by Kris Oyen | Nov 14, 2022 | Podcast
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Episode 400 – The order of healing
Today we have Natasha. She is 43, from Vancouver, B.C, and took her last drink on August 23, 2021.
Book: Alcohol is Sh!t. https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-is-Sht-Paul-Churchill-audiobook/
Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20
Highlights from Paul
Paul outlines the order of healing when we quit drinking. He describes the healing as happening in reverse order of the harm done. You can do the following:
- Ditch the booze
- Fuel the body with healthy food and hydrate
- Cut down on sugar and caffeine
- Move (aim for 20 mins a day 3x a week)
- Recovery – AA, Café RE, Smart Recovery, IOP, etc.
Book: The All-Day Energy Diet. https://amzn.to/3CmLivc
The healing process:
- The body (3-12 months)
- Mental healing (6 months to 1.5 years)
- Spiritual healing
Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator – 10% off your first month. #sponsored
[11:04] Natasha has been sober for over a year. She is in medical sales, has a son, and enjoys friends, bingo, travel, and hiking.
Natasha was afraid of alcohol during her early years. She would dump out beer and pretend to be drunk to avoid social pressure. After her son was born, she had six beers during a concert. As she approached thirty, she drank after work with her co-workers in the restaurant industry. At 35, she knew her drinking was a problem.
Socializing and drinking was a big part of her job. Her relationship wasn’t healthy because they drank together, and Natasha could outdrink her partner.
Sobriety has taught Natasha that none of her fears about quitting drinking were true; liquid courage is a myth. She is funny and entertaining with her clients. Her relationships have more meaning, and she can be present.
She describes the first year as brutal. After a boozy weekend with girls, Natasha knew it was time to quit. She dumped out a wine cooler, and that was it. She was angry at people who could drink normally and isolated herself a bit. Now she recognizes she can enjoy her life without the chaos of alcohol. Boundaries have become necessary, and she enjoys spending time alone. Reading, listening to podcasts, and meditation have helped her maintain her sobriety. Natasha’s relationships have evolved and grown. She lost some friends along the way, but her core group supports her sobriety.
[58:51] Kris’s Summary
Kris has been getting his garage in order. He recognized that he was comfortable with the chaos until he hit a tipping point. Cleaning the garage has so many parallels to recovery. Kris was overwhelmed, but he did the next right thing, took it slow, and now everything is clean, organized, and easy to navigate.
Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:
- You can find more information about our events
Resources
Connect with Cafe RE – Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee.
Recovery Elevator YouTube – Subscribe here!
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Recovery Elevator-
We are the only ones who can do this, but we don’t have to do it alone.
I love you guys.
by Kris Oyen | Nov 7, 2022 | Podcast
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Episode 403 – Hello Universe
Many
Today we have Pat. He is 38, from Georgia, and he took his last drink on February 22, 2022.
Events: https://recoveryelevator.com/events
Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/re20
Highlights from Paul
The opposite of addiction is connection. Near-death experiences often connect us to a higher power and make us question where we go after we die. In today’s episode, Paul shares his views on spirituality and connecting with a higher power.
Addiction disconnects us from the external world and from within. Paul reminds us we are not alone: we are connected to every living on the planet. Love, connection, inclusivity, and wholeness.
Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator – 10% off your first month. #sponsored
[13:14] Pat got sober on 2/22/22 and planned his sobriety date as a military child who has lived in many places. He is married, loves archery, plays guitar, writes music, and sells hearing aids.
Pat began experimenting with alcohol at 15. He learned in college he could drink a lot. He was frequently the last one standing. Initially, he drank to get a buzz. He avoided eating to enhance his buzz. In college, he got a DUI. Pat drank to feel normal. He never had a true rock bottom moment.
In 2020, Pat stopped drinking for six months, knowing he and his wife wanted to conceive. He switched from whiskey to beer. Quickly it snuck back into his life.
Pat’s wife began going to Al-Anon. He burned the ships on social media and garnered support from friends and family. After a physical, he had some bad results, including elevated liver enzymes. He was encouraged to go to inpatient rehab. He ultimately tapered. His doctor prescribed medications to help him overcome anxiety. The first two weeks of detox were painful. After the physical challenges dissipated, things became much more manageable. His family and friends supported him. He realizes he doesn’t need alcohol to get through the highs and lows of everyday life.
The RE podcast, audiobooks, and the Café RE Facebook group are his favorite recovery tools, and he is excited that he and his wife are expecting their first child.
[49:20] Paul’s Summary
Book recommendations
Reality Unveiled: https://amzn.to/3CxrVQg
The seat of the Soul: https://amzn.to/3z0phBJ
Many lives many masters: https://amzn.to/3rQ6QLS
The concepts in these books help Paul to feel connected. The knowledge is the precursor to feeling the way Paul needs to feel to stay sober.
Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:
- You can find more information about our events
Resources
Connect with Cafe RE – Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee.
Recovery Elevator YouTube – Subscribe here!
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Recovery Elevator-
Go big because eventually, we all go home.
I love you guys.
by Kris Oyen | Oct 31, 2022 | Podcast
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Today we have Emily. She is 34, from Cincinnati, OH and took her last drink on Aug 27th, 2022.
Happy Halloween. A drink won’t make your overall Halloween experience better.
Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE 20
Recovery Reinvented Link: https://recoveryreinvented.com/events/2022/#overview
Highlights from Paul
All emotions are created equal and you need them all equally. Here is why. In the world of duality we need opposites for defining purposes.
I want to tie this into recovery one more time. Do not gauge your recovery success on your emotions. You will feel them all. Yes, do more of what you enjoy, but thank the other side of that for telling you what you don’t enjoy.
Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator – 10% off your first month. #sponsored
[11:35] Emily is married and has 2 little boys, ages 5 and 8. She runs a bar in downtown Cincinnati. Emily enjoys being crafty and making stuff.
Emily doesn’t remember seeing any unhealthy alcohol behavior in her home while growing up. Emily was 13 the first time she got drunk. 20 years old and in college Emily got her first bartending job. She met her husband working in the bar in Cincinnati and they have now been together for 13 years.
After having her first baby Emily got out of bartending and into alcohol sales. This escalated her drinking. She then got pregnant with her 2nd and went back to bartending after that. As her kids got older there was more drinking and drugs…while still getting up and taking care of her kids and responsibilities.
January 2021 Emily quit drinking for 5 months. This year Emily changed jobs, started working at a new bar with good friends. Emily was approaching 1 month sober at the time of her interview.
Ben’s Friends https://www.bensfriendshope.com/
Kris’s Summary
Recovery Reinvented – The event will be held in person on November 3 in Grand Forks North Dakota. But if you can’t make it to Grand Forks, don’t worry, the event is available online as well! It’s 100% FREE to attend. www.recoveryreinvented.com.
by Kris Oyen | Oct 24, 2022 | Podcast
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Episode 401 – Welcome Back
Today we have Jen. She is 52, from Connecticut, and took her last drink on March 10th, 2022.
Restore: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/restore/
Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator – 10% off your first month. #sponsored
Highlights from Paul
In episode 391, Paul asked listeners what they wanted to hear. Jeff L, with 5 years
alcohol-free (That’s what’s up!) said he wanted to hear from past guests. Great idea Jeff
as we are also curious as to where they are now.
Paul gives updates from 15 past guests.
[20:30] Jen lives in Connecticut, has 2 kids (21 & 23), and just recently got a new job as a
counselor at a treatment center.
Jen had her 1st drink at 13 years old playing quarters, which resulted in her blacking out
and being sick for 3 days. She says that was a sign of what was to come and that
drinking was never fun for her. At 19 she started thinking she was an alcoholic and
became a daily drinker.
Jen was sober for 10 years (and then another 8 years). Those first 10 years were spent in
the rooms of AA and it took 7 years before she was able to get sober again.
After losing her husband suddenly to a heart attack in 2018 Jen started drinking. Again
Jen found herself going to treatment again (4 different treatment centers since her
husband died). Jen is now sober and back in the rooms of AA.
Musical submission from The Alex.
Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:
- You can find more information about our events
Resources
Connect with Cafe RE – Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee.
Recovery Elevator YouTube – Subscribe here!
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Recovery Elevator-
We are the only ones who can do this, but you don’t have to do it alone.
I love you guys.
by Kris Oyen | Oct 17, 2022 | Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe to the Recovery Elevator Podcast Apple Podcasts | | More
Episode 400 – Chasing a Carrot on a Stick
Today we have Nick. He is from Vancouver, B.C, and took her last drink on December 7, 2018.
Recovery Elevator website: https://www.recoveryelevator.com/
Soberlink: https:///www.soberlink.com/
Highlights from Kris
Kris speaks to the crossroads of recovery. He acknowledges that so many new thoughts, podcasts, tools, mindsets, books, and videos on recovery. Then there is real life with an equal number of views, podcasts, and tools, on how to meet deadlines, be a great husband and father, a great worker, and a good friend.
With all these different concepts flying at us and life asking us to show up, how do you handle recovery and life simultaneously? For Kris, the crossroads show up often, and he has come to appreciate them as options. He has also learned that the best way to handle all possibilities is to sit with them, observe them and refrain from acting immediately. Krist describes this practice as combining mindfulness and refraining. Kris is working on finding peace and comfort where he is today. He will continue to take in new options and ideas but recognizes he doesn’t have to chase everything in front of him. When he can slow down, he can appreciate where he is. Kris can also acknowledge where he is feeling discomfort and focus on the pain rather than shifting his attention to something else.
Kris asks himself, “what am I doing with the time I have right now?” Kris encourages listeners to stay curious, act with intention, and show ourselves grace along the way.
Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator – 10% off your first month. #sponsored
[9:02] Nick was on Episode 220 and has been sober for nearly four years. He is 36, married, lives in Vancouver, works at a university, and enjoys gardening because plants don’t talk back.
Growing up, Nick’s parents regularly drank with dinner, but not to excess. He had the occasional sip from his parent’s drink but wasn’t fascinated by alcohol. Nick remembers struggling with depression, anxiety, and feeling out of place at age 16. His peers seemed to have dreams and ambitions, and he was a mediocre student without aspirations. Alcohol took that anxiety away like a warm hug.
Alcohol helped Nick feel less awkward and became a gateway to who he wanted to be. Nick felt in control of his drinking until he moved to Vancouver, which became his primary comfort source. His father had a stroke, and that changed his life. He sought out ways to drink when he was away from his family. Slowly, he noticed his drinking progress until it felt like it consumed him, and he was out of control. At many points, he decided to quit, but each of those times, he had a lot of alcohol in his system, so the commitment was forgotten or ignored. He hated himself and his life, but outwardly he faked it as a functioning human. Alcohol was his only coping mechanism.
Nick joined Café RE in December, and it finally stuck. A Craig Ferguson monologue became an epiphany for Nick. He started seeing a therapist and began to process some of his issues. His drinking ramped up, but the seeds were planted to put the bottle down. Nick found the Recovery Elevator podcast and listened to stories until he could see the similarities. Recognizing others have done this and that there was hope helped him get through years of day one’s promises and trying different things.
Kris’s Summary
Kris thanks and congratulates Paul on 400 episodes. Kris has experienced healing and alignment with his values and can now be of service. This community is amazing, and its ripple effect is phenomenal.
Upcoming events, retreats, and courses:
- You can find more information about our events
Resources
Connect with Cafe RE – Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee.
Recovery Elevator YouTube – Subscribe here!
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Recovery Elevator-
We took the elevator down. We can take the stairs back up.
I love you guys.
