great, every day is a new experience." Randy is from the East Coast (grew up in RI) and made his way around the world in the Air Force. Randy found his career through the military. Randy now works in aviation with the FAA in Guam, U.S.A. Randy is a hardcore cyclist, with a renewed passion for pedaling. [ 11:29 ] What was your elevator like? What was your bottom? "I'd been a lifelong drinker and never thought that I would have a problem, I thought drinking to some degree was healthy…" Randy made all kinds of "plans"… a 30-day sober binge, operating in moderation, writing, using apps, etc… "IT DID NOT WORK!"… "I have that switch, once you turn it on, it doesn't really turn itself off…" In preparation for his daughter's baby shower, Randy noticed that he went through a 6-pack within an hour… He quickly opened up the next 6-pack and shortly thereafter found himself drinking a bottle of wine… "The next morning I'm completely useless, I wasn't there, I wasn't available…" The shower happened and the next day I thought to myself, "I don't want to do this anymore, that continuous vicious cycle." [ 26:30 ] Randy speaks about his clarity and peace of mind being sober. [ 26:59 ] What does your recovery portfolio look like today? Walk me through a day in the life of Randy. "It's staying engaged with the process and the journey of sobriety. I think about alcohol multiple times throughout the day, and then I just have to let it go…" "Yeah, yeah, there's the beer (commenting on the coolers full of beer @ Kmart)," says Randy. "Just noticing these thoughts and letting them go, constantly reminding myself why I'm doing this. Cafe RE is the strongest network that I have. I've been to one meeting (AA), and it was a candlelight vigil. I just haven't found myself showing up at meetings, just not yet anyways." [ 36:02 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? "The day that I ran my own sailboat on the ground. I haven't shared this with too many people, I nearly lost my boat that day and it was absolutely alcohol related. I was boating under the influence and couldn't execute all of the steps necessary to avoid the reef." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? "Oh many! The sailboat ride where I had my hand in the cooler for 8 hours was one for sure…" What is your plan moving forward? "More of the same. Reminding myself of all of the positive things that have come from leaving alcohol behind. And, living my life! Just knowing that I don't have to have a drink to experience things." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? "Listening to yourself. If it doesn't feel right to you, then it probably isn't okay." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? "Just to be honest with yourself. If you wake up with that heavy feeling like you've gotta take action, do it. Don't beat yourself up, listen to yourself and take it one day at a time." What brand of boat shoes would you recommend? "If you've got a boat, you don't need shoes… unless you've got a staff…" You've got listen to really get it! QUOTABLES "Enough is enough. I was tired of waking up with that dull, heavy feeling in the mornings." - Randy "I've got to take this one day at a time." - Randy "If you're a real boater, you don't need shoes." - Paul "Maintain a clean deck." - Randy "We took the elevator

Annie has been sober for 2 years. She never thought twice about her drinking because she didn't know enough about it. Annie started journaling about her drinking habits as an exploration in March of 2013 which enabled her to stop drinking in December of 2013. Annie is from Colorado and works in marketing. She is married with children and loves the outdoors (hiking, skiing). [ 02:08 ] When did your Elevator hit its bottom? When did you finally decide to stop drinking? Annie was living in London when her Elevator hit bottom the first time. Annie and her family were going to the London Eye (an amusement park) and she had decided it was a good idea to bring in two large beers, packed in her purse, to sip on. "I dropped my purse and the beers exploded, spraying beer all over my children and my parents." "I had a 'What the fuck has happened, what am I doing?' moment right then." On another trip, Annie was traveling all over the world for work, she comments, "You'd take off on the airplane and get drunk, and then I'd justify having drinks in the lounge… I was pretty much existing on coffee and alcohol. I realized that I had to get back into regular mommy life. I just remember sitting there thinking, Whoa, what is this?'" [ 04:27 ] Talk to me about your drinking habits? "The plans are my worst enemy! As soon as you start to try to stop something, it becomes even more tempting. It's like putting yourself on a diet." Annie had all sorts of ideas/plans: no drinking until 5pm, only having 2 glasses of wine (but after two she didn't care how many more she consumed), trying to have a sober day... "I remember finding an excuse every single day to drink. I was driving myself further and further into separateness and defensiveness." [ 06:31 ] How did you make the change (into sobriety)? "I didn't seek help. I just didn't know any better. I didn't know what I didn't know (referring to all the resources out there). I had a different kind of 'talking-to' with myself one day in the Heathrow airport, I decided to give myself permission to write about this, to explore this in a mindful way." Dr. John Sarno's work really inspired Annie to dive deeper into understanding her need to drink. [ 09:59 ] What was it like? Annie's research took her on a journey for 8-9 months. "I was still drinking during the research, but by the time I stopped, I had made peace with it. On an emotional level, I felt free." "It was like being sick to save my life for about a month. There were a lot of tears and a lot of laughter and joy." [ 13:23 ] This Naked Mind - Control Alcohol by Annie Grace Paul lets the Cat out of the Bag (meow!) - Annie Grace wrote, "This Naked Mind - Control Alcohol". It is a MUST read for recovery. [ 14:40 ] What was the push back like after writing a book that wasn't based on AA? "I questioned the word 'alcoholic' because in my research, any organism can become addicted to something. I took issue with this because we are all built with flesh, blood, bones, and cells… We are all the same. The word 'alcoholic' is really a solace for people." [ 20:12 ] Annie talks about the Hedonic Threshold and the fact that alcohol is just plain addictive. [ 25:17 ] What is the difference between the conscious and the unconscious mind? Annie speaks wholeheartedly about protecting her unconscious mind and understanding the need to have self-compassion, self-worth and acceptance in this process. [ 31:15 ] Annie's Projects This Naked Mind - Control Alcohol is available on Amazon. She is also working on a second book that focuses on the first few years of her sobriety, highlighting techniques she used to maintain a clean and naked mind and keep the garbage out. Annie is also putting together a video-based course complete with worksheets and exercises that she hopes to launch this Fall (2016). [ 32:12 ] Rapid Fire Round What was your worst memory from drinking? [ 32:20 ] "Not having the memories. I don't remember moving day and moving days are supposed to be special. I lost that day." Did you ever have an "oh-shit" moment? [ 32:52 ] "I had a lot of those. They were all at 3AM when I'd wake up and couldn't remember how much I'd drank the night before." What's your plan in sobriety moving forward? [ 33:10 ] "Continuously protecting my unconscious mind, continuously asking "why" and "what." What is your favorite resource in recovery? [ 33:33 ] "Ten minutes of watching my breath every single day." What's the best advice you've ever received (on sobriety)? [ 34:11 ] "It's more about living than it is about sobriety. Living alcohol free and living your life." What parting piece of guidance can you give to our listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? [ 34:56 ] "Right now, in this moment, FORGIVE YOURSELF. Realize that you've been caught in an addictive trap. The sooner you can get to a place of acceptance and love yourself through this, opens the journey to becoming sober." QUOTABLES "There are so many people who are heavy drinkers

Westin, with over 3 years of sobriety shares how he did it. Some of my best memories are those of camping with my family in Southern Utah. Camping growing up used to consist of fishing, catching lizards and snakes, watching the sunrise and sunsets. It was a simple and joyous time that I spent with my family. These are fond memories. But, somewhere along the line, my camping experiences diminished, the joy of spending time in nature was replaced with Hot Dogs, Booze and Passing Out. Last weekend, I was camping with Ben (my partner in crime, my four-footed friend), we had called it a night and crawled into the back of my truck in the woods of Montana. Now, these are real woods, mountain lions, grizzlies, etc. Nature is not to be taken for granted around here. Suddenly, around 2am, I awoke to Ben's perked ears and sounds of snapping branches. The sounds grew louder as whatever was roaming the woods got closer… I reached for my headlamp… And... GOATS! Rocky Mountain Goats, a herd of them… Now, if I had been camping with Hot Dogs and Booze I would have been PASSED OUT (probably face down in a pile of biting red ants at that!) and would never have experienced this beauty, this joy. The Goats brought me out of the truck where I was then able to see the expansiveness of the sky and the stars and experience the cooling sensations of the pine trees. Nothing needed to change. I didn't need to drink a Keystone Light or 50 of them… I am now getting back my memories and creating new memories that are more than just a party. Memories such as this that fill me up with satisfaction, connection, and awe. AND NOW… onto the podcast! SHOW NOTES Paul Introduces Westin Westin is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is 33, has been married for 7 years, and has an amazing little girl who is turning 4 in September. "She is the most important thing in my life alongside my sobriety." Westin works at an addiction treatment center as a "Recovery Coach." How long have you been sober? Westin has been sober for 2 years and 363 days, he is 2 days away from 3 years of sobriety! "Right now I'm in a place where I have to count days again. I'm in a weird place where I just have to count." says Westin on his sobriety. When did you realize it was time to quit drinking? "My bottom was 3 years ago almost to the date. I woke up face down on my Mom's couch, not knowing how I got there, and not knowing what happened over the past 24 hours. I was highly addicted to Klonopin and drinking on top of them. I looked up from the couch and just saw this look of utter disappointment on my Mom's face. It was different. I had unknowingly gone through her medicine cabinet the night before, and found all sorts of pills in my pockets." What were your drinking habits? "I was a blackout drinker from the age of 17. I was never trying to control it, I thought it was normal. I was proud of the amount of alcohol I could consume…" "But, I was physically addicted to it… Always struggling with anxiety and shaking. I couldn't function without that first drink, and then the pills took over." What does it mean, when you're back to counting the days? In the early days of sobriety Westin was counting: 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, 1-year sober… Getting those next tokens, proving to himself that he could do this. "I needed the external motivation. From 2-years sober to just now I didn't count, I didn't need to, but now, I'm back to counting the individual days. I've been referencing my sobriety tracker, and just trying to get through each day. It's not a comfortable feeling." The whole 'God' word in AA. That one word kept you from getting sober… Expand on that. Westin discusses his "religious" philosophy and how he made AA work as an agnostic. Westin had been agnostic (without knowledge, an individual who does not claim to say whether God exists or does not exist) most of his life. AA taught Westin to own his agnosticism, his belief system. "I'm now more comfortable being honest and open with who I am, and AA taught me this. I found a way to make my beliefs, or lack thereof, work within the framework of AA." The gift of desperation allowed Westin to take what works and leave the rest… How did you do it? (on getting sober) Westin went to a treatment center, Fairbanks Hospital in Indianapolis. "I looked at my wife and said, I think I need some help with this."… "We tried to do a walk in, but like a good addict I had just finished the rest of my klonopin refill (half of the prescription), so I had to wait. I went through a 7-day long detox and then a 6-week intensive outpatient treatment." What emotions did you feel? "I had anxiety through the roof. Drinking brought about terrible, terrible anxiety… But now, I didn't have my self medicating procedures in place. I had to face it. My anxiety was peaked out for 6 months. Drinking was not an option." "That was my first time going into treatment, I had been looking for a solution, and I just kept doing all the things that were recommended to me.

Simon, with 15 years of sobriety, shares how he did. Three years ago, Simon started the Hope Rehab Center in Thailand and has been helping people change transform their lives. The Conscious and the unconscious mind. I recently read the book "This Naked Mind - Control Alcohol" by Annie Grace and the chapter covering the how the brain worked was fascinating. Conscious: Aware of something, knowing that something exists or is happening. Unconscious: The part of the mind a person is not aware of but is a powerful force in controlling behavior. Consciousness: Being aware of something within oneself. The upper level of mental life that a person is aware of as contrasted with unconscious process. Warning: This may blow your mind... The unconscious mind is responsible for desires Studies show, we have two separate thinking systems. The conscious mind, and the unconscious mind When we want something to change in our life, we usually make a conscious decision. However, drinking is no longer a conscious decision. The unconscious mind doesn't get the memo Unconscious learning happens automatically and unintentionally We are conditioned to think drinking enhances our lives and makes us happy This is why when we want to drink less, our unconscious mind tells us to drink more. Insert major dilemma here. We have been conditioned to believe in alcohol. To believe that me and some random captain would make it happen. The unconscious mind is not logical. It's comprised of feelings, observations. It's the source of love, jealousy, fear, kindness and sadness. When a person makes a decision to quit drinking alcohol, their unconscious mind is never in on that conversation. Gary, pull up a chair. Studies dating back to the 1970's indicate our unconscious mind makes 1/3 of a second fast than our conscious mind. The unconscious mind controls the emotions. When someone tells yourself to stop having a bad day, that never works. But over time, this positive reinforcement can work. Liminal thinking, which we will get to in later podcast episodes, is how will cover how to converse with the unconscious mind. The unconscious mind is formed by beliefs, conclusions, assumptions, experiences and observations. Often time, it is far separated from reality which is where the conscious mind lives. Our culture of drinking makes everything better has been ingrained into our unconscious mind without us ever knowing. One easy way to challenge this, which we often never do, is look for external validity. For example, the bud light makes you a better beach volleyball player. Go to a beach and try to find a real life example if this. It won't happen. We let the unconscious mind determine our thinking because we like certainty. In the conscious mind, there is so much unknown and that is always scary. The unconscious mind is a bubble of safety where we feel comfortable. Why did I find it so hard to quit drinking? Well, I knew I wouldn't have a good time at a social event sober, I knew I wasn't funny, I knew I wouldn't be able to chat with girls. I never stood a chance at quitting drinking unless a pain point was strong enough, aka, the bottom. We can address this by bringing unconscious experiences, observations, assumptions and conclusions, into conscious thought. We do this through knowledge. Before we drank alcohol, we were happy joyous and free, we didn't miss it. The Author Terry Pratchett says, we need to be able to at any time, accept that fact that we all could be absolute and utterly wrong. Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Paul, with 18.5 months of sobriety, shares how he did it. That's right, I'm breaking up with the word alcoholic and opting for a simpler less defining answer of I don't drink. I got the idea for this podcast after reading the following article and I hope you like the show notes. As you can probably tell, I've had some recent help with show notes since mine leave much to still be desired. COUNT ME OUT OF "RECOVERY NATION" - NEGATIVE SELF-IDENTITY IS THE CRUELEST STIGMA (Stanton Peele: July 7th, 2016) The labels "alcoholic", "addicts", and "in recovery" dehumanizes people, both for the person themselves and their children. -Influence contributor, Meghan Ralston, wrote in her article (I'm Breaking Up With the Word Addict), Agree - "Even in a chaotic stage of drug use, we are not "other." We are women, we are someone's daughter, we continue to laugh, we continue to like jazz and cheeseburgers and comfy pajamas. We cry, we get so lonely, we hate sitting in traffic. Addiction can be wretched, no question, but we do not ever stop being human beings, even during the times in our lives when we are dependent on drugs." Disagree - "For many people, myself included, the word "addict" is incredibly harmful and offensive. You do not have my permission to call me an addict. You can of course refer to yourself as an addict, if you wish."[1] Don't refer to yourself as an "addict." -It's depressing -No one should highlight/define themselves by their worst trait or period in their life. These concepts arose in conversation between Dr. Peele and Talk Recovery Radio: "Dr. Stanton Peele was today's thought provoking live guest on Talk Recovery.… our show is meant to be a platform where all pathways to recovery are welcomed to be discussed… But today, that almost didn't happen. There was an 'us and them' feel to the show… Why do people feel the word addict is stigmatizing?"[2] -Peele explains that the host seemed to feel that he was part of a movement that set people recovering apart from everyone else. -Culture seems to encourage this separation. -public policies -celebrities' confessionals -treatment circles -recovery high schools -etc. -Show host ironically wonders why there's a stigma towards addicts while he himself labels himself as one. Peele refuses to label himself by marching with Recovery Nation, a group that lets themselves be lead by their labels. -"Thinking of yourself as an alcoholic causes you to behave the way you think alcoholics behave." -To quote Peele and Ilse Thompson, "You are not your addiction; you are a valuable human being whose qualities endure and exceed your addiction. … It's impossible to expect a person to achieve wellness by focusing on his or her faults and mistakes. Perhaps this is why conventional recovery asserts that people must remain 'in recovery' forever and continue to identify themselves as addicts, no matter how long they are sober."[3] -Today people seem to expect labeling. Peele states, "Imagine a child with a learning difficulty looking at you and saying, 'I am retarded,' or 'I am stupid.' We would cry and hug them and tell them that wasn't true!" -Peele goes on to pose the question of why it is that people always discourage each other from identifying themselves by their problems or illnesses, except when it comes to addiction. -While debating former head of treatment at Hazelden, Peele asked how he short-circuited his family heritage. -While the clinician had a cynically humorous answer, Peele gave his answer for the man to the radio show hosts. The method to preventing his children from taking on addictive traits was to raise them in emotionally and financially stable home, encourage them, provide for them, and allow them to be who they want to be. -What doesn't help children, is to burden them with the "destiny" that they would most likely be an alcoholic. -The "tough love" approach often comes in too late, Peele says. -Before a child can misbehave during drug use, you ought to instill him with morals of responsibility to themselves and others. -Peele is reframing addiction in an opposite direction from the "disease" mindset. He puts it like this: "Addiction is not a consequence of taking drugs and drinking. Rather, it arises from the way in which these and other compelling activities fit into people's lives and meanings." -To end the interview, Peele asked how the show host quit smoking cigarettes. -His response was that his recovery program didn't allow it, but also that it didn't allow him to call himself a cigarette addict. Rather, they insisted on the generic term addict. -He then was able to quit smoking (one of the hardest substance addictions) without patches. This was because it didn't address smoking, or label them as cigarette smokers. FOR COPYRIGHT PURPOSES All content read here has been cited appropriately. The content is based majorly from the article written by Doctor Stanton Peele: Count Me Out of "Recovery Nation" - Negative Self-Identity Is the Cruelest Stigma o

Ronnie, with 25 years of sobriety shares how he did it. We also discuss 50 ways to stay sober this summer. Ronnie Marmo Ronnie got sober a few times throughout his life, once at age 17 and again at age 20. At age 20, he found himself smoking crack on the sidewalk after 3 years of sobriety… One drink of alcohol was his gateway drug. Ronnie's background: Lives in L.A. and works as an actor and director, running two theater companies. Check out 68 Theatre Company. Ronnie is 45 and married with a dear family… For more information on Ronnie and his work - ronniemarmo.com. Take us back to age 20... Was that your bottom? For me, "I was out of control ever since I started drinking. I always drank and got high in the same way. I was never a social drinker, I had no interest in drinking socially." It went something like this - one gallon of vodka, one quart of Yukon Jack, and then I found myself waking up at a sober picnic. My sponsor asked me if I was humble enough… I said yes, and went back to rehab for the 3rd time. What is it like being sober in your industry? It's like anything, many people are sober, once you start talking "our" language. Those who do drink and get high, it's never an issue, but I tend to gravitate towards people who are sober. Let's talk rules: Did you ever try to put rules into place? "I thought alcohol was a problem, but I didn't think it was my biggest problem. I constantly negotiated with myself. Normal people don't hide bottles. Normal people don't wake up needing a drink." People have gone on retreats and think that anxiety is the issue, or depression is the issues, when underneath it is really the alcohol. Literally, every day of my life I spent my day trying to figure out how to get more booze. Do you remember your first intensive rehab? "I hadn't even seen the STEPS on the wall!" Now, I have a healthy fear of booze. Talk to me more about this healthy fear, I'm terrified of this stuff… When I look at it, it's rare that I glorify a drink. When I see booze, I get nervous. If I ever take a second to glorify it. I immediately think I could destroy my life. It happens quickly. That thought is so fleeting, it's not even an option. Bill W. and Dr. Bob: http://theatre68.com/ Playing in north Hollywood, CA Soon to star in the movie, Back in the Day. Walk me through a day in your sobriety: I don't go to as many meetings as I should, but I never miss my Wednesday home meeting. If I do these things daily: Give thanks Reach out to a newcomer Walk with love and grace Attend a meeting If I don't do these things, life is just harder... What are your thoughts on relapse: It's a weird disease because you have to self-diagnose it. It's 2:30 in L.A. right now, if I had a drink right now, I'd be smoking crack by 7:30pm… Relapse doesn't have to happen, but if it does, hopefully you can choose sobriety again quickly. What would you say to your younger Ronnie: "The sooner you can get past being so dependent on the drink or the drug the sooner you can get on with your life, doing what you really want to do." "No matter where you go or what you do, drink a lot of water and walk slow." What's still on your bucketlist: Doing what I love Helping others Shoot a movie in Italy for a summer... All these items are attainable with sobriety. Rapid Fire Round: 1.What was your worst memory from drinking? Stealing my mother's pocket book. 2.Did you ever have an oh-shit moment? I had a spiritual awakening in the courtroom, asking the judge for help. The things that came out of my mouth were nothing that I had intended to say when I walked in. 3.What is your plan for sobriety moving forward? Keep showing up and trying to be graceful, reaching out to others, and trying my best on a daily basis to stay with a formula that works. Keeping it super simple! Favorite resources? Meetings Best advice you've ever received? Drink a lot of water and walk slow What parting piece of guidance can you give? If you are thinking about it (getting sober) and it's on your mind, there's a really good chance that you should be doing it. Give it a really strong 90 days. "You might be an alcoholic if…" You might be an alcoholic if you steal from someone you love just to get a drink or a drug. You might be an alcoholic if after 2 years of sobriety you take a drink and later you end up smoking crack. Connect with Ronnie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ronnie.marmo Twitter: @Ronniemo22 50 Ways to stay sober this summer Wear sun screen – Lots of sunscreen La Croix Soda water. Drink lots of soda water Enjoy time in a hot tub / spring or sauna Beach trip: The small stream behind your neighbor's house even has a beach Movie Day: The Anonymous People Scroll through your phone contacts and call someone you did wrong in the past. Don't tell them what they did wrong, but what you did wrong Binge watch old TV episodes: Prefably not Mad Men, they drink like fish Yoga / Meditation Create a new sober drink concoction. Watermelon and milk is one I stumbled upo

Barb, with 15 days of sobriety, shares her journey. I got the idea for today's podcast from an article sent to me from a dear friend that was in the Lush. Fitting publication eh? Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Ty, sober since March 2008, shares how she implements service into her life to stay sober. I want to give a huge personal thank you to Ty for helping me with the Recovery Elevator podcast. I can't do any of this alone. Thank you Ty. Also in this episode I interview Jesse from My Sober Roommate. Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Kevin, in remission for 13 years, shares his story and why he created We Face it Together.

Kellie, with 2 years of sobriety, shares how she has been successful in sobriety. Kellie has been part of the Recovery Elevator podcast since the beginning. She was written blog posts, helped line up interviewees and helps with social media. Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Stephen, with 32 years of sobriety, explains how he's made it this far. I often get asked if any of the interviewees on this show have relapsed and the answer is yes. Sure, some of them have relapsed, but how many. When I really got to thinking about this, my optimism wavered and when I dug deeper into the question, I realized it was more than just a few had relapsed; it was a lot. Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Matt, sober since 12/11/15, who is the 4th lawyer to be interviewed on this podcast, shares how leaving a law firm to start a private law practice while drinking, can be tumultuous; to say the least. I got the idea for this podcast from the a article I recently read in the Fix called My Top Five Female Recovery Memoirs by Regina Walker . Statistically, women don't recover from alcoholism at nearly the rate men do. A study in Germany concluded that alcoholism was twice as fatal for women as for men. The women in the German study with alcohol addiction were five times more likely to die during the 14-year period of the study than women in the general population. As a culture, we often judge women with addiction issues far more harshly than we do with men. Alcohol advertising often portrays men drinking as a bonding experience, while portraying women who drink as sexual predators or, at the very least, sexually objectified ("if she is going to get drunk, she is asking for it"). Though it's difficult for anyone with a substance abuse issue to ask for help, it is that much more difficult for a woman, who often bears an additional, gender specific stigma. Turnabout, by Jean Kirkpatrick Smashed: Story of a Drunken Girlhood by Koren Zailckas, Blackout Girl: Growing Up and Drying Out in America by Jennifer Storm Drunk Mom by Jowita Bydlowska Yellow Tale, by Tiffany Goik Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/

Buddy, with 7 years of sobriety, bounced in an out of AA for from 2002-2008 before something finally stuck and ironically, he explains how drinking actually saved his life. Don't forget to support the Recovery Elevator Podcast by shopping at Amazon with the Recovery Elevator link: www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon/ I read the following line out of an AA Grapevine, August 2013 issue, while on a tumultuous ride over a high altitude Andean pass in Chile. It didn't help that I was only 2 days sober (relapsed shortly after reading that line and ended up vomiting on myself and the bus) and I thought a relationship would solve my problems. Page 53 in the 12&12: The primary fact that we fail to recognize is our total inability to form a true partnership with another human being.

James with over 2.5 years of sobriety shares how we earned his family's trust back. Being sober has huge advantages at the workplace and this should be marketed as such. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Support the podcast and make your Amazon purchases through the Recovery Elevator affiliate link. 1/2 of all revenues will go to recovery non-profits. This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

In this episode Angela, with nearly 10 months of sobriety, shares how she did it. Here are some great movies about alcohol, sobriety, recovery, drunkenness, and getting sober! Thank you to Marueen from Cafe RE who helped put this list together! Burnt (2015) Bradley Cooper 1 hour, 40 minutes Comedy/Drama Synopsis: Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars. Director: John Wells Writers: Steven Knight (screenplay), Michael Kalesniko (story) Stars: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl | See full cast & crew » 2. Smashed (2012) Aaron Paul 1 hour, 21 minutes Drama Synopsis: A married couple whose bond is built on a mutual love of alcohol gets their relationship put to the test when the wife decides to get sober. Director: James Ponsoldt Writers: Susan Burke, James Ponsoldt Stars: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Aaron Paul, Nick Offerman | See full cast & crew » 3. Everything Must Go (2010) Will Farrell Comedy/Drama Synopsis: When an alcoholic relapses, causing him to lose his wife and his job, he holds a yard sale on his front lawn in an attempt to start over. A new neighbor might be the key to his return to form. Director: Dan Rush Writers: Dan Rush, Raymond Carver (short story "Why Don't You Dance") Stars: Will Ferrell, Rebecca Hall, Christopher Jordan Wallace | See full cast & crew » 4. Shakes The Clown (1991) Bobcat Goldthwait Drama/Comedy/Murder Synopsis: Shakes plods about his duties as party clown, and uses all of his free time getting seriously drunk. Binky, another clown, wins the spot on a local kiddie show, which depresses Shakes even more, and his boss threatens him with unemployment if he can't get his act under control. When someone murders Shakes' boss and makes it look like Shakes did it, he goes undercover, posing as a hated mime, and tries to find information that will clear his name. - Written by Ed Sutton 5. My Name Is Bill W. (1989) James Woods Drama (TV Movie) Synopsis: Based on the true story of Bill W. (James Woods), a successful stock broker whose life falls apart after the stock crash of the 20's and how he comes to grips with his alcoholism. Along with a fellow alcoholic (James Garner) he forms a support group that would eventually become Alcoholics Anonymous. - Written by Humberto Amador 6. Barfly (1987) Mickey Rourke Drama 1 hour, 40 minutes Synopsis: Based on the life of successful poet Charles Bukowski and his exploits in Hollywood during the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Director: Barbet Schroeder Writer: Charles Bukowski Stars: Mickey Rourke, Faye Dunaway, Alice Krige | See full cast & crew » 7. Crazy Heart (2009) Jeff Bridges, Drama/Music/ Romance 1 hour, 52 minutes Synopsis: A faded country music musician is forced to reassess his dysfunctional life during a doomed romance that also inspires him. Director: Scott Cooper Writers: Scott Cooper, Thomas Cobb (novel) Stars: Jeff Bridges, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Colin Farrell | See full cast & crew » 8. Days of Wine And Roses (1962) Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick Drama/ Romance Synopsis: An alcoholic falls in love with and gets married to a young woman, whom he systematically addicts to booze so they can share his "passion" together. Director: Blake Edwards Writer: J.P. Miller (as JP Miller) Stars: Jack Lemmon, Lee Remick, Charles Bickford | See full cast & crew » 9. Drunks (1995) Richard Lewis, Liza Harris Drama Synopsis: At the beginning of a nightly Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Jim seems particularly troubled. His sponsor encourages him to talk that night, the first time in seven months, so he does - and leaves the meeting right after. As Jim wanders the night, searching for some solace in his old stomping grounds, bars and parks where he bought drugs, the meeting goes on, and we hear the stories of survivors and addicts - some, like Louis, who claim to have wandered in looking for choir practice, who don't call themselves alcoholic, and others, like Joseph, whose drinking almost caused the death of his child - as they talk about their lives at the meeting. - Written by Gary Dickerson 10. Rachel Getting Married (2008) Anne Hathaway Drama 1 hour, 53 minutes Synopsis: A young woman who has been in and out of rehab for the past 10 years returns home for the weekend for her sister's wedding. Director: Jonathan Demme Writer: Jenny Lumet Stars: Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Debra Winger | See full cast & crew » 11. Unguarded - The Chris Herren Story (2013) Chris Herren Drama Synopsis: Chris Herren was a "can't miss" basketball superstar until drug addiction eventually destroyed his career. With the support of his wife and family, Herren struggles to conquer his demons and reclaim his life. Director: Jonathan Hock Stars: Chris Herren, Rick Pitino, Bill Reynolds |See full cast & crew » 12. 28 Days - Sandra Bullock (2000) Drama/Comedy 1 hour, 43 minutes Synopsis: A big-city newsp

In this episode Rachael, with 2.5 years of sobriety, shares how she did it. I got the idea for today's topic from an article I read by Sarah A Benton called: Why some phase out of college binge drinking and others are alcoholic. It piggy backs perfectly off last weeks episode with Johnny Manziel. Manziel appears not to be growing out of this phase and it's becoming apparent he has a real problem with alcohol. Why do some people simply not "grow out" of this phase? Here are some reasons the article states: • The Surgeon General's 2007 "Call to Action" report indicates that genetics account for 50% of the risk of developing alcoholism, therefore, family history is one of the strongest determinations of who may be alcoholic. In addition, the drinking culture of the individual's family and the role that alcohol plays. • The age that he or she began drinking is another key factor. Specifically, research by the NIAAA indicates that teens who begin drinking before the age of 15 have a 40% greater chance of becoming alcoholic with or without a family history of alcoholism. • Certain work or graduate school environments tend to incorporate alcohol into their social events such as going out after work or class for drinks or drinking while networking (ie, law, business). These cultures may normalize heavy drinking and also breed a "work hard, play hard" mentality that enables alcoholic drinking patterns. • The drinking patterns of the group of friends that he or she lives with or socializes with. Heavy drinkers tend to migrate towards spending time with others who drink like they do and this often allows them to justify and minimize their excessive drinking. • The individual's predispositions toward mental illness (such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety) or a trauma history (PTSD) may lead he or she to self-medicate with alcohol. • Impulse-control issues that include thrill-seeking behaviors and a need for immediate gratification. • Certain drinking patterns are "red flags" for alcoholism including: blacking out (ie, memory loss when drinking),inability to have just 1-2 drinks, obsessing about alcohol, rotating their social life around alcohol, drinking daily or frequently, behaving in shameful ways while drunk, always needing to drink excessively before going to a party (ie, "pre-partying") and surrounding themselves with peers who drink heavily. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Support the podcast and make your Amazon purchases through the Recovery Elevator affiliate link. 1/2 of all revenues will go to recovery non-profits. This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

Kelly, with 9.5 months sobriety shares how she did it! Johnny Manziel is an alcoholic who isn't having any fun. We has drafted 22nd overall in the 2014 NFL draft and the wheels have been coming off since. The media seem to wonder why he hasn't simply grown out of his crazy party lifestyle and realized his potential a an NFL quarterback. It was refreshing to see an article in written in the Bleacher Report about how Johnny's problem isn't a maturity one, but a clinical one.

Robert, who has been sober for nearly 3.5 years shares how he has made it this far. In this episode we hear from Shawn from the Model Health Show Podcast and he gives us valuable tips on how to get a grip on alcoholism with these tips and tricks. Below are links to some of the items he mentions in the podcast. Rebounder - Mini trampoline for cardio. NASA says this is the most effective form of exercise and detoxification. Moves your lymphatic system and starts to remove the muck that has built up into our systems over years of drinking. Start with no more than 10 minutes. . This helps drop your cortisol levels which will reduce stress throughout the day. Magnesium - Key to the early sobriety. Spirulina - Highest form of protein in the world by weight. Rich in B vitamins Vitamin B2 - Riboflavin (B2) great for depression Vitam B3 - Niacin. Helps capillaries dilate and get blood to your system and help eliminate waste in the body. Vitamin B12 - Great for Energy Multi B Vitamin - A great combination of all the B Vitamins. Green Super Food Blend - Not processed in a laboratory and is great for early recovery. Shawn's Bio: Shawn Stevenson is a bestselling author and creator of The Model Health Show, featured as the #1 Health podcast in the country on iTunes. A graduate of The University of Missouri - St. Louis, Shawn studied business, biology and kinesiology, and went on to be the founder of Advanced Integrative Health Alliance, a company that provides wellness services for individuals and organizations worldwide. Shawn has been featured in Entrepreneur magazine, Men's Health magazine, ESPN, FOX News, and many other media outlets. He is also a frequent keynote speaker for numerous organizations, universities, and conferences - all with outstanding reviews. To learn more about Shawn visit TheModelHealthShow.com Join Team RE on May 21st for the 3rd annual run for recovery at AALRM.org and use promo code Recovery Elevator for a 10% discount. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Cafe RE and get your daily AA email here!

With 91 days of sobriety, Sarah shares how she did it! In this podcast episode I cover an article from Sober Nation covering why Alcohol is such a potent drug. Sarah also shares how she made it to 91 days of sobriety! In this episode I review The Staying Sober Handbook, by Howard P Goodman and I would definitely recommend it for someone who is in recovery or as an informational piece if you want to know more about the disease in general. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Sober Travel and Sober Nation. In this episode I review The Staying Sober Handbook, by Howard P Goodman and I would definitely recommend it for someone who is in recovery or as an informational piece if you want to know more about the disease in general. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Sober Travel and Sober Nation.

Johan, who has been sober since November 15, 2015, shares how he did it. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Sober Travel and Sober Nation.

Molly Shares how she has made it to almost 30 days sober. I also interview my brother who has stuck with me from day one. I expected Mark to understand my pains, struggles and inner thoughts. I even developed unnecessary resentments towards him which he didn't deserve. Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Sober Travel and Sober Nation.

Matt from California shares how he has made it over 5 years sober. He went to seek treatment for PTSD and realized he was also an alcoholic. In this episode I discuss the not so smooth transition from a free community to a paid community. Below is is the post I placed in the group trying to clarify the point of the transition. “I woke up this morning and binge listened to the Recovery Elevator podcast, and later that day I went to my very first AA meeting/Told my spouse/reached out for help...” I have received probably 75 of these messages.... Recovery Elevator is not about me, it’s not about the people in this group, it’s about the people who are still struggling.I’ll be the first one to admit, I am flawed. I am far from perfect. I am fully aware I have made several mistakes and (“spoiler alert”) I will make many more mistakes moving forward. I think my biggest mistake thus far is not being able to communicate my vision for Recovery Elevator and why this transition is taking place. Sure it’s about sustainability, and the time commitment is not feasible over time. However, our #1 goal, the mission, the force that continues to find the RE team at the same coffee shop every Friday morning at 7am for almost a year now is to shred the shame. Does that sound familiar? What that means in one word is Stigma.The stigma surrounding this disease is just as lethal if not more potent than alcohol itself. It was this stigma that led me to a failed suicide attempt in the summer of 2014. I hated myself for not being able to drink like a normal person and was ashamed. I was even more upset when the suicide attempt didn’t work. I woke up that morning pissed off and angry. I wasn’t happy to be taking in precious breaths of air with a new outlook on my 2nd chance on life. I was devastated I had to keep on living my life of misery from the disease. Can anyone think of another disease where we let ourselves and loved ones get to the most critical point before treatment or help arrives? Many times, that assistance arrives at a car crash when it’s too late (my friend in 2006) and our friends don’t get a second chance. Why do alcoholic bottoms have to be so low???? The Stigma. A gentlemen, who removed himself from the group (We didn't), brought up some great points last night and I’m very glad he did. Before this message goes any further, I want to remind people that I have stated multiple times that Recovery Elevator is not affiliated with any 12 step or other recovery programs in particular Alcoholics Anonymous. I am just about to complete my own 12 steps and I plan on passing on that “service” with a sponsee when I finish. This person mentions RE is preying on people with monetization goals. It doesn’t any ivy league business degree to make that connection. If I want a fighting chance at battling this stigma, I am going to need resources. This may come as a surprise, but I’m definitely not the first one to prey on alcoholics and here are some examples: Budweiser, Miller, Coors, Pabst, Jose Cuervo, Jack Daniels, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Boones, Corona, rehab facilities, and many more are also targeting alcoholics. Battling the the stigma with resources will be tough, but shredding the shame with a cash flow of -$200 a month is a near insurmountable task. Think of the monthly fee going to the struggling alcoholic and not Recovery Elevator. Perhaps in 2014, if I saw a Recovery Elevator sponsored Facebook ad instead of a Bud Light Lime ad, I wouldn’t have bolted to a liquor store before they closed at 2:00 AM. A profitable sober travel company? I must be missing something, is there anything wrong with that? When I was 24, I went on what seemed to be a very profitable, packed booze cruise in Cabo, Mexico, and my actions on that boat were probably more shameful than trying create a sustainable operation which provides services to people like myself. I personally would have loved to go on sober adventure travel. Imagine being on an airplane and in the in flight magazine you see an add for a 7 day sober trip through the Grand Canyon. Am I supposed to not create a sober travel company due to traditions Recovery Elevator has never aligned themselves with? In my opinion, I wish the market was already saturated with Sober Travel companies, but unfortunately it’s not. Take a guess anyone why? The stigma. Look at the monthly fee as a fund for a common goal or the passing of the basket. I will not be getting rich off this, but for imaginative purposes, what if I did?? What if I became as rich as Bill Gates and I was open and proud about being an alcoholic. What if I even donated millions of dollars to recovery organizations. Does it really matter if I get rich or not doing this? This is my last post about this transition because my time needs to be spent trying to reach struggling alcoholics and not on people who are making the stigma even more inflammatory. I am going to give you a choice to make the transition at whatever price you would like

In this episode Penni from Australia shares how she made is 6 months sober! Also discussed in the episode the Radio Lab's podcast episode The Fix. Is there really a pill that an cure alcoholism? Believe me, I have searched high and low..... Don't isolate yourself and join the discussion in the Recovery Elevator Private Forum. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there! This episode was brought to you by Sober Travel and Sober Nation.

In this episode Bill, who has been sober October 22nd 2015, shares how to successfully navigate retirement as an alcohol. Also in this episode how exhausting and potentially dangerous it can be while drinking and traveling. That is when the light bulb for sober travel went off about two weeks.

Brandy shares how she has successfully made it to 69 days sober! I also talk about how I mapped out my talk to the largest school audience yet. Footage from this YouTube video to come shortly, but here the video that I made for the freshman and sophomore classes. -if when on vacation, every time you go out to eat with your boyfriend (who does not want you to drink) you make sure he sits in a place with his back to the bar so you can sneak a drink on your way to the bathroom. -Phenina -if you wake up in the hospital and have to ask the nurse to help you look up impound lots after your car was totaled 4 days earlier and you have no recollection of where the accident happened. -Maureen -if you check your bank online to find charges that you don't recognize...after all, you haven't been to that bar in months! You call the bar to contest the charge and then realize that it was your signature on the bill and you had been there in a blackout. -Jill -if you get so desperate for mixers that you use mint tea or similar to mix your vodka, decided it tastes worse somehow, and just start doing shots, alone, on a Tuesday. -Sarje -if your podcast app says you've heard those 15 podcasts, but you don't remember a single one. -Arista Be sure to join the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Facebook Group. Come join the ultimate Recovery Elevator meet-up in Peru where we will be volunteering at orphanages with Peruvian Hearts, working with local alcoholics, and why not hike the 38 mile Inca Trail to Machu Picchu while were down there!

In episode 54, Gavin from England shares how he made it too 100 days of sobriety, and his humor in the accountability groups is what gave me the inspiration for this topic. Ideas for this podcast topic came from an article I read on The Fix and the benefits of laughter are from Help Guide.

In this episode Dawn, shares how she has made it to 6 months of sobriety as a mother of three. We also discuss terminal uniqueness which basically is when we focus on the differences and not the similarities. I have been culpable of this many times, and I am working on being cognizant of how to avoid this. Here are some of the key reasons why terminal uniqueness is so dangerous. -It allows people to ignore the likely consequences of their actions -It provides a false sense of security -It divides the world into me and them -It means that the individual will be unwilling to believe that treatments that help other people can help them -It leads to the individual thinking that they are either worse than everyone else, or that they are better than everyone else -It prevents the individual from seeking help for their problems -It can be a barrier to communication -It leads to feelings of loneliness and desperation (isolation)****

What I learned in 1 year of podcast is remarkable. It will help me stay sober and I want to thank everyone who has been a part of Recovery Elevator. I really hope you enjoy this summary because I had a great year compiling them. Value BombsWhat I learned from a year of podcasting about my sobriety.By Paul Churchill (with Elliot P.) Podcasting about your sobriety isn’t exactly the best way to stay anonymous. However, after years of struggling to stay sober I was willing to try anything and nothing seemed more powerful than the accountability I’d create by checking in with “the world” every week. So I bought a few simple pieces of recording equipment, signed up for a podcasting service and started talking. I was terrified to release the first episode – it felt like I was jumping off a cliff. I knew my life would never be the same. I was right. This year has been the best year of my life but strangely, also the hardest. I know what you are thinking, “of course it was the hardest as getting sober isn’t easy” and you’d be right. But there is something especially terrifying about getting sober in front of anyone who wants to watch. I’ve been told that some people thought my podcast would be a train wreck and they were listening for entertainment value. Luckily, so far, I have beaten the odds and probably made this pretty boring for my macabre listeners. My goal is to make this podcast as boring as possible for this demographic of my audience! How is that for a podcasting goal? Really though, I think we have had a lot of fun this year and I’m all for the suspense each week as I sign in, once again, still sober. If I can do it, maybe some of my listeners realize that they can too. Now I don’t claim to be very smart but the most unexpected part of this journey has been meeting hundreds of listeners who can relate to my story. I honestly felt like I was the only one who suffered exactly like I did. It turns out that alcoholism is ironically a communal disease where everyone afflicted feels isolated. Part of the solution involves finding like-minded people who you can get honest with. Little did I know, just by talking openly into the microphone, this group of like-minded people would come to me. Listenership has grown beyond my wildest dreams. I love you guys. I’ve been asked what have been the most impactful lessons I’ve learned over this year of podcasting. The beauty of listening to the stories of those I’ve interviewed is that everyone can relate to the stories differently depending upon their place in their sobriety journey. Below is a list highlighting ideas that have meant the most to me:

Scott, an attorney on the east coast, shares how he has reached 2.5 "great" months of sobriety. Contempt prior to investigation! Today marks the 51st episode of what started almost a year ago as a way for me to simply hold myself accountable. I made the commitment then to do at least 52 episodes and as I approach this number its hard not to be overwhelmed with the impact this podcast has had on myself and also, unexpectedly, on many of you. I mean, first off, 51 episodes later, I’m still sober! (1 year, 4 months and 6 days according to my recovery elevator app) – which is a miracle! But I see an unintended consequence is that many of you are also finding ways to stay sober and find happiness in recovery. It’s amazing to see what happens when we all put our minds together! So for that, and all of you listening, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. There is rarely a day that I don’t get an email from a listener who shares how touched they are by something one of our guests said on the podcast. I mean there have been over 50 guests who have shared their story and these stories have been downloaded over 160,000 times. The impact of us simply, and honestly, sharing our stories is bringing hope to many who might not have otherwise found it. Please keep sending me emails with your story, I never get tired of reading them even if I don’t have time to respond to every one know that I read every one and cherish them all. And because of you and your desire to continue the discussions after each podcast we started the private Facebook recovery elevator accountability group. I remember being amazed when we reached 60 members of the group and as I release today’s podcast we are rapidly approaching 450 members with new members being added every day. Its so amazing to see you all in the group sharing your story, asking questions, sharing wisdom and encouragement, checking in on each other and ultimately helping yourself and others stay sober. And it’s because of the things happening in this group that we are in the final stages of setting up an even better platform for us all to interact outside the podcast which will be several regions accountability groups which feed into the community forum. Its all something I could not have imagined a year ago and it is a testament to the power of what can happen when we get honest and get out of our comfort zone. So, just in case you are wondering, I may get a bit sentimental and maybe even a bit emotional as we approach our 52nd episode but I’m not planning on stopping after our 52nd episode. You guys have stuck with me so I’m staying here and stick’n with you. You know, after doing today’s interview, I was reminded of one of the most devastating things I’ve noticed during this busy year of podcasting, being interviewed by others and speaking at schools. It is the stigma associated with alcoholism. Because most people don’t even know the definition of who an alcoholic really is, they associate it with the worst stereotypes society has with problem drinkers. Bums under a bridge, domestic violence, liver cirrhosis, drunken driving, weak “will power” and the list can go on. The truth is, I don’t even like to talk about this stigma because it seems to only strengthen it. Heck, it is this stigma, and the repulsion we feel about being associated with this stigma that keep many of us from ever getting help! The truth is, this stigma is wrong, dangerous, and it needs to change. I’m thinking of coming up with a name for it, like I did for Gary – my addiction. Maybe I’ll name this stigma Stanley. Sure, like any good lie, there may be an element of truth in this stigma but many of the people I’ve met over the last year have lives that in no way resemble this stereotype. I think today’s guest is another good example of this. Alcoholism, like many of this century’s hot social issues (race relations, women’s rights, gay rights, etc) also suffers from something I like to call “contempt prior to investigation.” For when we really investigate who an alcoholic is we find that there is really only two defining factors: 1) We tend to have a mental obsession that makes it seem impossible to not have that first drink and 2) When we start drinking a physical allergy kicks in and we can’t control our drinking. That’s it. Period. Let me repeat it: 1) We tend to have a mental obsession that makes it seem impossible to not have that first drink and 2) When we start drinking a physical allergy kicks in and we can’t control our drinking. Alcoholism has been defined as a disease by the American Medical Association in 1056 and it does not make person good or bad. Period. Do you guys want to know the crazy thing about this stigma?!... With all the alcoholics I have spoken with over the last year, and all the non-alcoholics, it is BY FAR the “still drinking alcoholic” who has the most negative association with the word alcoholic. Normal drinkers often see it as a medical issue and one with treatment options. Recovering

In this podcast episode Cameron shares how he has successfully navigated nearly 6 months of sobriety. In the early stages of a relationship, I was always terrified of the moment when I had to fess up to why I don't drink. I came up with every answer besides the honest answer which is the simple fact I'm an alcoholic. Below is my Match.com profile summary I created eight days ago. The results of this experiment have been miraculous. 2 years ago I would have been surprised by the results, but knowing my fear was completely irrational, I'm not surprised at all. Hello, my name is Paul and I'm a recovering alcoholic, I'm extremely allergic to horses, at times I struggle with anxiety, and I have been diagnosed ADHD 4 different times by medical professionals. You're probably wondering why I would lead off with this enticing intro, but after reading a couple profiles, I couldn't get a real idea of who the gals really were... so by being upfront, honest and transparent, I am saving both of us time. None of these things truly define me, but this is an honest description of who I am. When I first started writing my profile it contained words like funny, outgoing, motivated, happy, and all the other generic descriptors, which do describe me, but I thought I would tell it straight. You might be an alcoholic if.. - you walk your dog at night with a glass of beer in your hand!!! -Penni .you make a trip to the liquor store for beer but forget the grocery store for the much needed milk. -Angela - You go to pee before bed but realize in horror the next morning that you missed the toilet seat by an entire room. -Jamey -You misplace things..like a decade -Dee - The first thing you do in the morning is check your Facebook, email, and call record to see what you may have done the night before! -Kathy Be sure to join the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Facebook Group. Be sure to expand your recovery network in and Seattle on February 27th and San Francisco on March 5th. Dates for NYC, San Francisco, Denver Costa Rica and Norway are coming soon. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

Colin shares how he has made it to 16 days of sobriety. I'd like to give a special thanks to Maureen for helping me compile this great list of songs about recovery and getting sober. There are some great artists putting recovery on the map. “Hate Me” - Blue October. What alcoholic cannot relate to these lyrics? I know I’ve felt this so many times. When we disappoint our loved ones after a relapse or crisis. It would be so much easier if they would just hate me and go away. The voice of his mother can be heard at the beginning on his answering system. She’s calling to check on him and see if he’s taken his medications. He’s got 90-days sober and wants to thank her. Good song. “You’re Not My God” - Keith Urban. “You’re not my God and you’re not my friend. You’re not the one I will walk with in the end”. I view this as a goodbye letter to alcohol and drugs. It’s got a great message. Urban is public with his recovery as well. “That’s Why I’m Here” - Kenny Chesney. This is a great song and it’s one man’s take on his first AA meeting. It gives the impression I know I’ve felt of wanting what other people had. “They started talkin’ about steps you take. Mistakes you make and the hearts that we break”. There are a lot of 12-step references and I found it so relatable. In the beginning he says “Well I ain’t had nothin’ to drink. I knew that’s probably what you’d think”. I know this hit a chord with me as people would often if I really was sober. Macklemore has a bunch of good songs. “Fallin’” has lyrics, “Another drink at the bar but I’m not drunk enough..”. He goes on to describe his downward spiral in pretty good detail. “Otherside” is a great song about relapse and how low that can make you feel. He describes going back to a meeting after a relapse and a fan tells him how much he’s inspired her with her own recovery. He can’t even look at her as he is so ashamed and feels like a “fake”. It’s a great song for starting all over. Remember, relapse is part of recovery and I know I’ve beaten myself up so bad in the past. “Inhale Deep” has an inspiring message about “...every struggle in life, is there to teach you a lesson...”. “But if you make the end You will never know the beauty of being able to stand up again”. Very powerful lyrics. He has a new song for his next album entitled “Kevin”. He teams up with Leon Bridges and this song talks about the epidemic of doctors prescribing medications and people getting addicted. You can’t buy the single yet but I strongly recommend you watch the YouTube clip of the two of them performing it at an awards show this fall. Leon Bridges is like a throw-back to Sam Cooke and says, “Doctor please, give me a dose of the American Dream. Put down the pen and look in my eyes...we’re overprescribed”. Great song. “Not An Addict” - K’s Choice. This song is clearly about heroin addiction and the denial of being an addict. The song says “We’re so creative, so much more. We’re High but on the floor”. “It’s not a habit, it’s cool. I feel alive”. It’s like they are trying to tell themselves that they can “stop anytime I want to” trying to justify their use. Old 90s song but I think it’s powerful. “Recover” - Natasha Bedingfield. This is a great song and it is so positive. She stresses “It’s now what we’ve done but, how far we’ve come”. The message is: WE WILL RECOVER, the worst is over, now. 10 “God of Wine” - Third Eye Blind. “She takes a drink and then she waits. The alcohol it permeates. And soon the cells give way. And cancel out the day”. Wow, this is so true for me, that feeling that I was wasting my life away when drinking. It also speaks of the frustration of “Where do we begin?” when new to recovery. “The A-Team” - Ed Sheeran penned this one about a drug-addicted girl he met on the streets of London. He befriended her and describes her as a “cool girl, with no phone”. It sends the message of what lengths this girl goes to for her habit. Sound City (Dave Grohl collaboration with Stevie Nicks and some other artists) “You Can’t Fix This” . It’s about dancing with the “devil” (addiction). I know Stevie Nicks is vocal about her recovery. “One Day At A Time” - Joe Walsh “One Day At a Time” Yusaf Islam (the former Cat Stevens “Make Me A Channel Of Your Peace” - Sinead O’Connor. I just like this song as it is the Third Step Prayer. Its kind of somber though but pretty. “Losing My Way” - Justin Timberlake. “I used to be the man in my hometown until I started to lose my way”. It spells out his downward spiral into addiction. “Sober” - Pink “Amazing” - Aerosmith. I think we’ve all known this band has long been in recovery. Steven hit a rough patch in 2006 with painkillers after surgery but checked back into rehab and has since been okay. This song is great as it tells how his life is “amazing” post recovery. How inspiring for all of us struggling! “Leave The Light On” Beth Hart. She says, “I want to love. I want to live. I don’t know much about it. I never did. Seventeen and I’m all messed up ins

James with 8 days of sobriety shares why he wants to quit. There was a period of time from around 2004-2014 where I could not look at myself in the mirror. I didn't want to admit it, but I was disgusted with myself. I didn't recognize the person standing there and I didn't know what to do about it. I thought the problem was others, I thought the problem was stress, I thought the problem was anxiety and depression. I definitely wasn't ready to examine the problem could possibly be my ally alcohol. No way. Not at all. That couldn't be the problem. Nope. It wasn't until I reached emotional sobriety in 2014 when I started to catch glimpses of the real Paul Churchill in the mirror. It didn't happen day one of sobriety. It didn't happen day 30. But like the seasons change, I was eventually able to look myself in the mirror without total disgust. Fast forward to January 18th, 2016. I embrace that man in the mirror. We challenge each other to be better. To make others better and that man in the mirror is my best friend. Here is the poem a football coach read to us in High School. The Guy in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow, (c) 1934 When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that guy has to say. For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgement upon you must pass. The feller whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring back from the glass. He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest, For he's with you clear up to the end, And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend. You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum, And think you're a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you're only a bum If you can't look him straight in the eye. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you've cheated the guy in the glass. Dale Wimbrow 1895-1954 "You might be an alcoholic if" -your spring cleaning meant clearing out the alcohol hiding spots, nooks and crannies to make room for the new ones -Brandy -you know more about what's happening in your bartender's life, than in your best friend's. -Sarje -as the sun rises over the curb, you notice you have one shoe on and aren't sure if you lost a shoe or found one. -Frank -you do your recycling at 2am in the morning so no one will see you. -Claudia -you don't remember leaving a bar with a guy, wake up at 2am and find a note from a guy you swear you've never met. You text him. You confirm your worst fear. Then start drinking again. -Kelly E. "If you can't wait to get home from the corner store, so you start drinking your beer while driving home in the car...you might be an alcoholic." -Alvin Be sure to join the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Facebook Group. Be sure to expand your recovery network in Bozeman and Seattle. Dates for NYC, San Francisco, Denver Costa Rica and Norway are coming soon. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

An article written by the Alaksa Dispatch News titles "Americas are drinking themselves to death at record rates" was recently posted in the Recovery Elevator Private Accountability Group on facebook and I was blown away by what I read. Here are some of the bullets that I want to point out from the article. Facts about the booze: Last year more than 30,700 Americans died from alcohol-induced causes In 2014 there were 9.6 deaths from these alcohol-induced causes per 100,000 people, an increase of 37% since 2002. in 2014 28,647 people died of heroin and prescription drug overdoses which is less than the 30,700 from alcohol. The top 10% of American adults consume the lions share of alcohol in this country with close to 74 drinks on average. Line between "moderate use” and “Dangerous use”can be a thin one. A recent study quantified the rise of death associated with the use of a variety of common recreational drugs and they found that at the level of individual use, alcohol was the deadliest substance, followed by heroine and cocaine. Meetup! Bozeman in January 23rd and Seattle February 27th 2016 This is huge Recovery Elevator. The first Recovery Elevator meetup will be taking place in Seattle on Saturday February 27th, 2016. Details to come. Email [email protected] for more info on this meetup. You might be an alcoholic if: - you feel like you have to hide it from anybody at any time. Bill - Interviewee -you swish mouthwash to freshen your breath and you notice you cannot taste or feel it... it's like swishing water -Margaret -at 476 days you are still finding empty beer cans in the garage, workshop, musical equipment cases etc because you were hiding so many empties thinking that you were fooling everyone about how much you were actually drinking. -James P -you carry the tiny wine bottles in your purse and one falls out when you go to pay for your mani pedi at the nail salon. -Larecia -you live in a really small tourist town with 3 liquor stores within walking distance and you go in the liquor store to buy your usual, and the clerk offers you the "locals" (read frequent buyer) discount! -Tyrrell You find a half-empty flask of flavored vodka that you hid under the sink months ago and actually contemplate drinking it, even though you just hit one week sober. -Me This podcast was brought to you by Sober Nation.

Are New Years resolutions really a good thing? In my opinion, if there is anything in life really worth changing, then waiting till a certain day to make that change seems silly to me. However, if the spirit of the New Year is to create goals and accountability, then I am all for it. My new years resolution is to quit the gym. I know that sounds really strange but I have gotten way to comfortable with my routine at the gym to the point where I am in the center of my comfort zone circle. Last night I cancelled my gym membership and will be making an effort to to outdoor activities with my dog and use my own body weight for resistance. I'll let you know how it goes. Here is an outline of what is discussed in today 1) For people thinking of making “stop drinking” a new years resolution: Resolutions are good and its a great time to start something new. However, alcoholics are experts at making promises (even to ourselves) and then letting ourselves down. There are thousands of self help books on reaching goals (i.e. tony robbins) but a true alcohol problem requires more than will power and knowledge. I think we have all made the resolution to stop drinking on new years day - and that is good! But when dealing with addiction, the day doesn’t have much power than the other 364 days a year if we don’t take a few steps to get us on the path to sobriety. If this is you, I encourage you to save yourself a lot of grief and supplement this resolution with some action such as: attending a meeting (maybe your resolution includes attending at least one meeting a week for a year), telling someone close to you, and maybe even join our private Facebook accountability page and post to the group introducing yourself. Its a lot easier to quit drinking when you are part of a community that cares about you. 2) For people well on their way in sobriety that are making new resolutions: We are experts at making promises and failing. We are also experts and trying to do things our own way, only to find ourselves humbled as we constantly "bang our head on a wall” hoping the outcome will somehow “be different this time.” I almost want to save myself (and all of you) the agony of defeat by just skipping resolutions this year. However, not trying something is way worse than not trying and failing! What if we tried something and we actually succeeded! Sobriety can be so fragile in the beginning. Maybe skipping resolutions and just “working your program” is the right move. Without sobriety nothing else in life really matters. However, if you are at a point in your recovery where your program is working and you still have some energy to spare. Improving other areas of your life can actually strengthen your sobriety. The key then, is to skip the standard mode of operation (make a big promise and use willpower to try and fulfill it) and instead use some of the tools we have learned in recovery to help turbo charge our progress. A few ideas: What tools in your “recovery portfolio” can help you achieve your goals. Is the resolution necessary and realistic? Example: quit all sugar vs quit processed sugar. Necessary because regulating or moderating has produced nothing but failure. Is it measurable: Lose weight vs, loose 5 lbs every 3 months for a total of 20 pounds in the year. Can you vision yourself and what it will be like when you achieve the resolution? How good will you feel! Weight loss and how you will look? Pride from being successful. What are you doing to hold yourself accountable? Telling others, scheduled review times, public posting? Have you laid out the steps necessary to get there? i.e. learn to fly…. what steps does that take? This is all good and can really improve our health, happiness and thus sobriety. One thing is for sure, achieving lofty goals were probably not possible when we were drinking! Its okay, its more than okay - its so powerful to do awesome things in sobriety! New years is a good time to expand upon our sobriety by really living. Improving our lives through by achieving resolutions another way we can express gratitude for our sobriety. You might be an alcoholic if: You might be an alcoholic if you get arrested for trying to pump your own gas at a closed gas station while your friend is taking a leak outside your car. -Rob You might be an alcoholic if you teach your kids how to play beer pong, but you are the only one that drinks every cup. -Rob You might be an alcoholic if you go on vacation in the first thing you do is locate the nearest liquor store. -Chris H You might be an alcoholic if you have to replace your debit card once every few weeks, because you black out and lose it on a regular basis. -Amber O. You might be an alcoholic if you have to buy a replacement bottle of wine for special occasions because you drink it before the event. -James M You might be an alcoholic if you are upset by facebook ads relating to alcohol. -Meg You might be an alcoholic if the remedy (alcohol) has become the ailment. -De

Micheal Hilton, with over 10 years of sobriety, discusses his recovery portfolio. Micheal Hilton is a leader in the recovery community and does personal coaching with his company Breakthrough Coaching. 60 minutes recently did a segment on addiction. Micheal Botticelli, the "Drug Czar” is someone who from first hand experience knows the intricacies of alcoholism and addiction. Here are some key points of what I took from this segment. 40 years and a trillion dollars, nation has little to show of the war on drugs. 21 million americans are addicted to drugs and alcohol and nearly 1/2 of federal incarcerations are in for drug crimes. “can’t arrest addiction out of people.” “We have learned that addiction is a brain disease.” “ We can’t expect cancers patients to just stop having cancer.” Addicts should be patients and not prisoners. Michael Botticelli has created a high school for teens in recovery in Massachusetts. Convicts can choose rehab over jail and this actually reduces crime. in 1998 crashed his car and woke up hand cuffed to a gurney. Alcohol free for 27 years. Oversees 26 billion dollar budget across 16 government agencies. Over 1/2 of the money goes to drug enforcement. Says the heroin crisis was created at home. Pain scripts have risen from 76 million in 1991 to 207 million in 2015. More than 120 americans die of drug overdoses each day. Tried an experiment in 2010 with the quincy police department. Officers are armed with Naloxone. A nasal spray for an overdose. Also changed laws called the good samaritan law. Today, 32 states have adopted similar laws and more than 800 police departments carry Naloxone. In Massachussets, Botticelli has made treating addiction routine health care. The affordable care act requires the most of insurance companies to cover addiction treatment. Substance abuse is one of the only disease where we let people reach their most acute point of the disease or “bottom” before we intervene. Botticelli prefers the word disorder instead of addict. Sees a model in the attitude towards the stigma with the gay rights movement. He was more comfortable being a gay man, before saying he was an alcoholic. “We have more work to do.” over 1/2 a million a year are killed by legal drugs. Alcohol and nicotine. Botticelli is not in favor of legalizing marijuana. Grew up as in insecure kid. A very wise judge said you can either get care for your drinking problem or you continue the path of this criminal behavior. You Might be an Alcoholic if... Claire You keep a note pad by the phone so you can take notes about your drunk dialings, but then you can't read your handwriting You're now sober but want to wear a sign on your shirt that says you are enjoying a piece of gum to merely blow bubbles, not to cover up the vodka smell Caleb You buy canned beer so you can hide it in your bag without anybody hearing the glass clinks Simone If you log into MyFitnessPal as soon as you wake up...to log in the calories of the 8 double whiskeys you'll be drinking later...to know how much not to eat today. Shane If after a night of drinking an entire 26er of scotch, the only thing you can think of is "what am I going to drink today?" Brian in KC, MO You might be an alcoholic if it's your turn to be the DD, so before the baseball game you pound beers at the tailgate before the game hoping it carries you through to the end of the game....but then the game gets rained out in the 5th inning and you are still too drunk to drive home. This episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

In this episode we heard from 33 year old Autumn, explains how she has been a successful student and a mom in sobriety. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, Steve Sarkisian is suing former employer University of California for improper dismissal when he was recently fired as Head Football coach due to his drinking problem. Coach Sarkisian is seeking monies of $30,000,000, which he feels is properly owed to him due to California state laws. Here are this weeks "You Might be an Alcoholic if's" Tommy- You wake up mid black out and you're being arrested. Richard- Indiana If you leave a message at work while blacked out saying you've been up all night throwing up and you won't be in to work the next morning. Only when you wake up, you forgot you called in sick and the first thing the boss says to you is, "Richard, I thought you were vomiting all night and weren't coming in this morning"? Shelly- If you tell your family on Christmas Day that this is your big hurrah before quitting, and then everyday until New Years you sneak beer and pour it into a large mug to hide it. Racheal- If you've gone two weeks sober, and then you decide to have wine at lunch while out with your (sober) husband, and the minute you decide to have that wine you are instantly irritated that the server is taking too long to come back to take your food order. At this moment, you can no longer hear anything your husband is saying, and then you drink your glass in 10 minutes and order a second one while he's in the bathroom so he doesn't judge you. Carrie- You cut the end off the wine bag and drain it out so you don't ware any. This podcast episode was brought to you by Sober Nation.

33 year old Autumn, explains how she has been a successful student and a mom in sobriety. According to an article from the Los Angeles Times, Steve Sarkisian is suing former employer University of California for improper dismissal when he was recently fired as Head Football coach due to his drinking problem. Coach Sarkisian is seeking monies of $30,000,000, which he feels is properly owed to him due to California state laws.

In this Episode Shannon, who is a high bottom drunk explains how she made it to nearly 80 days sober. She mentions she loves Karaoke and you can check out Jimmy Cliff's "I Can See Clearly Now" on YouTube because that's how we both feel these days! While listening to the Bubble Hour Podcast a few weeks ago on my drive home for Thanksgiving, I heard some great ideas on how to stay sober over the Holidays. One of the segments was how to respond when someone offers you a drink at a Holiday party. I heard from great responses, but none of the answers were the truth. What I have learned in recovery, is the best answer is the truth. The truth is liberating and you will be surprised by the lack of questions you will get after telling someone you don't drink. Most people are happy for you, and encourage your decision to not drink. A small percentage will give you flack, and this is a great way to quickly find out who are not your friends. Another small group will become inquisitive and start asking questions like, how much did you used to drink? Or, why are you not drinking? These people are asking for themselves because they have been questioning their own drinking habit. But here are 77 additional tips on how to stay sober over the Holidays. I do not claim for this to be a full and comprehensive list, and with certainty, I can predict leaving out some very important ones. But here ya go. 63 ways to stay sober over the Holidays Hang out with another alcoholic: That guy Bill was on to something there. Dedicate 5 minutes today, 10 minutes tomorrow, 15 minutes the next day and increase by five minutes each day on a dormant hobby that you used to love so much. This could be the guitar, model trains, knitting, or swimming. Endless possibility of fun things to do. Find conduits to your higher power: Forest, Snow, Trans Siberian Orchestra in a Starbucks coffee shop, painting and so much more. Music: Listen to music. Have you heard flamenco? It’s incredible. Write a letter to a friend. Not an email, but place a stamp on an envelope and send it out. Write down 5 things you are thankful for each day. My first sponsor requested this of me, and after 16 days, I had 8 things listed in my gratitude list. Not because I wasn’t thankful for things in life, but because sometimes these small, seemingly infinitesimal tasks were very had. Have a sit down chat with your addiction: Hey Gary, as you know the Holidays are approaching… Call a family member that isn’t immediate family and tell them how much you appreciate them. This could be a cousin, uncle, etc. When in a drive through (preferably not fast food), pay for the person behind you. Cartwheels: 94% of cartwheels result in laughter and a great time. The other 6% are broken coffee tables. Go to a 12-step meeting. Buy paint, a canvas, and start painting Go on a 3-mile walk/hike where there is no cell service. Or make it a point to leave your phone at home. Write down the goal of not drinking over the holidays. And then place this goal in a place you will see everyday like on your bathroom mirror or inside your gym locker (if you work out everyday). Volunteer your time at the animal shelter and walk some dogs. In Montana, you may even be able to walk a pig or goat. Dogs are service animals for a reason. Their company is therapeutic and they also don’t judge. You’re simply the “bees knees” since your taking them on a walk. Affirmation: Remind yourself daily that you will not be drinking because you have an allergy to alcohol. Read a book. More specifically, “A Drinking Story” by Caroline Knapp When someone asks if you want a drink at his or her Christmas Party, you respond with “is your snowmobile insured”? Stay a minimum of 300 feet away from Burger King, McDonalds, Arby’s Wendy’s and other fast food chains at all times. Actually the chili at Wendy’s is okay. But that’s it! Pray Say the serenity prayer out loud while looking into the mirror. Learn the serenity prayer in a different language. Make it a point to get outside of your comfort zone. Be okay with uncomfortable feelings. Take 10 minutes and feel your uncomfortable feelings. Embrace them. Get REal with yourself. Hot tea. Hot Tea Hot Tea. Tea that is not injected full of caffeine if possible. Listen to recovery podcasts. Read: Read and be a sponge. Go through your cabinets and remove anything with over 10grams of sugar on the carton. Also look for bags of sugar, powdered sugar, and stashes of Reece’s pieces. Cook brussel sprouts When someone asks if you would like a drink at his or her holiday party, tell them you don’t drink. When that person asks why you don’t drink, answer their question unequivocally. Ask siri to set the timer to 5 minutes. For the first minute, while in a calm still place, sit down, keep your eyes and just focus on sounds. Minute two, breath in for 5 seconds, and exhale for five seconds. Minutes three, close eyes and tell yourself what you are thankful for. Minute four, pump yourself up with affirmations

Ferril from Party Sober clothing, with over 5 years of sobriety shares how has been successful sober entrepreneur.

In Episode 41, I talk about emotional sobriety which is a topic breached with trepidation because fully understanding emotional sobriety is near impossible and I have so much more to learn about it. Also in this episode, I interview Erik from Massachusetts who is doing a great job in recovery working with other alcoholics. He mentioned in his interview that it isn't a requirement to hit rock bottom in recovery, a concept I wasn't familiar with in 2014 when I hit my bottom. The bulk of the content for this episode comes from Elliot P who just reached 2 years of sobriety earlier this month. Way to go Elliot!