Rock Bottom - You’re all familiar with the concept. You see it in movies, all over television, and we read it in books. Someone’s life is spiraling out of control - they are getting DUIs, getting arrested, getting fired, going to prison – and when they are at their all-time low, they land at their rock bottom moment and decide they have to change their lives. The problem with this picture of addiction and rock bottom is – it doesn’t leave space for all of you that haven’t had any of those conseq...
Nov 01, 2023•40 min•Ep. 289
Quit Drinking Alcohol - You may feel like alcohol helps with feelings of stress, anger, worry and sadness, but it isn't what it seems and can actually have negative effects both in the short-term and long-term. Let’s get into this topic about your mental health - how you improve when you stop drinking, are the effects of substances permanent or is it fixable, and what that journey looks like. In this episode, you will be able to: Discover the surprising effects of substance use on mental health ...
Oct 25, 2023•25 min•Ep. 288
Betrayal Trauma - If a parent or romantic partner violates your trust, you may experience betrayal trauma. Any betrayal can cause emotional distress and that trauma may affect your self-esteem, emotional health, and relationships with others. Psychologist Jennifer Freyd first introduced betrayal trauma in 1991. She described it as a specific trauma that happens in key social relationships where the betrayed person needs to maintain a relationship with the betrayer for support or protection. Most...
Oct 18, 2023•55 min•Ep. 287
Addictive Behavior - Have you ever felt like you have an addictive personality? Like you don’t have an off switch in anything. When you start something new it becomes your sole focus, you’re 100% in, and if it feels good and you like it, you just want to do more of it. I’m willing to bet, you’re nodding your head yes right now and I’m right there with you. The good news is, there’s nothing wrong with you. And you may be surprised by how many people struggle with addictive behaviors. Here's what ...
Oct 11, 2023•25 min•Ep. 286
Moderate Drinking Wherever you may be in your journey, attempts to moderate drinking are a part of (almost) everyone's story. It's a relationship we spend years nurturing. It has your back, it's always there, and it always gives you what you need. Until it doesn't. You may know today's guest as the superstar host of the Hello Someday Podcast. And, believe it or not, she had all the same fears and anxieties that you have when she was facing the thought of quitting drinking. She worked at a Fortun...
Oct 04, 2023•35 min•Ep. 285
Sober Travel - What do you have planned for your next trip? A family vacation? A family reunion, a work trip, or a camping trip? Days on the beach? Nights on the town? It's hard to imagine doing any of it without a drink in hand, especially if you are new to sobriety or, if you are facing your first ever sober travel. Going on vacation usually means relaxing and being carefree. And for many of us, relaxing meant excessive consumption of alcohol or other substances. I was exactly the same. Every ...
Sep 27, 2023•19 min•Ep. 284
Ever wonder what’s possible when you change your life? In this episode, we’ll get into the amazing success story of Will Thatcher, a sober guy and published author. Will, the author of Killing Hurt, has taken his recovery to new levels by harnessing a passion that was already inside of him but had been hiding quietly for years. I understand that feeling of wanting to do things, have fun in your life, and be passionate about something – when I got sober, I had no idea who I was or what activities...
Sep 20, 2023•38 min•Ep. 283
Long-Term Sobriety Successful recovery has everything to do with how you approach your daily life. Imagine this scenario: Your recovery is going great. You’re staying sober everyday, things are on track, and overall, you’re feeling pretty proud of what you’ve accomplished so far. But let’s b real — you’re also feeling a little bit burnt out from pouring every ounce of your soul into your sobriety, and some things are starting to slip because… well, you’re human, living life. Maybe your days are ...
Sep 13, 2023•25 min•Ep. 282
How to Forgive: When someone wrongs you in some way, you may feel certain you’ll never be able to forgive them. Even after your immediate anger calms down, you may continue to think about the betrayal instead of letting it fade into the past. It’s pretty common to feel this way. The problem is, holding onto the negativity will harm you more than anyone else. Forgiveness might seem challenging, but in reality, forgiveness simply means choosing to let go of anger, hurt, and any desire for revenge....
Sep 06, 2023•37 min•Ep. 281
Effects of Alcohol on the Body Figuring out your relationship with alcohol can be hard. Especially if you’re looking for all the reasons to convince yourself you’re “not that bad”. And, on top of all the questions flying around in your head, like, am I really that bad? Will I be able to control it after I stop for awhile? Do I really have to quit forever? You may also be wondering what type of damage alcohol is doing to your body. You may even think you don’t drink enough to have physical effect...
Aug 30, 2023•23 min•Ep. 280
Cope With Cravings For Alcohol Can you relate to this: You’ve made a commitment to yourself, and maybe even your family, that you aren’t drinking anymore. You remind yourself you’re going to be more committed than ever, you’ve started some morning rituals to keep you on track, and you know this time it has to be different. Maybe you’ve made it a week or a month- maybe you’ve even made it a few months. Then one day, you are minding your own business, and out of nowhere you are hit with a craving ...
Aug 23, 2023•58 min•Ep. 279
Avoid Relapse You’ve heard it before, right? Relapse is a part of recovery. So how do you actually avoid relapse? The truth is, the vast majority of people relapse in their first year of sobriety. I know through my own experiences and those of my clients that understanding relapse and having a plan in place to overcome it, can dramatically change your life. What does that plan look like? How do you make a plan? We’re going to get into some strategies and specifics today to help you get your head...
Aug 16, 2023•31 min•Ep. 278
One of the most challenging aspects of breaking the cycle of yo yo sobriety is learning to believe in yourself again. Rebuilding confidence isn't an overnight process, but with the right guidance and mindset, you can rebuild a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. We all understand that facing the relentless cycle of stopping and starting again can be incredibly disheartening. It's a rollercoaster of hope, guilt, and desperation, leaving you feeling trapped and defeated. But remember, yo...
Aug 09, 2023•41 min•Ep. 277
Overcoming Perfectionism Are you tired of constantly chasing this elusive ideal of how you think you should be, only to end up feeling frustrated and burnt out? Well, you've come to the right place. Today, we're diving headfirst into the tumultuous waters of perfectionism and learning how to conquer it. Perfectionism is this sneaky little thing that creeps into our lives, whispering lies in our ears. It convinces you that nothing you do is ever good enough, that the world will fall apart if you ...
Aug 02, 2023•34 min•Ep. 276
Feel Broken If you know me, you know I live for a good success story. And today is definitely one of those. What you'll love about my guest today is that she shares her real life and real struggles, from sitting in her life pre-pandemic dealing with a break-up, weight gain, and over spending to soothe her broken heart, to how she used the global pandemic to her advantage. You may know Alexa Lowe as a beauty influencer and content creator on YouTube, but let me tell you, she’s so much more than h...
Jul 26, 2023•30 min•Ep. 275
Have you ever wondered if someday you’ll be able to drink again? Wondering if you quit for a few months, a year, or even multiple years, if you’ll be able to come back around and drink like a “normal” person? First of all, there is nothing normal about those people- they’re terrible alcoholics and they have no idea what they’re doing- but I’m willing to bet, if you’re listening to this podcast right now, you’ve had these thoughts. And today, we’re going to take a deep dive into the absolute trut...
Jul 19, 2023•34 min
Did you know that 56% of people with bi-polar disorder have a history of drug abuse? And 44% struggle with alcohol issues? I’m so glad you’re here today, because this is something that we, as a community, need to continue talking about more, and that is our mental wellness. And I'm raising my hand right now as someone who struggles with wellness, and I’m curious if you are as well. Here's the truth: if you don't manage your mental health well—addiction and recovery can be difficult and lonely. T...
Jul 12, 2023•32 min•Ep. 273
In general, "be yourself" means be true to your core identity rather than faking a different one because you think it will be attractive to others. (psychologytoday.com) You’ve heard the saying your whole life – Just be yourself! But how do you “just be yourself”, when you don’t have a solid sense of who you are? That’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode. How do you figure out who you are so that you can be authentic in your life and create relationships with people that are fun, exciti...
Jul 05, 2023•25 min•Ep. 272
Does exercise and movement give us a framework to follow for sobriety and fulfillment? Coach Blu definitely thinks so, and he’s here to tell you all about it in today’s episode! In this episode, Blu breaks down how to align your passion for sobriety with getting moving and healing your wounds… instead of just getting by day in and day out. Blu is a mental health therapist, host of the Addict II Athlete podcast, and founder of the non-profit Addict II Athlete – an action-orientated organization f...
Jun 28, 2023•55 min•Ep. 271
Sober Summer Activities Does the thought of doing all the summer things and trying to stay sober at the same time absolutely overwhelm you? If so, I can guarantee you’re not alone. I felt the same way when I thought about the lazy days at the pool with all of my over-drinking friends, or the 4th of July bbq’s where the bbq is really an afterthought and the cocktails are the main attraction. I knew I didn’t want to drink, I just had to figure out how I was going to make it happen. But here’s the ...
Jun 21, 2023•26 min•Ep. 270
Emotional Abuse If you come from a dysfunctional upbringing, have failed relationships, and struggle with boundaries, codependence and/or people pleasing.. you’ll want to tune in to this episode, my friend. We’re going to cover all the bases of toxic traits in relationships, emotional abuse, selfishness, and everything in between. And you may be surprised by a few details I share about myself. My guest today is a true Coach. And I say that because he is in the trenches, doing the real life-chang...
Jun 14, 2023•47 min•Ep. 269
Thrive in Life Do you ever feel like you’re struggling to feel like you’re making progress in your life, or, you find it challenging to figure out what to do to feel better despite all the changes you’re trying to make? Don’t worry you are not alone. And as your personal Life Coach I am here to help you turn your life into a success story. And, I know first hand how frustrating it can be when you feel like you aren’t gaining traction, or, when your efforts don’t seem to be paying off. But imagin...
Jun 07, 2023•35 min•Ep. 268
When it comes to facing your recovery head on, breaking down your approach can be simple as 1-2-3: > Who can you open up to > Where can you get support > What lifestyle changes do you need to make Today's guest is a podcast host, sober warrior, and the author of several books about addiction and recovery and we're breaking down the most important pieces of any recovery journey. You can apply these lessons, trials & tribulations to your own program or process and use them to your adv...
May 31, 2023•43 min•Ep. 267
Life Stressors: When life feels like a big struggle, it can be difficult to move forward. You can choose to embrace it and enjoy the ride, learning from your experiences along the way, or you can choose to avoid it, pretend it's not happening, or be bitter and resentful over every thing that doesn't go your way. The thing is, overcoming your struggles is what helps you get strong and feel happiness in your life. In fact, it's the most effective way to create real change in your life and motivate...
May 24, 2023•39 min•Ep. 266
If you are tired of diet culture and obsessing about what to eat, how you look, and how to change it… know, you’re not alone. The negative thoughts you have about your body are not your fault. The diet culture has us obsessing about “fixing” ourselves and it’s draining our time and energy. My guest today, Summer Innanen is also a Coach and she specializes in body image, self-worth, and confidence. And these are all things we need to talk about! She is also a best-selling author and the host of t...
May 10, 2023•34 min•Ep. 265
How to Deal With FOMO Imagine this... you’re crawling in your bed – you love it there – you’ve got your book in your hand and you are so ready to shut the world out, and relax. You’ve had a long week – work, errands, activities – and you can’t wait to get under the covers and sink in to the warmth and comfort of your bed. And right when you get the pillows situated just right, you’re about to open your book, or, if you’re like me, hit the power button on the remote – your phone dings at you, beg...
May 03, 2023•28 min•Ep. 264
Hypnosis for Addiction I'll be the first to admit that the thoughts in my head, aka the committee, have knocked me off track more times than I want to admit. There is always the 'fear' voice in the committee telling me, "You might really screw this up!", and the 'insecure' voice in there saying, "You can't do this," and "You're not good enough". And, although those messages aren't true, I know they are deep-rooted in my past experiences. So what do you do when the committee is chattering away an...
Apr 26, 2023•38 min•Ep. 263
Addiction Unlimited just turned 5! And to celebrate this journey that has been fulfilling and rewarding beyond my wildest dreams, I thought we would go back to day 1. At least once a week I get messages from people who are looking for episode zero, About Me. Keep in mind as you listen, my editing skills have come a long way, lol. This is Episode 0, About Me. I wanted to share some information about myself so you know who you are listening to and why I do what I do. In a nutshell, I got sober on ...
Apr 19, 2023•30 min•Ep. 262
Inner Critic Ongoing thoughts that are negative and critical create feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Did you get chills when you read that!? I definitely did, because I know that pain firsthand. Like most psychological things, that constant chatter in your head stems from early experiences with your primary caregivers. The good news is, you don't need to dig in to the nitty gritty right now to start making friends with that inner critic that always has so much to say. The committee, as...
Apr 12, 2023•41 min•Ep. 261
stages of relapse What if I told you that you could statistically increase your chances of living an alcohol-free life, even if you’re just getting started, or you’ve been struggling with staying sober? Well, today I have 3 proven steps to help you do exactly that, and these are the same steps you’ll use to get through each of the stages of relapse. If you're like me, and most of my clients, you know the struggle of trying to get and stay sober. And sometimes, no matter how hard we try, we fall ...
Apr 05, 2023•35 min•Ep. 260
