Ripley Coope | Binge Drinking, Severe Anxiety, & Choosing Sobriety at 19

Can you survive severe binge drinking and trauma in college Greek life? Ripley Coope chose sobriety at 19 and is now a youth recovery advocate. In this deeply moving episode of Recoverycast, we sit down with public relations graduate and young adult recovery advocate Ripley Coope. Ripley shares her raw, inspiring journey navigating inherited mental illness, childhood eating restrictions, major depression, severe anxiety, and hidden solo alcoholism while maintaining a seemingly perfect front in a high-stress college sorority environment. From blacking out on cheap box wine, vodka, and tequila to jumping out of second-story windows and surviving multiple traumatic sexual assaults, Ripley highlights the extreme, painful realities of a severe alcohol use disorder before finally choosing a beautiful life of healing.Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/Her inspiring path to long-term relapse prevention didn't follow a traditional 12-step or Alcoholics Anonymous blueprint. After facing painful withdrawal symptoms, losing a job, and experiencing profound suicidal ideation, Ripley found her true turning point through comprehensive psychiatric support and incorporating naltrexone for alcohol cravings. She explains how she chose to hard-launch her sobriety journey directly to her peers online via social media, proving that youth addiction recovery is fully attainable. This powerful addition to our collection of sobriety stories challenges the heavy social stigmas surrounding alcohol dependency, offering a message of hope, vulnerability, and immense purpose to anyone currently struggling in isolation. If you or someone you love is navigating mental health struggles or seeking long-term addiction recovery, please subscribe to our channel, leave a thoughtful comment, and share this video to help spread awareness. Shout out Lila!⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Intro05:21 – Welcome Ripley Coope05:44 – Childhood Mental Health Struggles11:44 – First Drink & Binge Drinking Progression23:42 – Hiding Alcoholism in College Sorority Life29:25 – The Balloon Arch Incident & Real Consequences34:05 – Campus Arrests, Trauma, & Executive Board Probation40:58 – Experiencing Withdrawals & Moving Back Home51:31 – Transferring to CU Boulder & The Turning Point Relapse01:03:21 – Psychiatry Support, Naltrexone, & Choosing Sobriety❓ Questions the Video Answers:What does alcohol use disorder look like in high-achieving young adults?How can you spot the hidden signs of high-functioning alcoholism in college?What is the impact of heavy binge drinking on mental health conditions like depression?How do you handle alcohol withdrawals while living in a college sorority house?What are the common challenges unique to seeking youth addiction recovery?Can changing your immediate college environment help with long-term relapse prevention?How does naltrexone work to reduce alcohol cravings and support daily sobriety?What should you do if a loved one experiences suicidal ideation during an active relapse?How can you build an authentic, supportive recovery community using social media?Is it possible to maintain an active, fun social life in college while remaining sober?How do you process trauma and sexual assault without relying on substances to cope?Why is complete honesty with your medical team and therapist essential for emotional healing?#SobrietyStories #AddictionRecovery #YoungAdultSobriety