by Paul Churchill | Dec 18, 2017 | Podcast
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Randy Craig, with 49 days since his last drink, shares his story.
SHOW NOTES
[2:53] Paul Introduces Randy. I was born and raised in Casper Wyoming. I went to school in Colorado, and worked there for a few years. Music has been a part of my life since I was very young. I like to read, play music, take my dog on walks. My passion revolves around my music.
Randy tells his story in detail to Paul, and explains his journey up to this point.
[41:59] Rapid Fire Round
- What was your worst memory from drinking? Waking up in that Hospital in ICU.
- Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? My first detox.
- What’s your favorite resource in recovery? Out of the Wreck I Rise” – by Neil Steinberg
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? It starts with you.
- What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? If you are even questioning it, odds are you should try to stop it before it gets worse. It is an awful disease.
- You might be an alcoholic if… I’m on my deathbed with an expired liver, and still have the energy to go to the bar.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
This episode was brought to you by RX Bar. Visit RXbar.com/elevator and use the promo code elevator for 25% off your first order.
Randy Craig’s Website
Out of the Wreck I Rise- Neil Steinberg
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code Opportunity to waive the set-up fee.
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Sobriety Tracker Android
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!”
by Paul Churchill | Dec 11, 2017 | Podcast
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The 3 basic camps of addiction can be broken into the following categories:
- The prevailing wisdom today is that addiction is a disease. This is the main line of the medical model of mental disorders with which the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is aligned: addiction is a chronic and relapsing brain disease in which alcohol use becomes involuntary despite its negative consequences.
The idea here is, roughly, that addiction is a disease because alcohol use changes the brain and, as a result of these changes, alcohol use becomes compulsive, beyond the voluntary control of the user. In other words, drinker has no choice and his behavior is resistant to long term change.
- Marc Lewis’ “The Biology of Desire: Why Addiction is Not a Disease”, has stirred controversy among addicts, their families, addiction researchers, and treatment providers. Lewis claims that the scientific facts don’t support the disease model of addiction. Rather, addiction, like romantic love and other emotionally loaded habits, develops through accelerated learning. Combining scientific views with intimate biographies of addicts who recovered, the book also shows how addiction can be overcome, through self-directed change in one’s goals and perspectives.
- Drawing on psychiatric epidemiology, addicts’ autobiographies, treatment studies, and advances in behavioral economics, Heyman makes a powerful case that addiction is voluntary. He shows that drug use, like all choices, is influenced by preferences and goals. But just as there are successful dieters, there are successful ex-addicts. In fact, addiction is the psychiatric disorder with the highest rate of recovery. But what ends an addiction?
At the heart of Heyman’s analysis is a startling view of choice and motivation that applies to all choices, not just the choice to use drugs. The conditions that promote quitting a drug addiction include new information, cultural values, and, of course, the costs and benefits of further drug use. Most of us avoid becoming drug dependent, not because we are especially rational, but because we loathe the idea of being an addict.
Greg, with 361 days since his last drink, shares his story
SHOW NOTES
[13:45] Paul Introduces Greg. I’m 54 years old, I live In Las Vegas, I’m an attorney, and working in HR currently. I have been married for 26 years, and have 2 daughters aged 22 and 18. I love being outdoors.
[18:59] Paul- Can you describe your rock bottom moment?
Greg- The summer of 2016 I played on a work Softball League. We won the championship. I had a party at my house to celebrate. I drank way too much, I blacked out, we ended up doing shots of tequila. It was a bad scene. The next morning it was the lowest I had felt in my life. It was ruining my relationships.
[26:43] Paul- When you came out, how liberating was that feeling?
Greg- It was awesome. I felt like I had taken a huge first step. I admitted to myself I had a problem. It was liberating. I have expanded my accountability network.
[37:01] Paul- You look at it like an opportunity and not a sacrifice. Comment more on that
Greg- It is really a celebration. There were times in the past when I tried to give up drinking. With that mentality it didn’t work. I have gained peace and happiness, and joy and serenity. I really look at recovery as something that I have been given. I am going to make the most of it every single day.
[41:18] Rapid Fire Round
- What was your worst memory from drinking? It was definitely waking up the morning after the softball party. That was the low point from there, I started heading back up.
- Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? There was a time a few years ago when one of my kids had an event during one of my drinking nights. I thought it is kind of twisted thinking for getting upset I was going to have to spend time with my family because it would interfere with my drinking.
- What’s your plan moving forward? Doing this podcast has been great. One day at a time. I’m going to continue to go to Celebrate Recovery.
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Focus on the similarities, not the differences.
- What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? If you think you might have a problem, reach out to one other person you trust.
- You might be an alcoholic if…you are nick named after a drink.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
“Beyond the Influence” – Katherine Ketcham
Gene Heyman “Addiction: A Disorder of Choice”
Marc Lewis “Biology Of Desire”
Article: “Is Addiction a Disease?”
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code Opportunity to waive the set up fee.
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Sobriety Tracker Android
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!”
by Paul Churchill | Dec 4, 2017 | Podcast
Paul discusses Step 2 from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous: We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
Mike, with 86 days his last drink, shares his story
SHOW NOTES
[11:31] Paul Introduces Mike. I live in Vermont; I’m 33 years old. I work as a social worker; I hang out with my wife, my 12-year-old son, and play video games.
[16:50] Paul- Describe the progression, coupled with Father time, hangovers are getting worse and worse, talk about that progression.
Mike- Yeah, I would buy those little boxes of wine, then I would just buy the bottle, and the bottle would be gone. It felt like I was in quicksand, when you are running in sand and can’t get any traction.
[20:21] Paul- It’s tough to get 86 days of sobriety, how did you do it?
Mike- Listening to the Recover Elevator was huge. I felt like I was in the contemplation stage. I’ve been thinking about quitting for years. Listening to Recovery Elevator is what really helped motivate me jump right in. I listen to “This Naked Mind” on audio book and really tried to “brainwash” myself, and felt like it worked.
[28:12] Paul- What advice would you give to your younger self? If you could go back to your 16-year-old self, what would you say?
Mike- I would like to go to my 15-year-old self and smack the beer out of my hand. I disagree with the stance that some people can drink normally. Don’t be ashamed that it’s hard.
[35:29] Rapid Fire Round
- What was your worst memory from drinking? The day after St. Patrick’s Day party trying to piece together what happened.
- Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? I had a lot of times, the most recent time I drank, I had the house to myself and just laying there by myself.
- What’s your favorite resource in recovery? “This Naked Mind” by Annie Grace
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Alcohol is shit. It resonated with my bodies’ reaction to alcohol.
- What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? When we are in the contemplation stage of am I an alcoholic or not. The real problem is alcohol is an addictive poison, and anyone can become addicted to alcohol.
- You might be an alcoholic if… you go to St. Patrick’s day party, spill red wine on the rug, you put your arm around another woman, and rub her back while standing with your wife, and you black, the last thing you remember is raising both fists to the sky and yelling “I’m the king of the world”
Resources mentioned in this episode:
RX Bar – Visit www.rxbar.com/elevator for 25% off your first order.
Alcoholics Anonymous “Big Book”
“This Naked Mind” by Annie Grace
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code opportunity to waive the set up fee.
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Sobriety Tracker Android
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!”
by Paul Churchill | Nov 27, 2017 | Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe to the Recovery Elevator Podcast Apple Podcasts | | More
These 4 Strategies will help us get through any social situation. Will power can only last us so long.
- Accountability
- Play the tape forward
- Always have an exit strategy
- Stop and think. Alcohol is a poison.
Neal, with 20 months since his last drink, shares his story
SHOW NOTES
[8:20] Paul Introduces Neal. I am in my late 50’s. I have 2 boys, 2 grandchildren. I do maintenance work, I like to go camping and spend time with our granddaughter who lives with us.
[11:50] Paul- In 1990, was your wife leaving you what got you sober?
Neal- Yes. I was driving a taxi in Seattle at that time. The AA world convention came to town. It was a huge emotional relief. I cried throughout the whole event.
[16:06] Paul- Let’s back it up to 2008 when you took that first drink after 18 years of sobriety. Can you walk us through that?
Neal- The pressures, and there were times I would tell my wife to bring home a 6 pack of beer. One day she finally did. It took 6 months for me to ramp up to where I was after that.
[25:04] Paul- Curiosity is killing the cat, what was the reason?
Neal- I had to go on Antabuse in November of 2015. I had to go to the pharmacy and take the white pill. Antabuse and alcohol do not mix.
[29:43] Paul- With nearly 20 years of sobriety logged, do you still get cravings, and if you do still get them, what do you do?
Neal- I don’t get any cravings. Like I said, on that day when I read the obsession, the cravings, it was all lifted, it’s gone. I try to remain calm. Step back and take a deep breath. I try to reflect how they affect me.
[33:34] Rapid Fire Round
- What was your worst memory from drinking? I was at a former employers business and I asked my wife to come down to give me a ride home, she came down, and brought somebody else with her and I flew off the handle and was yelling and screaming, and they called the cops. I wouldn’t come out, they couldn’t come in. I finally came out, but it was scary.
- Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? It was the last week of my drinking. I laid in bed, and called in sick everyday.
- What’s your plan moving forward? To keep connected with AA. Keep going on, and enjoying my 2 grandchildren.
- What’s your favorite resource in recovery? I have to say Podcasts. I work alone a lot. I listen to 10’s of 100’s of hours of podcasts.
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Go to meetings, stay connected.
- What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? One day at a time.
- You might be an alcoholic if… when you are opening that bottle to take a swig, at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, 4:00, or 5:00 in the morning just to get another 45 minutes or hour of sleep.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code opportunity to waive the set up fee.
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Sobriety Tracker Android
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!”
by Paul Churchill | Nov 20, 2017 | Podcast
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe to the Recovery Elevator Podcast Apple Podcasts | | More
“We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” – Cynthia Ozick
What is gratitude, and how can this help us get and stay sober? Service and Gratitude go hand in hand.
Here’s Paul’s Holiday challenge:
Write 10 things you are grateful for 10 days in a row. Be thankful for something you totally have taken for granted your entire life. After 10 days when you have 100 items listed, review the list, and look for reoccurring themes. Email your completed lists to Paul@recoveryelevator.com
Dan, with 66 days since his last drink, shares his story
SHOW NOTES
[8:10] Paul Introduces Dan. I live a town called Guildford, about 30 minutes outside of London, I have 2 boys named Sebastian and Felix who are 4 and 7 years old, I live with my girlfriend, together we have 4 kids under the age of 9. For fun I enjoy working out, going to the gym, swimming, and desperately trying to learn to play guitar. I work in primary schools, and I deliver health and fitness workshops.
[15:58] Paul- 66 days ago, was this your first attempt at quitting drinking?
Dan- In all honesty, this is my very first attempt at stopping drinking. One time 10 years ago, I quit drinking for January and February. I don’t want to spend the money; I don’t want to feel crap. I want to set the example for my children growing up.
[23:00] Paul- Earlier you said you look at sobriety like a challenge, are you looking at this as an incredible opportunity?
Dan- Yeah, I am. After reading Alan Carr’s book, and Annie Grace’s book, it just puts things in perspective. You never used to have to have to have a bottle wine or beer to have fun, or enjoy yourself. The way I sleep the past couple of months. You feel so much better the way you start your day.
[28:02] Paul- What’s on your bucket list in sobriety?
Dan- At this point in time I really want to focus on my business, and my work. I would really love to do something on YouTube, or something that is focused on the positive of giving up alcohol.
[33:43] Rapid Fire Round
- What was your worst memory from drinking? Waking up on Christmas morning and clearing up the mess I made outside from getting sick on the way home on Christmas Eve.
- Did you ever have an “oh-shit” moment? I had 1 beer after playing golf. My cousin asked me if I wanted another, and that moment where I realized I was driving, and knew 1 more beer would put me over the limit.
- What’s your favorite resource in recovery? I enjoy reading, and listening to podcasts.
- What’s the best advice you’ve ever received (on sobriety)? Alcohol is shit, that’s it.
- What parting piece of guidance can you give listeners who are in recovery or thinking about quitting drinking? From day 1 start to focus on it as a challenge, and the benefits of it. Don’t focus on what you are giving up. Don’t focus on how hard anything is going to be. Focus on the benefits of giving it up, and how it’s going to make your life better.
- You might be an alcoholic if… you drink for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Not a celebration, not a sporting event, not a birth, not a wedding, if you sit there and drink at night watching crap TV, and you’re drinking a bottle of red wine. You might need to have a little think.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
“This Naked Mind” – Annie Grace
Allen Carr’s Easy Way
Sober Grid
Connect with Cafe RE– Use the promo code Opportunity to waive set up Fee
Sobriety Tracker iTunes
Sobriety Tracker Android
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!”
