The Recovery Elevator Podcast
RE 155: Filling the Void Left By Alcohol
“For us to be successful in sobriety, we must fill the void left by alcohol.” -Russel Brand, Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions Drinking plays a big role in our lives. Many of our social gatherings revolve around it. We use it to relax or to deal with difficult...
RE 154: Can Pills Help Control Our Drinking?
“Does anybody have experience with naltrexone, Antabuse (disulfiram), or Campral (acamprosate)?” These drugs are designed to help people deal with the physical side effects of quitting alcohol. While readily available, most 12 step programs will not mention quit aids...
RE 153: Do Half Measures Really Avail Us Nothing?
"Half measures availed us nothing. We stood at the turning point. We asked His protection and care with complete abandon." This phrase is commonly heard in 12 step meetings. When it comes to recovery, a half-hearted attempt could have disasterous results. Recovery...
RE 152: Asking For Help With Alcohol: Made a Decision to Turn Our Will and Lives Over
Paul summarizes Step 3 from the “Big Book” of Alcoholics Anonymous. “Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” Step three in a nutshell means we are asking for help. A God of our understanding can be anything. We...
RE 151: This Recovery Program Claims an 80% Success Rate
The American Medical Association recognized alcohol dependence as a disease over 55 years ago. Alcohol dependence fits the disease model because it is a dysfunctional state with characteristic form. Use of some drugs, including alcohol, may cause dependency. The...
RE 150: We Can Do This
It is January 1st, 2018. Today represents the start of a new year. The fact that you are listening to a podcast that is all about bettering your life sets you apart from all the rest. Addicts and alcoholics need altruistic relationships in our lives with others who...
RE 149: Some Facts About Alcohol
Facts about Alcohol: Less than 20% of people with alcohol abuse disorders actually seek treatment for their disease. Excessive alcohol consumption costs the U.S. economy an estimated 250 billion dollars in lost productivity according to a study from 2010. ...
RE 148: The Perfect Storm for Alcoholism
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...
RE 147: Is Alcoholism a Disease, a Habit, or Voluntary?
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:...
RE 146: We Came to Believe
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...
Re 145: 4 Strategies to Utilize in Social Situations
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...
RE 144: Gratitude is Key in Sobriety
“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...
RE 143: The Reverse Intervention
Paul discusses reverse interventions. They, “normal drinkers” don’t get it. How can we expect normal drinkers to understand what we are going through? What do you need to cover in a reverse intervention? Let them know this isn’t easy for you. Having the real...
RE 142: We Are Powerless Over Alcohol
Paul discusses Step One: “ We admitted that we were powerless over alcohol, that our lives had become unmanageable.” from the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. David, with 46 days since his last drink, shares his story SHOW NOTES [10:20] Paul Introduces David. I’m a...
Re 141: Alcohol and “Anxiety”
Anxiety as it relates to drinking is discussed. Alcohol suppresses the nervous system. It is a depressant. If we depress the nerves for long periods through binge drinking, our body reacts once the alcohol is gone by releasing adrenaline to compensate. This gives...
