We talk a lot about getting sober — but far less about what happens after the substances are gone.

In this episode, I break down emotional sobriety: what it really means, why so many people struggle emotionally even years into recovery, and how emotional overload often comes before relapse.

This isn’t about being calm all the time or “positive thinking.”
It’s about learning how to feel emotions without being controlled by them.

You’ll hear:

• The difference between physical sobriety and emotional sobriety

• Why emotional relapse often comes before physical relapse

• Common emotional patterns in recovery that don’t get talked about

• What emotional sobriety actually looks like in real life

• Practical tools to help regulate emotions without numbing or escaping

If you’re sober but still feel overwhelmed, reactive, or emotionally exhausted — this conversation is for you.

Recovery isn’t just about not drinking.
It’s about learning how to live inside your own head and body — safely.

Relapse doesn’t usually happen because someone “stops caring.”
It happens when the mind becomes unsafe — when fear, shame, isolation, and obsession quietly take over.

In this episode, we have an honest, unfiltered conversation about what the final days before recovery really feel like — the desperation, the mental chaos, and the moment when surrender finally becomes possible.

We talk about why coming back to recovery can feel harder than getting sober the first time, how shame compounds after relapse, and why willpower alone is never enough. From spirituality and service to connection, honesty, and daily practice, this episode breaks down what actually helps when your brain is working against you.

This conversation is for:
• Anyone returning to recovery after relapse
• People struggling with shame, fear, or mental obsession
• Those questioning spirituality or a “higher power”
• Anyone who feels disconnected, overwhelmed, or stuck

Recovery isn’t about perfection.
It’s about safety, connection, and learning how to live in the present moment again.

If you’re struggling, you’re not broken — you’re human.

👉 If this episode helps, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

Today i sat down with my good friend Ray.

Relapse doesn’t usually start with picking up a substance.
It starts quietly — with secrecy, self-deception, and the belief that “I’ll handle this on my own.”

In this episode, we have a brutally honest conversation about what relapse actually looks like after time in recovery — when you’re no longer in crisis, no longer desperate, and no longer asking for help.

We talk about being sober for years and still escaping. About how addiction becomes a chemical eject button for discomfort, fear, shame, resentment, money stress, and feeling out of control. About why some of us don’t ask for help — we have to get caught. And why, for many addicts, getting caught can feel like relief.

This conversation goes far beyond substances. We unpack lying “for no reason,” people-pleasing, emotional reactivity, comparison, resentment, food addiction, control, and the everyday behaviors that keep addict thinking alive long after drugs are gone.

We also talk honestly about the difference between alcohol and cocaine addiction, why willpower isn’t what keeps people sober, and what early recovery actually feels like when cravings are loud and honesty feels impossible.

Most importantly, we talk about what recovery looks like today — not the highlight reel, not the inspirational version, but the real work: learning to sit with discomfort, slowing down reactions, and making sure at least one person in the world knows everything.

This episode is for anyone who:

• Has relapsed after time sober

• Feels like they should be further along

• Is sober but still struggling

• Or is quietly carrying things they haven’t told anyone yet

If you’ve ever thought, “I don’t know if I have another recovery left in me,” this conversation is for you.

You’re not alone — and you don’t have to carry it by yourself.

Welcome to al the new listeners! I'm so glad you're here. This is my story in a 20 minute episode, I hope you get something out of it. Relapse doesn’t start with drugs — it starts with secrets. In this raw episode, I explain how addiction convinces you you’re fine, productive, and “different this time,” even when your life looks good on the outside.
I break down how steroids, ADHD meds, and stimulant abuse reopened the door to full relapse after years sober — and what I learned coming back.

Today's guest is Logan from New Generation Sobriety. Logan Battled alcoholism and gambling addiction until he went to his first rehab at 17 years old. After getting sober and celebrating some time under his belt, he relapsed on slot machines until he lost it all.

Gambling addiction is one of the most dangerous and misunderstood addictions because it’s invisible. Unlike drugs or alcohol, there are no obvious physical signs — until the financial, emotional, and relational damage is already done.

In this powerful recovery conversation, we break down why gambling addiction is often called a silent killer, how it hides in plain sight, and why so many people don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.

This clip is for anyone struggling with gambling, supporting someone in addiction recovery, or trying to understand why behavioral addictions can be just as destructive as substance use.

Topics covered:

• Gambling addiction warning signs

• Why gambling is harder to detect than drugs or alcohol

• Financial secrecy and addiction

• Recovery, awareness, and early intervention

If this resonates, you’re not alone — and help is available.

Today Allen Kharlip, Clinical Supervisor at Addiction Rehab Toronto and good friend, returns to recovering out loud as we open up about current events. In this raw conversation, we unpack how social media becomes a new addiction for people in recovery — triggering comparison, inadequacy, obsessive thinking, and emotional relapse.
If you’ve ever scrolled Instagram and felt worse afterward, you’re not alone. We talk about why inspiration online quickly turns into self-judgment, why comparison is the thief of joy, and how recovery tools like spirituality, connection, discipline, and CBT help us break the cycle.

This episode covers:
– Why scrolling never makes you feel better
– How comparison fuels insecurity + relapse thinking
– The “addict brain” hijacking social media
– What actually restores peace: connection, meetings, service, spirituality
– Setting boundaries around tech in early recovery
– How to stop chasing validation and start living again

Find Allens full story on episode

In this episode, I break down what spirituality actually is — especially for people in recovery who don’t believe in God, grew up religious, or feel triggered by the word “spiritual.”

Spirituality in recovery isn’t dogma — it’s connection, grounding, meaning, and a power greater than your impulsive brain. Today I share practical spiritual tools, how I rebuilt my relationship with a higher power after relapse, and how spirituality became the anchor that keeps me sober.

We cover:
• Spirituality vs religion (what’s the difference?)
• Why willpower alone isn’t enough in addiction recovery
• The spiritual void caused by addiction
• Practical tools: stillness, gratitude, service, meaning-making, surrender
• How ego blocks your recovery
• How to build a spiritual practice even if you’re brand new

If you’re struggling, open to change, or tired of white-knuckling sobriety—this one’s for you.

Follow on IG: @RecoveringOutLoudPod
Subscribe for weekly recovery content.

In today’s episode of Recovering Out Loud, Anthony breaks down one of the biggest challenges in sobriety: the fear of the future. If you struggle with overthinking, catastrophizing, anxiety about relapse, financial insecurity, or the pressure of rebuilding your life — this episode will ground you.

You’ll learn:
• The psychology and neurology behind fear in recovery
• Why uncertainty feels dangerous when you stop drinking or using
• The lies fear tells, and how to counter them with evidence
• How fear shapes behaviour, avoidance, self-sabotage & toxic cycles
• Tools for emotional sobriety: reframing, action steps, CBT, surrender
• How to build a healthy relationship with the future
• Reflection questions you can use today

If this episode resonates, hit Subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs it. Recovery makes the future possible — not dangerous.

Keywords:
recovery podcast, fear of the future, sobriety anxiety, emotional sobriety, addiction recovery motivation, relapse prevention, overthinking in recovery, fear in sobriety, CBT for anxiety, early recovery support, how to stay sober, Anthony Recovering Out Loud