Real Sobriety Podcast

Starting over. We in addiction recovery can always reinvent ourselves. We fall down, we get up!

Here we are - Episode 50 of an addiction recovery podcast. Who knew? Some insight into the motivation of recovery.

12 Step study - Many of us come to the addiction recovery community by way of the 12 steps. Here's a look at Step 6, where we begin to look to our happy, successful futures.

Step Five. Where we in addiction recovery trust ourselves, our Higher Power and another person with our deepest secrets - so we may live a happy, sober life! 

Step 4: Where a lot of people in 12 Step recovery get stuck. We have to face who we really are to get well. 

Step 3: Whatever our concept of God or a a Higher Power -  a good starting point may be that Step 3 might do nothing more than reveal that we are not all powerful over our addictions and we need - and we seek - help and guidance on the road to recovery.   

Step study - Power greater than ourselves. Truth and Insanity in recovery with the 12 Steps. 

12 Step Study: Back to Basics. As much as I sometimes rail against the religiosity of A.A. the 12 Step program is probably the best thing we have going in addiction recovery.

Addiction: A Brain Disease. The U.S. Surgeon General has made a very provocative statement that addicts and alcoholics deserve better treatment.

Will religion be the undoing of Alcoholics Anonymous? Some claim A.A. can be, at times, a highly intolerant religious group.

Weed. A hot topic. We in addiction recovery, especially in A.A. are going to see lots of newcomers who legally smoke pot, but have a desire to stop drinking.

Stressful events in addiction recovery. The next few months see an election, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, a time when recovering alcoholics and addicts need to be extra vigilant about sobriety.

A Casual Update. Robert shares a bit about his life, before and after recovery, the new Real Sobriety blog, and his incredibly cool wife.

Thanks and Gratitude. I think it is important for those of us in addiction recovery to remember the things we have, the people in our lives, and the time we now can enjoy as happy, sober people. Canadian Thanksgiving!

Where did we ever find the time to drink and drug? In our addiction recovery, we can do so many incredible things, from creating a new business or hobby, to climbing Mt. Everest. Time is now our friend.

Are 12 Step Meetings, like Alcoholics Anonymous, still relevant in the 21st Century age of smart phones and instant communication?

Do I Have a Drinking Problem? Houston, we have a problem. That was the iconic radio message transmitted from the crippled Apollo 13 space craft back to mission control. But, we alcoholics don’t have the luxury of mission control to guide us through life. 

If you are sitting in a dark room, considering giving up or hurting yourself - this is a message you may want to hear.  

Drinking. After a long time sober, I found myself with a drink in my hand. Very uncomfortable. There are situations where we may find ourselves inadvertently jeopardizing our addiction recovery. 

Honesty is the best policy - or is it? For those of us in addiction recovery, it can get tricky. Does making amends mean hurting ourselves and others?