Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories

Chris was sober for 8.5 years before having "Just a few drinks" - 17 years sober - Chris shares the story.

In this episode we have Chris, who shares his compelling story of growing up in East Texas, his battles with alcoholism and drug abuse, and his journey to sobriety. Born in 1972 in Tyler, Texas, Chris grew up witnessing heavy drinking in his community  Despite a supportive extended family, Chris struggled with feeling uncomfortable in his own skin.  After several interventions in which he spent 12 months in a strict rehab center, Chris initially found sobriety at 22. However, after having another drink after 8.5 years of sobriety, he experienced a dark period of relapse. Chris openly narrates the challenging, yet ultimately successful, battle to regain his sobriety, his personal growth, and his current role as a father. He emphasizes the importance of persistence, the need for a strong support system, and how his views have changed over the years. This is Chris’s story on the sober motivation podcast.
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00:00 Welcome to the Sober Motivation Podcast with Chris
00:16 Chris's Childhood in East Texas: Family, Culture, and Early Challenges
02:26 Feeling Different and Out of Place: Chris's Early Struggles
05:34 Turning Points: From Trouble to Treatment
08:56 A Journey Through Rehabilitation and Recovery
16:41 The Road to Sobriety: Challenges and Triumphs
18:56 Embracing Fatherhood and Finding Purpose in Sobriety
20:27 Finding Joy in Sobriety and Community
21:26 The Slippery Slope: From Sobriety to Relapse
22:44 The Harsh Reality of Addiction and Its Consequences
25:18 Struggling to Regain Sobriety: A Personal Journey
27:39 The Turning Point: From Despair to Hope
33:22 Building a New Life: Sobriety, Family, and Career
37:22 Embracing Change and Helping Others
41:08 The Power of Community and Virtual Support

Alcohol helped Suze cope with the emotions resulting from several traumatic experiences in her life, but it came at a very high cost. Getting sober changed everything.

In this episode, we have Suze from England who shares she faced various significant life challenges, including being sent away to boarding school at a young age, facing bullying, the sudden death of her mother, and surviving the terrifying 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami. She discusses her struggle with alcohol, which became a coping mechanism following these traumatic events and the subsequent dip in her mental health. Despite initially starting to drink socially in her late teens, Suze's real battle with alcohol began in her thirties, intensified by trying to moderate her consumption without success. Eventually, feeling trapped in a cycle of drinking, she sought help. 
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00:00 Welcome to the Sober Motivation Podcast with Sue
00:15 Sue's Childhood and Early Experiences
01:49 The Start of Sue's Drinking Habits
03:07 Traumatic Events and Their Impact on Sue
07:50 Boarding School Memories and Its Influence
10:17 Navigating Early Adulthood and Challenges
12:21 The Tsunami Experience and Its Aftermath
18:55 The Journey of Motherhood and Its Struggles
22:36 Finding a New Beginning and Facing Challenges
25:53 Reflections on Drinking and Its Role in Coping
26:59 The Vicious Cycle of Alcohol Addiction
27:36 The Turning Point: Seeking Help and Finding AA
32:04 The Journey to Sobriety: From Desperation to Hope
34:44 Embracing a New Life: Growth and Healing in Sobriety
39:23 The Power of Community and Self-Reflection
48:36 Advice for Those Struggling with Sobriety
50:28 Conclusion: The Continuous Journey of Recovery

10 things you need to know about getting and staying sober.

In this episode I share personal insights on sobriety, debunking the notion of a linear process and emphasizing the importance of community, asking for help, and the realization that no external validation is required to quit. The episode also touches on misconceptions about hitting rock bottom, the gradually decreasing challenge of sobriety as one gains more tools, the potential need to walk away from certain relationships, and the significance of prioritizing sobriety in various social settings. Additionally, the episode encourages staying active and focusing on a healthy routine to aid in the recovery process and concludes with the importance of community support and persistent effort to overcome the challenges of sobriety.
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Alcohol played such a substantial role in Jordans life she never saw a way out.

In this episode, we have Jordan, a listener of the show with a compelling story of struggle, sobriety, and self-discovery. Growing up in a social, drinking-centered environment, Jordan felt like an outsider, which led to experimenting with alcohol and drugs at a young age. Despite attempts to fit in and find a community, Jordan's journey through high school, college, and various jobs in bars only deepened the addiction.  After feeling sick and tired of how she was living always wondering if there was more to life than the cycle of drinking she quit in May of 2020 and this is Jordan’s story on the Sober Motivation podcast.
👉 Links 👇
Jordan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/like_the.river/
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00:00 Welcome to Season Three: Unveiling Sobriety Stories
00:38 Jordan's Journey: From Awkward Childhood to Substance Use
01:38 High School to College: Finding Identity in Substances
02:53 The Spiral Continues: College, Marriage, and the Service Industry
14:23 A Glimpse of Reality: Facing Anxiety and Substance Abuse
20:36 The Phoenix Phase: A New City, Same Patterns
23:14 Reflections on Mental Health and Self-Medication
24:18 The Turning Point: Deciding to Leave the Drinking Lifestyle
26:42 The Struggle with Sobriety and Moving Back Home
30:05 A New Beginning: The Journey Towards Sobriety
39:31 Finding Purpose and Helping Others in Recovery
46:16 Reflections and Advice for Those Struggling with Addiction
 

Brantt Myhres, a former NHL player who received a lifetime ban from the league, shares his struggle with alcohol and cocaine.

In this episode, we have Brantt Myhres a former NHL player who shares his turbulent journey through addiction, his career in professional hockey, and his path to sobriety. Myers discusses the early roots of his struggles, beginning with a challenging childhood marked by abuse, which led him to find solace in hockey. His career escalated quickly, but so did his drinking and drug use, ultimately leading to multiple suspensions and a lifetime ban from the NHL. The turning point came after hitting rock bottom, which prompted Myers to seek help and enter long-term treatment. Now sober, he reflects on his recovery process, the importance of finding a reason to stay sober, and how he’s giving back by helping others in the sports world facing similar battles. Myers also talks about his book, 'Painkiller', where he shares his honest take on the journey, emphasizing the lessons learned and that recovery is possible no matter how dark times may seem.
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Follow Brantt on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brantt_myhres/
Check out the book Painkiller: https://www.amazon.ca/Pain-Killer-Memoir-League-Addiction/dp/0735239436
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For Lucy alcohol seemed to help her check all the boxes until it caused so much chaos in her life.

In this episode of the sober motivation podcast, we talk with Lucy Bruce, who shares her journey of growing up in a household tainted by her father's violent alcoholism and her own struggles with drinking, eating disorders, and trauma. Though initially appearing picture-perfect, Lucy's family life deteriorated when her father began to spiral into violence due to his drinking, affecting everyone around him.  Lucy's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of confronting one's past to build a brighter future. With 18 years alcohol free this is Lucy’s story on the sober motivation podcast.
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Lucy's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucybrucelifecoach/
More information on Sober Link: https://soberlink.com/recover
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Meg's Journey from Gray Area Wine Drinking to sober curious to living a sober life.

In this episode we have Meg who shares her deeply personal journey from growing up in a culture of appearances and early alcohol exposure to facing significant life challenges and navigating gray area drinking. Meg details her experiences with perfectionism, the pressures of life, early  interactions with alcohol, and traumatic events in college that contributed to her complicated relationship with alcohol. As she left college Meg got sucked into the mommy wine culture. She discusses the important moment when her drinking habits began severely impacting her life and her decision to seek help, only to be dismissed by a therapist. This is Meg’s story on the sober motivation podcast
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Follow Meg on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intoxicatingliesbook/
Meg's Book Intoxicating Lies CLICK HERE
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00:00 Welcome to the Sober Motivation Podcast
00:14 Meg's Journey: Childhood and Early Encounters with Alcohol
02:26 Navigating Adolescence: Peer Pressure and First Experiences
03:08 College Years: Binge Drinking and Trauma
05:45 The Work-Hard, Play-Hard Culture and Its Impact
14:03 Facing Life's Challenges: The Slip into Nightly Drinking
17:09 The Realization and Quest for Sobriety
22:50 Reflecting on the Journey and Embracing Change
26:15 The Journey to Sobriety: Tools for Self-Love and Comfort
26:54 Unraveling the Story: From Denial to Discovery
27:11 The Power of Community and the Sober Curious Movement
28:11 The Transformative Impact of Sobriety on Personal and Family Life
30:57 The Ripple Effect: Inspiring Change in Others
38:32 The Importance of Addressing Alcohol's Role in Society and Personal Trauma
42:37 Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Empowermen

Josh Connelly found the ultimate escape from himself with alcohol and drugs, sober since 2012.

In this episode we have Josh Connolly, discussing his childhood experiences and the impact of addiction on his life. Josh gives a candid recount of his complicated relationship with his alcoholic father and his struggles with substance use from an early age. After becoming a father at a young age, Josh found himself stuck in a toxic cycle of substance use and dishonesty, leading to making the decision to get sober. Navigating through the challenges of life without the means to escape reality, he makes a focused effort to be honest and present with those he cares about the most, even in the face of adversity. After 9 months of sobriety Josh was really struggling and was was so confused on why. Through conversation on this episode, Josh and I underscore the importance of self-love, honesty, and daily commitment to sobriety.
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Follow Josh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/josh_ffw/
More information on SoberLink: www.soberlink.com/recover
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Surviving Trauma and Embracing Sobriety: Johnny's Journey

In this episode of the Sober Motivation Podcast, Johnny Lawrence shares his path from an unstable and traumatic childhood to a fulfilling life of sobriety. Born into a mixed-race family subjected to domestic violence, Johnny found comfort in alcohol. However, he felt compelled to give up drinking when he became a father. Johnny discusses the details of sobriety, emphasizing resilience, honesty, and the importance of never giving up. He also shares his concept of 'The Four A's - Awareness, Accountability,  Acceptance, and Action' to handle life changes. Johnny underlines that while the journey to sobriety can be challenging, the emotional resolution and personal insights gained make it worthwhile. This is Johnny’s story on the Sober Motivation podcast.
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Follow Johnny on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theselfdevelopmentcoach/
Check out SoberLink here: https://www.soberlink.com/recover
Support the Podcast here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivation
00:00 Introduction and Guest Arrival
01:47 Guest's Early Life and Struggles
05:38 Turning Point and Leaving Home
12:52 Finding Solace in Wrestling
16:30 Becoming a Father and Facing Old Demons
22:30 The Journey to Sobriety
24:40 Understanding Emotional Regulation and Alcohol Cravings
25:26 The Journey of Sobriety: Relapses and Vulnerability
27:22 The Struggle with Suppressed Emotions
28:06 The Honesty Stage: Recognizing the Impact of Alcohol
28:56 The Transition to Sobriety: Challenges and Self-Soothing
31:16 The Four A's of Behavioral Change
34:50 The Emotional Journey of Quitting Alcohol
39:15 The Power of Persistence and Building Emotional Resilience
43:47 Final Thoughts: Never Give Up

Hadley experienced relief from her first drink of alcohol at 14 and went from binge drinking in college to mommy wine culture.

In today’s episode, we have Hadley, who speaks about her first drink at 14 and how it would remain complicated until quitting at 41. As life progressed so did the drinking from the binge drinking culture in college to the mommy wine culture that followed. After another night of broken promises to herself about remaining present and aware at a party, she blacked out and the hangover lasted several days and the thoughts of quitting started to become more real. Hadley discusses how it was in a 2-year span that she was working on her relationship with alcohol and after a day drinking session at the lake house she began her journey of sobriety in August of 2021 and everything has changed since then. This is Hadley’s story on the Sober Motivation podcast.
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Follow Hadley on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/hadley_sorensen
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