Episodes

  • Hollistic Approach

    Hollistic Approach
    Aug 10 2023
    There is no aspect of our lives that isn’t touched in some way by our recovery. Today we discuss how we incorporate meditation, exercise, diet and anything else we can add to benefit our mental and physical health. Recovery is not about putting down a substance, but what we do after that—how we take care of ourselves, live our lives and interact with others.
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    46 mins
  • Family Systems

    Family Systems
    Jun 7 2023
    “I was only hurting myself.” How many times have we heard that statement? Or; “No one knew what was going on with me.” There’s a pretty good chance everyone knew. Maybe not specifics, but we weren’t hiding anything. All of our family members took on roles as our addictions grabbed hold. Some enabled, some became angry, some refused to acknowledge the obvious, while still others may have kicked our sorry as*s out of their lives. There are infinite variations to these scenarios. When we got sober, we weren’t the only ones who had to change. The family, whether of origin or chosen, is greater than the sum of its parts. In family therapy, the identified patient isn’t the one singled out as the addict or the “problem.” The family as a whole is the patient. We’re all in this together! In this hour we also take a look at nature vs. nurture, or truthfully, nature plus nurture. They’re not at war but working together from the day we’re conceived, or perhaps long before, passed down through countless generations.
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    43 mins
  • Triggers

    Triggers
    May 30 2023
    Triggers How does it feel when you’re applying for a new job and HR tells you a drug test is required? I was sober for two years when that came up and I still panicked. What if? What if? I don’t think I’d even taken an aspirin since getting sober, but those words—drug test—made me cringe. Triggers are sneaky. They hide in the shadows. It can be a color or smell, or as John said, the Costco parking lot. Keep your phones handy and phone a friend whenever the urge strikes. Sometimes sending a text to let someone know you’re “feeling it” can be enough to keep from doing something unfortunate.
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    44 mins
  • Lost In My Own Head

    Lost In My Own Head
    Apr 13 2023
    I was once told not to visit my own head alone because it’s a bad neighborhood. It’s also easy to get lost up there, and I can tell you, there’s no reception so forget GPS-ing your way out. Today we talk about what some call a higher power, which can be a controversial topic. The truth is, all that matters is that whatever I call my higher power, be it a spiritual being or a giant tortoise named George (true story), it’s not me. When I’m in the driver’s seat, everyone better stay out of my way, including me.
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    59 mins
  • Harm Reduction and Hungry Ghosts

    Harm Reduction and Hungry Ghosts
    Mar 16 2023

    Harm Reduction and Hungry Ghosts:

    Needle exchanges and empathy. Two of the most important subjects that came up today, along with the media’s always negative portrayal of people with addictions.

    If you think all addicts are living in parks and begging for change, think again.

    We give a shout out to Betty Ford, who helped bring addiction to the forefront by making public her own struggles with alcohol and prescription drugs back in 1982.

    And of course Frankie tells us all about his iron pumping one-month old baby!
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    43 mins
  • Adulting - RFL UNCUT

    Adulting - RFL UNCUT
    Mar 3 2023
    Adulting Funny word, right, and one we probably shouldn’t need. But we do, because in active addiction only one thing matters—getting what’s most important to us, and that has nothing to do with a roof over our heads or food in the refrigerator or making sure the kids get off to school. We have to learn in recovery how to be responsible humans—adults. Theory tells us when we start using and abusing substances we stop growing emotionally, so when we finally get ourselves into recovery we are still at the age we were at the onset. For me that meant when I got sober I was a very old tween! I've had an awful lot of growing up to do.
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    43 mins
  • Fear Of Feeling - RFL UNCUT

    Fear Of Feeling - RFL UNCUT
    Feb 15 2023
    Change can be terrifying, even if we know it’s beneficial. Even if we know it can save our lives. What if I can’t handle sobriety? What if all the feelings I’ve been burying rise to the surface? What if I can’t stop? What’s life going to be like without my substance? I’m not ready. I don’t know how. How many of us can relate to this? In order to change our lives, we have to walk through our fears. There is no shortcut and no side street, no secret alley. Sometimes it means letting go of material wealth, sometimes walking away from people we thought were our friends. What’s worth more, my car, my flat screen, or my life?
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    48 mins
  • Relapse and Relationships RFL UNCUT

    Relapse and Relationships RFL UNCUT
    Feb 2 2023
    Being free of all substances, including the medication is the goal, but not for everyone. As Amy points out, some of us are lifers and are OK relying on suboxone indefinitely. We also talk about how our addictions affected our relationships and continue to—usually in positive ways.
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    51 mins