The alcohol industry gives the government funds to prove light drinking is safe.
In today's era of information overload, it can be difficult to sort the truth from the strong opinions. As the lines between journalism, science and advertising continue to blur, it can become difficult to know where to stand when one can find a seemingly reputable article or study to support any side of any opinion.
The alcohol industry is no stranger to the ways of public relations. The NIAAA (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism) is a government established institution that funds approximately 90% of research on the effects of consuming alcohol in the US. Regarding a recent study on the effects of light drinking, it is no surprise to find out that $67 million was provided by 5 big alcohol companies, most likely to ensure that the results of the study fell in line with their message that alcohol is good for you.
Remember that alcohol is still poison, it's still bad for you, and consuming alcohol still has real consequences, despite the what the heavily funded opinions of the alcohol industry would lead you to believe.
Daniel, with 128 days since his last drink, shares his story...
SHOW NOTES
[10:37] Paul Introduces Daniel.
Daniel is 43 years old, has a girlfriend and an 8 year old daughter. He works in telecom sales and enjoys biking, running, and reading.
[14:10] When did you first realize that you had a problem with drinking?
In his early 20s. Alcoholism runs in his family. He started drinking regularly in high school, then it became excessive in college. In his mid 20's he began drinking in solitude.
[18:15] Talk to us about the 20 years you were drinking.
There were phases where he would think he was okay because he was functioning, but he would occasionally binge drink. He drank less after he got married in his late 20s but it eventually ramped up again. When he was binge drinking he wouldn't eat.
[20:28] When did you first attempt to quit?
He started going to AA in his mid 20s but he wasn't ready.
[21:10] Did you experience a rock bottom? Did you have a faulty off switch?
No, it was gradual. He would drink before work. He slowly lost control as depression and anxiety set in. He finally talked to his family and decided to go to a inpatient detox facility. It was difficult to stop once he started. He started drinking again after 25 days sober, thinking it was different.
[26:30] Tell us about your experience with the incredibly short memory (ISM).
He would find himself returning to the hospital after a short time away.
[28:33] What inspired you to quit, most recently?
His family. He spent some time away from them and it inspired him to quit. He experienced moments of clarity and made a decision. He found some supportive people to help him.
[32:02] What were your first 30 days like? How did you deal with cravings?
He drank a lot of seltzer water and non-alcoholic beer.
[34:10] What is a typical day in your recovery? How have you made it to 128 days?
He found a local AA group, and got a sponsor. He reads a lot. 4 or 5 AA meetings a week.
[41:10] Rapid Fire Round
Resources mentioned in this episode:
LINK TO STUDY ARTICLE
Recovery – A book by Russell Brand
This Naked Mind – a book by Annie Grace
The Untethered Soul – by Michael Singer
Girl Walks Out of a Bar – by Lisa Smith
Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code Elevator for your first month free
Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”
A quote from “Drinking: A love Story” by Caroline Knapp sums up the theme for today's podcast:
“Early sobriety has the quality of vigorous exercise, as though each repetition of a painful moment gone without a drink serves to build up emotional muscle.”
Life will happen. We can't control what challenges life will send our way but we can control how we respond. Each passing trial is an opportunity to build one's sobriety muscles, which get stronger over time as healthy habits and ways of thinking become more deeply ingrained.
Quitting drinking is difficult because not only is alcohol physically addicting, but we often turn to alcohol to help us cope with life's many challenges. In sobriety, we find an opportunity to learn new coping skills and rewire our brain to handle difficult times without turning to alcohol for help.
Samantha, with 18 days since her last drink, shares her story...
SHOW NOTES
[7:20] Paul Introduces Samantha.
Samantha is 27 years old, from Louisiana. She has a girlfriend and a cat, works at a lawfirm, likes music, travel, reading and listens to podcasts. She's a geography student, returning to school to finish her degree.
[8:30] When did you first notice that you had a problem with drinking?
In her early 20s. She used alcohol to deal with her anxiety. She thinks alcohol is a big part of society in Louisiana. She has family members that struggle with alcohol. An abusive relationship drove her to drinking more than normal. All of her friends seemed to drink a lot.
[12:35] What did drinking a lot look like for you?
Mostly just wine, and eventually whiskey, which became her alcohol of choice.
[13:07] Did you ever put any rules into place to try and control your drinking?
Yes, she would buy smaller bottles or only drink on weekends.
[13:50] What was your rock bottom moment? Why did you decide to quit?
Sick and tired of being sick and tired mostly. A therapist refused to see her while she was drinking. She was angry. She refused the rehab and kept drinking. A different time she had written in her journal about quitting drinking, only to go out later that night and black out again.
[18:34] What was it like to break that promise to yourself?
She woke up and felt terrible, shameful, embarrassed.
[19:55] How has sobriety affected your borderline personality disorder?
Her emotions are normally intense and fleeting. Alcohol helped her maintain an even keel. Without alcohol, she's switched to Zoloft. It's difficult to deal with strong emotions without alcohol. She's now optimistic about her future and has decided to go back to school, realizing that alcohol was getting in her way.
[23:40] How has your behavior changed since you've quit?
She goes to bars less. She is looking for more things to do at home. She's trying to fill the void left by alcohol with healthy activities.
[24:40] Is your partner trying to get sober?
No, she wants to stop but she is continuing. It's difficult to see her continue, not because it makes her want to drink, but because she sees the effect alcohol is having on her.
[27:06] What benefits are you getting from quitting?
Her skin cleared up. She's lost weight. Her emotions are easier to handle. She's now able to see that one drink may start well but it will lead to a terrible conclusion.
[30:27] Have you lost anything to alcohol?
She feels like she lost her dignity. Various memories from drinking make her feel shameful or embarrassed.
[32:30] What advice would you give to your younger self?
Not to smoke or drink ever! She received info about substances while in school, but feels like it had no impact. She would tell herself to love herself. She thinks loving oneself is the root of many of the decisions we make.
[35:04] What is your proudest moment so far in sobriety?
She was told that she was a great student by an old professor. Also, she went to a bar and didn't have any drinks.
[36:30] Rapid Fire Round
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Drinking: A Love Story – By Caroline Knapp
The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck – by Mark Manson
Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code Elevator for your first month free
Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”
“Do I have a drinking problem?” Part II
The first episode under this particular theme came out back in March of 2015.
In “Drinking: A Love Story” by Caroline Knapp, a questionnaire is presented that will help you determine whether or not you have a drinking problem, and if yes, at what stage your drinking problem is. See the questions below:
1. Do you drink heavily when you are disappointed or have had a quarrel |
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3. Can you handle more alcohol now than when you first started to drink? |
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4. Have you ever been unable to remember part of the previous evening, even though |
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5. When drinking with other people, do you try to have a few extra drinks when others |
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6. Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable if alcohol is not available? |
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7. Are you more in a hurry to get your first drink of the day than you used to be? |
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8. Do you sometimes feel a little guilty about your drinking? |
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9. Has a family member or close friend express concern or complained about your drinking? |
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10. Have you been having more memory “blackouts” recently? |
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11. Do you often want to continue drinking after your friends say they’ve had enough? |
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12. Do you usually have a reason for the occasions when you drink heavily? |
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13. When you’re sober, do you sometimes regret things you did or said while drinking? |
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14. Have you tried switching brands or drinks, or following different plans to control your |
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15. Have you sometimes failed to keep promises you made to yourself about controlling or |
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16. Have you ever tried to control your drinking by changing jobs or moving to a new location? |
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17. Do you try to avoid family or close friends while you are drinking? |
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18. Are you having more financial, work, school, and/or family problems as a result of |
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19. Do more people seem to be treating you unfairly, without reason? |
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20. Do you eat very little or irregularly during the periods when you are drinking? |
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21. Do you sometimes have the “shakes” in the morning and find that it helps to have a |
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22. Have you recently noticed that you can’t drink as much as you used to? |
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23. Do you sometimes stay drunk for several days at a time? |
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25. After periods of drinking do you sometimes see or hear things that aren’t there? |
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26. Do you get terribly frightened after you have been drinking heavily? |
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Know that actions often speak louder than words. If you are listening to a recovery podcast, filling out a recovery questionnaire, wondering whether or not you have a problem, then chances are your actions are telling you that you do. That conclusion is an okay place to be, too. Better to realize it earlier than later so you reach out and get help if you need it.
Darla, with 3 years since her last drink, shares her story...
SHOW NOTES
[11:00] Paul Introduces Darla.
Lives in Grand Junction, Colorado, 52 years old, mother of two.
[13:00] When did you first realize that you had a problem with drinking?
Drinking has been a part of her life for a long time but it never had power over her until her mid 40's. It happened gradually. She tried to control it with rules, but despite her efforts it continued to escalate.
[16:00] How old were you when you put limits on your drinking?
Around 45 she drank regularly and 46 it progressed.
[16:54] Was there a specific stressor in your life at the time?
The end of her marriage. Her therapist advised her to get a divorce. She had to get a restraining order. It was easy to lean on drinking because she grew up around it.
[19:15] Did anyone in your family history struggle with alcohol?
Her father's side. Her grandfather, father and brother. Others have issues with other kinds of addiction.
[22:13] What were the rules you put in place to try to reign in your drinking?
She tried to limit the day of the week. Her targets kept moving as she kept breaking her own rules. She felt like it was against her will.
[23:33] Did you ever attempt to quit before this attempt?
Not really. Despite a DUI, a court order to stop drinking, and CBT classes she continued to drink. When she quit, she was “white knuckling” it. She had moderate success but then binged at a holiday party, which lead her to another DUI and waking up in jail. The consequences terrified her and scared her enough to quit.
[31:00] How did you end up quitting?
She called a family attorney. She went to therapy, both individual and group. She ended up in AA.
[32:45] What do you do when you get cravings?
She recognizes the thoughts that lead to relapse. She still feels powerless against alcohol.
[34:15] What unpleasant things did you have to do to stay sober?
She went to AA. She didn't want to admit that she was an alcoholic. She didn't want to admit that she was afraid. She had to accept the circumstances.
[35:35] Has being in recovery helped you at work?
It gave her a level of compassion others may not have. She can help guide people toward resources. She's letting people know about it slowly, especially at work.
[40:20] Why are you going to attend the Cafe RE trip to Peru?
She wants to challenge herself. She wants to seize new opportunities.
[41:22] Rapid Fire Round
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Drinking: A Love Story – A book by Caroline Knapp
Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code Elevator for your first month free
Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”
Do the medications work?
Paul reads messages he received from different podcast listeners about their experiences with some of the various medications often prescribed as quit aids for quitting drinking.
Though they are not known to be an effective all-in-one cure for alcoholism, they appear to be a positive piece to the recovery portfolio for some.
Ed, with 11 days since his last drink, shares his story:
SHOW NOTES
[6:20] Paul Introduces Ed.
Sober for 11 days. Has been on Naltrexone for 6 years. 40 years old. Research scientist, molecular biologist. Has two young children. Really enjoying his work. Started to drink more seriously during mid 20's.
[10:13] At what point did Naltrexone enter the picture?
During his mid 30's. He was falling down stairs and wetting his bed on the weekends, yet he was still in denial. He sought out a medicine to help with his hangover symptoms, found the Sinclair method on the internet.
[13:05] Did you go straight to Naltrexone or did you try other methods first?
He went to his doctor and asked him about Naltrexone. He had tried AA but didn't like it. The doctor was cautious, but gave him the green light.
[15:10] Having used Naltrexone, what is your take on alcoholism being defined as a disease?
Alcoholism is definitely a disease. It runs in families, etc. People who don't have the disease don't understand what it's like. People drink for different reasons, but once addicted people are equal.
[17:16] Where is the disconnect between the recovery and medical communities?
Not enough research in general, and in recovery methods. The numbers we are working with today probably aren't the whole picture. Not tied into addiction in general. One thing he wants to emphasize is that Naltrexone should not be used by an alcoholic to try and drink like a normal person. It can help someone quit but should only be used for that. If you are already quit, stay quit.
[21:22] If it feels more or less under control at this point, why aim for total abstinence?
He isn't getting anything out of it at all anymore. He feels the overall force of alcohol in our lives is destructive. He feels great.
[24:44] Where are you at with cravings?
Cravings are decreased with Naltrexone. He likes not closing the door completely because he feels like he can fit in. It's easier to just have a little bit.
[26:08] What about your friends who had a negative experience with Naltrexone?
One friend ended up going on Naltrexone. He used it moderately and it had negative effects. Moderate reward can be more addicting than regular reward.
[29:00] Are you tempted to not use the pill?
He's tempted but has never broken the rule, which is why he feels he's been successful so far.
[30:09] How does your routine work with the pill?
He just takes it every day.
[31:15] Do you agree that Naltrexone only cures the physical part of alcohol addiction?
Yes. It's why it may not work for everyone. It only address the physical part, but doesn't address the mental and spiritual parts of alcohol addiction.
[35:20] Do you think it is fear that is keeping you from aiming for complete abstinence?
It plays a part. It's difficult to leave behind. He recognizes the fear but knows that he's strong enough to overcome it and move forward with his life in a healthy and positive way.
[36:07] Rapid Fire Round
Resources mentioned in this episode:
This podcast episode was brought to you by Zip Recruiter. Visit ziprecruiter.com/elevator and try it for free.
Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code Elevator for your first month free
Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”
Why do we drink?
When we no longer drink alcohol, the many reasons we used to drink come bubbling to the surface. What may have started out as a fun activity or a social lubricant often morphs into a way to (not) deal with life's problems. The barrage of pro-alcohol messages from media and society has the potential to pull the wool over our eyes as the addictive nature of alcohol quietly gets the better of our innocent intentions.
Alcohol promises to help you numb the pain, lower your inhibitions or distance yourself from your problems, but the effect is only temporary. In fact, it often breaks the aforementioned promises and will usually make a bad situation worse.
The avoidance of difficult emotions or situations is likely futile. Choosing to face your problems seems daunting when we are used to drinking them away, but gets easier with practice.
Briddick, with 112 days since his last drink, shares his story:
SHOW NOTES
[8:08] Paul Introduces Briddick.
Briddick is 33 years old, lives in Bellingham, Washington, works in Real Estate, has a girlfriend and a step-son, plays soccer, plays guitar, travel and the outdoors.
[11:15] What was it like for you being self employed?
Heavy drinking was normalized. There was no boss to tell him to stop. Everyone was doing it. He used alcohol to unwind.
[13:00] When did you first start to realize that you might have a problem with drinking?
Late 20's. He started in high school, but it gradually escalated until he had difficulty stopping once he started.
[14:50] What was it like to drink before soccer games?
For 3 years, he drank before sports. He thought it was normal. He felt terrible physically. He feels lucky that he didn't hurt anyone during sports or driving.
[16:18] Did you attempt to moderate your drinking, and to what success?
He would avoid drinking in the morning, and avoid hard alcohol. After 3pm it was free for all.
[17:38] Tell us about your anxiety attacks in your early 30's.
Panic attacks are the worst. You feel something is terribly wrong but you don't know what it is and you can't fix it. Right around lunch time he would get panic attacks. The anxiety attacks went away when he quit drinking.
[19:48] What was your reaction to removing alcohol from the situation?
Floored. The anxiety went away. The weight stays off. He sleeps better. He feels more emotionally stable.
[21:13] What was the time frame like for you in regards to the anxiety?
Within the first week. He had a breakdown that lasted for three days. “A bad day for the ego is a good day for the soul.” There is a normal amount of anxiety in anyone's life. Meditation helps.
[23:59] How did you do it?
He knew inside for years that he was an alcoholic but didn't want to admit it. He eventually admitted it and had a breakdown. He took it seriously, and treated it like stage 4 cancer. He went to meetings with a friend. The friend is not his sponsor. On step 4.
[27:28] What have you learned most about yourself since you've quit drinking?
That he can do it. I can make the choice to not drink today. It's not about willpower.
[28:41] What's on your bucket list in sobriety?
He started playing guitar again. He's learned that he can only focus on one thing at a time. He wants to run a marathon. He wants to keep traveling. He is finding joy in the little things.
[30:15] Rapid Fire Round
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Cafe RE- Use the promo code Elevator for your first month free
Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com
“We took the elevator down, we gotta take the stairs back up, we can do this!”