We tend to use the words recovery and sobriety interchangeably. Reality is that they are two very different things.
Generally sobriety is defined as not using a mind altering substance. Recovery is doing the healing and processing necessary to remain free of the substance and live a happy and fulfilling life without it.
In this podcast episode, we have invited Steve, Mike, and Will to join us for a conversation about what recovery has looked like in their lives. Recovery looks different for every person, based on their life experiences and their needs. Listen as these three men - plus your hosts, Steve and Julie - share how they figured out what needed healing, and the steps they took to do the work of recovery.
"Alcohol allowed me to tolerate things I should never have tolerated. Recovery requires me to make changes so that I'm not tolerating anymore."
In this episode:
- "Sober is a state of mind"
- How to find your why
- Using therapy, journaling, internet support systems to aid in self discovery
- Letting go of the identity of "drinker"
- The unseen dangers of the functioning alcoholic
- Post Traumatic Stress vs. Post Traumatic Growth
- How a 30 day committment could be your answer
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My name is Mike and I recently celebrated 6 years of sobriety, my sober date is 01/17/18. I publish a newsletter for men living a sober lifestyle called Own Sobriety. It can be found at ownsobriety.com and @ownsobriety on Instagram, Facebook & X (Twitter). I also post sober lifestyle content on my personal Instagram, @mikeunwasted.
I was an all-the-time drinker for 9 years, from age 25 to 34. Every aspect of my life revolved around alcohol and I suffered from several physical & mental health issues. It took several attempts to make sobriety stick, but my life is completely different today. I’ve been able to hold a job and advance my career, address health issues head-on, and create a stable, happy lifestyle. I have recovered out loud from the beginning of my sober journey and credit the decision to my long-term success.
Through Own Sobriety, I am able to connect with other men who are living a sober lifestyle which keeps me grounded to my own sobriety. Building a sober community and maintaining a support system has been critical to keeping me on track in sobriety. Even after 6 years of sobriety, I do my best not to take a single day for granted and constantly remind myself how bad it was. I worked my ass off in early sobriety to get to this point and build a life that no longer has room for or a need for alcohol.
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Will Gordon - a Boston native and middle school teacher whose hard-fought battle with alcohol addiction led to total organ failure and a life-saving double transplant in 2023. Through the gift of organ donation and unwavering support from my wife and family, I found my way back from the edge. Today, I share my journey from rock bottom to recovery with raw honesty and hard-earned hope hosting TheWillpowerPodcast, reminding others that even our darkest chapters can lead to meaningful change.
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Get in touch with Steve and Julie:
Visit our website at throughtheglassrecovery.com to sign up for our weekly newsletter, and to gain access to our FREE weekly recovery meetings.
You can also find Julie and Steve on:
Instagram
Facebook
