Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic with Jon Seid... - Dying from Alcohol and Still Not Able to Stop: Karla Adkins on Why the Comparison Trap Is So Dangerous

Karla Adkins was successful, active in church, and working in health care—and yet she was dying from alcohol-related liver failure. When Karla’s doctor called and asked if she was OK, Karla said she thought she was dying. Her doctor was honest: “I think you are too.” Yet even surviving liver failure wasn’t enough to make Karla stop drinking and find true freedom. Months later, she returned to drinking because she had never addressed the reasons she needed alcohol in the first place. In this episode, the author and sobriety coach joins host Jon Seidl to discuss alcohol addiction, anxiety, relapse, and the comparison trap that keeps people convinced their drinking isn’t bad enough to be a "real" problem. Karla also shares how she gave alcohol jobs, why shame kept her silent, and how science, compassionate support, radical vulnerability, and above all her faith in Jesus helped her pursue something deeper than sobriety. Get Karla's book: And She Came Tumbling Down: Breaking the Bonds of Alcohol and Creating a Life of FreedomVisit Karla's websiteFollow Karla on Instagram: @karlakadkinsExplore the FREE Veritas Recovery Community to connect with people on a similar journeyGet Gospel-centered addiction recovery resources and help at veritasrecovery.orgFollow Jon: @jonseidlOrder Jon's book: Confessions of a Christian AlcoholicWatch this episode ad-free at The Vertias DailyWe explore: — How anxiety first made alcohol feel like an answer for Karla— What it means to give alcohol a “job”— Why successful people can still experience life-threatening addiction— How cognitive dissonance allows us to explain away dangerous drinking— Why comparing quantities can keep people from seeking help— The moment Karla discovered that her liver was failing— Why shame made exposure feel more frightening than death— How Karla returned to alcohol after her first hospitalization— Why consequences alone cannot create lasting freedom— What alcohol does to anxiety, sleep, and the brain— The importance of compassionate, judgment-free support— Why sobriety and freedom are not the same thing— How science, community, vulnerability, and faith can work together— What Gospel-centered recovery offers beyond “just pray more”Support the Show: https://www.jonseidl.com/ Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.