Having a calm, peaceful mind is something that eluded me most of my life. Before I stopped drinking, I led a lifestyle that was chaotic at best and dangerous at worst. The idea of serenity was a joke. I lived a fast life, filled with bad choices, cheap thrills, and pointless pursuits. There was very little meaning to my existence, as far as I could discern, and serenity certainly played no part in any of it!Unfortunately, many of us rely on alcohol to bring a false sense of serenity, peace, a...
Addiction often arises from a need for constant action. People who are prone to develop an addiction to alcohol (or other intoxicants) often crave a certain level of excitement in their daily lives or they quickly become frustrated. The idea of simply sitting at home reading, watching TV, or doing nothing feels like a prison. This is especially true when we’re young. Young people want to be in the middle of the action whenever and wherever they can find it. When we’re young, we have a de...
One of the most common traits shared amongst problem drinkers is intense discomfort in social situations. I think it's safe to say that all people feel some level of social anxiety. However, in my experience, I have discovered that people with addictive personalities, heavy drinkers especially, struggled to feel comfortable in any type of social situation. Interacting with other people can feel so uncomfortable that we need to alleviate our stress with the ancient social lubricant called alco...
One of the most common factors shared by many people around the world who have a problematic relationship with alcohol is fear. Fear is a brutal beast that must be overcome if we are ever going to reduce or quit drinking. Fear can never be eliminated entirely from the human psyche. It's built into our brains in order to help us survive in the world. However, if we want to overcome a reliance on alcohol, it's imperative that we learn to recognize our fears so that we are able to work with them...
Early recovery is filled with emotional highs and lows. The first year of sobriety can be especially crazy. We swing from high to low in a rollercoaster ride of feelings, some good, some not so good. It's a crazy time. You can feel amazing one day (or hour) and frustrated and depressed the next. But how do we handle it? How do we deal with all the ups and downs in the early days, weeks, and months of sobriety? In this episode, I discuss the synthetic bliss of what is called the "pink ould" st...
There are so many reasons why we drink excessively including fear, anxiety, and depression. But there is one thing in particular that often leads to alcohol abuse as well as relapse. If you're thinking about getting sober, or if you're sober but fear relapse, in today's episode we'll discuss one of the major factors contributing to alcohol abuse and relapse and what you can do to avoid it.Support The ShowJoin my Patreon for exclusive content, free books, bonus podcasts, discounts, and other f...
The cold hard truth is that early recovery, especially the first year, can be very uncomfortable. We have to learn how to function without alcohol no matter what life throws at us. My first year was brutal, but I made it through and so can you! In this episode, I discuss what early sobriety feels like, how you can make it through the first year, and how it feels to break through to a better, alcohol-free life.Support The ShowJoin my Patreon for exclusive content, free books, bonus podcasts, d...
If we want to stay sober and enjoy life, we have to find what makes us happy. We have to fill our time and energy by pursuing good, positive habits and hobbies rather than self-destructive ones. Instead of drinking when we're bored or depressed, we need to find new ways to stay interested in life so that we don't all backward and start drinking again. Listen to learn a few ideas that might work for you to keep your mind and spirit strong and reignite your interest in life.Support The ShowJoin...
The early days of recovery from alcohol abuse, especially the first 90 days, can be a difficult challenge. There are many highs and lows we have to get through when our emotions and feelings become overwhelming. We're often not prepared or equipped to deal with the major mood swings, depression, anxiety, and fear that accompany early sobriety. But there are ways to survive the early recovery tsunami. I want to share 8 tried and true methods that worked for me and usually work for my coaching ...
Perhaps you want to reduce your drinking or stop drinking completely. Fortunately, there are many options. Today we'll discuss 3 methods that can help you if you want to slow things down or quit drinking entirely.Support The ShowJoin my Patreon for exclusive content, free books, bonus podcasts, discounts, and other free stuff. Your generous support will help me carry a message of hope to people around the world who are struggling to get sober and stay sober. Bless you. Join MeVisit...
When we get sober, we’re usually on shaky ground. Early recovery is a roller coaster physically, mentally, and spiritually. We must find ways to preserve our sanity and to stay healthy in order to protect our recovery. This holds true whether you're five minutes sober, five months sober, or five years sober. We have to take certain steps to do whatever we can to protect ourselves by building a protective moat around our sobriety. I’m going to make 3 suggestions that you can implement in your ...
If you think you might have a drinking problem or want to stop drinking alcohol, there is a solution. Whether you drink too much or too often, or you're struggling with drug abuse, you no longer have to live this way. We discuss how you can climb out of the hole you're stuck in. Discover how to get sober and achieve the life you deserve free from addiction. Support The ShowJoin my Patreon for exclusive content, free books, bonus podcasts, discounts, and other free stuff. Your generous su...
People have a lot of apprehensions and fear about getting sober and staying sober. I want to dispel some of your anxiety and share 12 truths about sobriety and what to expect, especially during the early stages of recovery. These are things I definitely wish I had known when it was my time to get sober!Support The ShowJoin my Patreon for exclusive content, free books, bonus podcasts, discounts, and other free stuff. Your generous support will help me carry a message of hope to people around t...
A big challenge that many recovering alcoholics and addicts face is their inability or, more often, unwillingness to let go of resentment and anger for the perceived wrongs they have suffered. Self-pity is a far too common mental ailment that plagues many addicts in the early stages of recovery. The idea that we’ve been dealt a bad hand in life too often follows people into early sobriety and often results in relapse. Don’t let this happen to you! Protect your sobriety at all costs!Support Th...
We all do stupid shit when we drink, right? I like to tell certain war stories as a way to share with others that we all have done awful and often ridiculous things in our lowest moments. Alcohol can lead to some horrible behavior -- sometimes it's dark and sometimes it's funny. But we all do it, so it's important to remember these moments and to share these experiences so that we can work through our shame and regret. This is one of my war stories about getting busted in Hollywood while I wa...
I'm often asked if I will ever drink again or if I ever think about drinking. The simple answer is, yes! I often think about drinking when I'm feeling low or depressed, even after 15 years of sobriety. I even dream about drinking occasionally. So what do I do when the stresses of life overwhelm me and I want to reach for a drink? Am I willing to give up my sobriety to feel better even though I know where alcohol always takes me? Find out what I do to get through these difficult moments.Suppor...
One of the most difficult challenges we face as recovering addicts is our inability to establish a stable and healthy financial life in recovery. Even addicts who have been sober for decades often have serious money management problems that plague them and keep them from enjoying life more fully. It seems to be a part of the addict's DNA; many of us just suck at implementing basic financial principles in our lives. It’s ironic because when we’re still drinking and using, ...
Can meditation help you in sobriety? If you’re an alcoholic or addict like me, you probably have a crazy-ass mind that’s difficult to quiet down. My mind races like a demon! My thoughts jump around from one thing to another so quickly I sometimes can’t keep up. I often find it difficult to concentrate on anything for any length of time before my mind jumps to something completely unrelated.Meditation has been and continues to be, one of the most important aspects of my sobriety. It keeps me f...
I abused alcohol for more than over 30 years! This is my story of how I was able to quit drinking alcohol and achieve a healthy, happy life in sobriety.If you want to quit drinking alcohol or think you might have a drinking problem, listen up! How do I stop drinking? It's a question many people ask. There's no easy way to quit drinking but a life free from alcohol can be achieved by anyone who is willing to try. People who are trying to get sober or want to quit drinking often ask how did you...
When I first got sober, I was in terrible shape. I was pale, pudgy, and soft as a marshmallow. I could barely walk up a flight of stairs without panting. I suffered from horrible stomach pains morning, noon, and night. I experienced frequent migraines. I couldn't sleep. My diet consisted mostly of cheeseburgers, ramen noodles, soda, and milkshakes. I was still smoking cigarettes. The idea of exercising and eating healthy was the farthest thing fr...