Recovery Demystified - Secular Addiction Recovery and Harm Reduction for Queers, Neurodivergent People, and Their Allies

In today's addiction recovery story we hear from Chris Conde. Chris started drinking at 13 because he wanted to be included in what the grown-ups were doing, and later he also found that drinking made the pain of his trauma go away. Things got very dark, very fast. His sobriety journey is not a straight line -- like many of us, he had bouts of sobriety, followed by times of going back out. It got a lot worse before it got better. He illustrates how vital it is to love ourselves completely, and how being dolled up in drag by a fellow queer gave him permission to do so. Chris's story is harrowing, dark, and illustrates clearly that nobody is ever too far gone. If you're looking for a passionately queer hero's journey, you're in the right place. Join our Patreon! Book a free 20-minute Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Donate to our nonprofit! Follow us on Instagram! Get some cool RD merch! Check out our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

In today's Recovery Resources episode Early answers some listener questions! Addiction recovery and harm reduction come with a multitude of curve balls and challenges. Sober but still riddled with shame for being a degenerate? Have a deeply loved family member with an addiction and don't know how to help? Wondering how to get back on track after a relapse? We will discuss all this and more in this week's recovery resources. Join our Patreon! Free 20 Minute Strategy Session with Early! Put the Shovel Down YouTube Channel Donate to our Nonprofit! Check out our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Get some toad shirts from our merch store! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg  

In this episode we hear Annette's addiction recovery story. Their life starts with the divorce of their parents at a young age and exposure to a step-parent who was using substances. She talks about struggling with social anxiety, ADHD, and multiple traumas. Her drinking and psychedelic use eventually spiraled out of control, and as she quit drinking her weed use accelerated. After a series of allergic reactions to intense weed use and trying to control their use with edibles and dabs, Annette decided it was time to call it quits.  I'm super grateful to Annette for talking about quitting weed addiction. This topic is often brushed under the rug even though so many folks are struggling with weed addiction. If you're struggling today -- weed addiction is real, and you deserve help. Mindfulness as Treatment for ADHD Article Schedule a Free 1:1 Recovery Coaching Strategy Call with Early Support the Podcast and join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack!   Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg  

In today's Recovery Resources episode, we talk about exactly what in the heck our "intuition" is... and how it is our guiding light in addiction recovery! We each require a constellation of changes in our life in order to create a life we no longer need to escape from. How do we know what the next right step should be? When we learn how to listen to our intuition, we begin to trust ourselves again, and we can each work authentically to find our own unique paths to addiction recovery. Send listener questions to [email protected] Schedule a Recovery Coaching Consultation! Join our Patreon community! Donate to our nonprofit! Get some cool toad merch! Follow us out on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack!   Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

In today's episode we hear Adam's addiction recovery story. His life starts with a feeling of being very different. After he found out he was adopted -- it was confirmed for him that yes, in fact, he was different. Finding alcohol gave him an initial sense of relief, and an immediate bout of consequences. Things got a lot worse before they got better. When faced with the news from his doctor that if he kept drinking, he would die -- Adam got in his car and pulled out his sleeve of nips. His survival was no small task. Adam is a testament to learning how to love ourselves, building on small successes to make big changes, and never giving up. He now works as a Recovery Coach and is the host of the Finding Purpose podcast. Check out Adam's website here! Click here to check out Adam's podcast! Want to support Recovery Demsystified? Did you know that we are a 501c3 nonprofit?? Help us help others and keep this work sustainable! Join our Patreon! You get to know SECRETS!!! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Get some cool toad items from our merch store!! Follow us on Instagram! Subscribe to our Substack!   Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg  

In today's episode of Recovery Resources we build our skills on rewiring our brains to move past our addictions. Do you ever argue with yourself about if you're going to drink/use? Do you find it exhausting to let yourself down over and over again? You're not broken, and you can rewire your brain to move past difficult thoughts. There's a reason why we have an inner critic, an inner addicted voice, and a fearful voice that's afraid of change. Today we will learn how to identify them, how to interrupt the feedback loop of addiction, and how to build new neural pathways so we can move past our addiction and into healing. Click here to book a free 20 minute recovery coaching call with Early! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Join our Patreon! Check out our Instagram! Check out our Substack!Shop our merch store! Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

In today's episode we hear Pepe Bandit's story. He describes growing up with divorced parents, and a lot of freedom. School never made sense to him, so he dropped out and started hanging out with older kids who opened up the world of drugs. This quickly led to acid-freakouts, weed turning on him, and it fizzled out when he found out his girlfriend was pregnant. He was only 17. Working for a living was fruitless and entirely unfulfilling, so he started selling weed to support his family. Then he started selling more weed, continually escalating until it "made sense" to buy an airplane. This episode explores the gray area of process addictions, compulsion, and watching things escalate out of control. We talk about childhood trauma, helping loved ones with addiction, and rebuilding after a total collapse. Check out Pepe's podcast - Click here to listen to Back on the Grind! Want to support this podcast? Join our Patreon! Prefer to donate to our nonprofit via our website? Click here! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack! Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet  

In today's episode Early discusses how and why we have addictive cravings, and why we tirelessly argue internally with ourselves about whether or not we are going to drink/use. Are you sick of broken promises to yourself? Sick of fighting an exhausting internal battle at every twist and turn? Fortunately, once we understand why our brain is like this, we can train our brain through neuroplasticity to stop cravings in their tracks. Click here for a free 20 minute 1:1 recovery coaching consultation with Early! Donate to support our nonprofit! Get some toad swag at our merch store! Check out our Substack! Follow us on Instagram! Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions!   Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

Today we hear Mary's addiction recovery story. She grew up with both parents in recovery and doing direct care work for people in crisis with their alcohol addictions. A fierce inner critic ruled the landscape with fear and shame -- something that she found only alcohol could quiet down. Her drinking spun out of control while she worked as a flight attendant, and after a co-worker called her out at a bar, she put down the drink and never looked back. During her three decades of recovery she has learned how to love herself, how to quiet down the inner critic without alcohol, and most importantly she honors her own authenticity by not listening to other people's dogmatic projections. She is passionate about an empowering secular approach to recovery and her wisdom will leave you with a lot to chew on. Click here to learn more about 1:1 coaching and book a free 20 minute consultation! Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Click here to get some sick merch! Click here to check out our Substack! Click here to follow us on Instagram! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg Mary's Contributions: Send Mary an e-mail - [email protected] Website for more information - https://www.aasecular.org Recommended podcasts: Secular AA speakers/panels: https://secularaa.buzzsprout.com/ Rebellion Dogs Radio: https://rebelliondogspublishing.com/rebellious-radio Beyond Belief Sobriety: https://www.youtube.com/@BeyondBeliefSobriety Recommended Readings: One Big Tent: AA Grapevine stories from 1964 to 2018 of atheists and agnostics https://www.aagrapevine.org/store/one-big-tent?srsltid=AfmBOopMICJPNr2rQkkGyQHVmMuO0HnDaQ8_FXpltG-0ugBUycBLP4t6 Beyond Belief: Agnostic Musings for 12 Step Life, by Rebellion Dogs Publishing https://www.amazon.com/dp/0988115700?ie=UTF8&sr=8-6&linkCode=sl1&tag=rebeldogspubl-20&linkId=0a5f1ca06a67508187859a0ebe9d5e88&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl Staying Sober Without God: The Practical 12 Steps to Long-Term Recovery from Alcoholism & Addiction, by Jeffery Munn https://www.amazon.com/Staying-Sober-Without-God-Alcoholism/dp/1733588000 We're Not All Egomaniacs: Adopting the 12 Steps for people with low self-esteem, by Beth Aich https://www.amazon.com/Were-Not-All-Egomaniacs-Self-Esteem/dp/1098362624/ref=sr_1_1?crid=WBGRRX3RS9SA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Vp5ZUlR9urY0lYC7VW4IJw.wZE34XSD3nWRavOyaSZp0RgQD5yxB45Nx4-v46Os1Mk&dib_tag=se&keywords=We%27re+not+all+egomaniacs&qid=1776466802&sprefix=we%27re+not+all+egomaniacs%2Caps%2C326&sr=8-1    

In today's episode I talk about being queer, neurodivergent, AFAB, and living with religious trauma while trying to be involved in AA/12 Step programs. I discuss exactly how and why I felt worse after being involved in Alcoholics Anonymous, not better. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) claims that their simple program works for everyone -- provided the person is capable of being completely honest with themselves. When the 12 steps didn't work for me, I was told that "It works if you work it. Keep coming back." The shame I felt about my failure only grew, causing my addiction to feel hopeless. It turns out that the 12 steps were created by and for a very select group of people, and I wasn't one of them. I have never believed in God; I hated the idea of declaring myself powerless; and I simply will not be considering myself to have "character defects." I am so grateful to be at a place in my recovery where I have found answers outside of a one-size-fits-all program, where I have created a life I no longer need to escape from, and where I love myself and feel whole. Readings from books include: Quit Like a Woman by Holly Whitaker and First in the Family by Jessica Hoppe Click here to learn more about my coaching practice and to book a free 20 minute consultation! Click here to sign up for the Patreon! Click here to check out our Instagram! Click here to check out our Substack! Click here to donate to our nonprofit! Click here to buy some truly iconic RD swag! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Today we hear Sierra's story. She talks about growing up with an addicted mother, and then being adopted into a strict religious family. She describes how these polar-opposite childhood traumas created a foundation of trauma and mental instability in her life. Later she gets into a difficult partnership that is characterized by intense substance use. We talk about weed induced panic attacks, using cocaine pretty regularly while getting a degree in addiction studies, working at a homeless shelter, and the tragic loss of her ex-partner. She highlights the importance of harm reduction in her life and shows that we don't need to hit rock bottom to address our use of substances! Check out our merch store! Donate via our website! Deep dive into our Substack! Connect with us on Instagram! Join our Patreon! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources is a series about skills and addiction recovery resources that actually help. Feeling lost? Tried everything? Buckle up, because this episode is going to introduce an idea that will set you free. Today Early talks about their most important resilience-building skill in addiction recovery -- being comfortable with being uncomfortable. Once mastered, this essential skill will make you completely bulletproof in your recovery. Every time we survive being uncomfortable without suppressing our feelings, we grow stronger and stronger, until we are able to feel steady in every situation. Triggers? Cravings? Mere bumps in the road! Early recovery can feel overwhelming, and when we are used to stuffing down every uncomfortable feeling with substances, doing something new can feel nearly impossible. We can build our skills over time by nurturing our basic needs to increase our baseline resilience when we focus on things like sleep, nutrition, and movement. This foundation matters more than you think. The next layer involves learning how to recognize and regulate our emotions. This is a skill that is infinitely beneficial and can be learned by turning the gaze inwards to observe our emotional landscape and sensations in the body. The third layer addresses nervous system overwhelm, and we discuss various tools that we can practice to guide our body out of fight or flight mode. The amazing thing here is that you are in control of so much more than you think. Stress, cravings, and triggers can become small and insignificant in our lives by practicing this method. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable just might be your new superpower! Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions! Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate via our website! Click here to visit our merch store! Click here to check out our Instagram! Click here to visit our Substack! Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg  

12 Step doesn't work for everyone! Freaks and weirdos are welcomed! In this introduction, Early discusses what you can expect here at the Recovery Demystified Podcast. We tell stories of people who use harm reduction, people who came back from the brink and rebuilt their lives, and people who returned to controlled use. We also talk with people who quit before it got bad. You do not need to hit rock bottom in order to address your use of substances! We also hear stories from queer and neurodivergent people in addiction recovery. Early also puts out solo episodes discussing addiction recovery resources that actually work. Whether you're looking for secular recovery outside of the 12-step model, queer and neurodivergent community, or a place where you are fully accepted as your weird self -- you're in the right place. We advocate for harm reduction, not purity politics. We foster an environment of empowerment, growth, and healing. Do you hate being told what to do? So do we. You're in the right place. Join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Check out our merch store! Follow us on Instagram! Check out our Substack! Holler at us in the email - [email protected] Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Jacob's story of addiction and recovery reveals how ancestral trauma, chronic anxiety, autism, ADHD and chronic pain can intersect in ways that push people toward substance use -- and how healing is still possible. In this episode, Jacob shares how opiates initially felt like a miracle solution to all of his problems, temporarily easing a lifetime of overwhelming anxiety and chronic pain. But what began as relief then escalated into dependence, leading him from prescription pills to IV heroin and fentanyl. After developing a life-threatening blood infection that required open heart surgery, Jacob faced a turning point. He eventually stopped using heroin with the help of Suboxone and began rebuilding his life through harm reduction, self-understanding, and playing the drums. Study showing 75% of people recover from their addictions! Want to support this work? Join our Patreon! Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here for toad shirts! Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/recoverydemystified/ Substack! https://substack.com/@recoverydemystified Holler at us in the email! [email protected] Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Recovery resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery community support... incoming!! Looking for addiction recovery support outside traditional programs? In this episode, Early shares recovery resources that will actually help you build a sustainable recovery community and find meaningful addiction recovery support in your everyday life. We explore how science and relationships shape recovery, starting with the impact of ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and epigenetics of addiction, trauma, and healing. Understanding how early experiences affect the brain and nervous system can be a powerful step toward compassionate self-understanding and long-term addiction recovery support. We also talk about healing relationships through attachment theory -- how learning about secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized attachment can help people become self-aware and strengthen their relationships in order to build healthy recovery community around them. Healthy relationships are one of the most powerful forms of addiction recovery support. If you're just starting your recovery journey, you might like to try the simple and accessible "un-f*ck" yourself books that introduce personal growth, emotional regulation, and practical tools for building stability. These kinds of beginner resources can provide immediate addiction recovery support while taking off the pressure to read something too over-complicated. Early also recommends several podcasts that offer ongoing addiction recovery support and help listeners feel less alone in the process. Included are a podcast focused on storytelling and neuroscience, a queer harm reduction podcast, and a folk punk recovery community adjacent show. Books: The Deepest Well by Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Attachment Theory by Amire Lavine and Rachel Heller Unf*ck Your Addiction and Unf*ck Your Brain by Dr. Faith G. Harper Podcasts: Queering Up Harm Reduction by Meesh The Addicted Mind by Duane Osterlind Back on the Grind by Pepe Bandit   Help Support This Work! Join our Patreon! Donate to our nonprofit via our website! Check out our merch store!   Contact & Connect with us! Substack! Instagram! Email us! [email protected]   Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg Every fkn thing else: Early Brunner

Katy's story is a powerful look at addiction, trauma, and recovery outside the traditional 12-step model. Growing up in a meth house surrounded by hard drugs and instability, she experienced firsthand how addiction can shape a childhood and ripple into adulthood. She shares how those early experiences influenced her relationship with substances, identity, and the search for meaning. After what most people would perceive as a minor mistake, Katy turned fully inwards and experienced a period of enlightenment. It didn't last forever, and unfortunately she lost that sense of clarity and grounding, and at some point beer and cigarettes took its place. Instead of waiting for rock bottom, Katy recognized the patterns forming and chose to quit before things spiraled further. We also explore Katy's brilliant discovery on how to quit smoking cigarettes -- the easy way. If you're interested in non-12-step recovery, harm reduction, trauma-informed healing, or are simply looking for a story that will lend addiction recovery support, this episode is for you. Study showing 75% of people recover from addiction! Donate to our nonprofit! Join our Patreon! Check out our Substack Check us out on Instagram! Check out our online merch store! Want to tell your story on this podcast? Have feedback? Send us an email! [email protected] Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music -  Logan Bragg

In Part 2 of Joey's story, we talk about accountability in sobriety and what it means to stay sober after causing harm. Accountability in addiction recovery isn't just about stopping substance use, it's about taking responsibility and working on our growth and healing. Joey discusses the things that he tried after his accountability process, which included therapy, self-education, and exploration of abolitionist frameworks through his zine writing. He emphasizes the importance of being met with love instead of shame, and how that created fertile soil for him to grow. We also talk about the importance of community in addiction recovery, and how our connections to each other foster an environment of collective healing. Joey's Accountability Reading List: Books on Radical Compassion: I Hope We Choose Love by Kai Cheng Thom How to Go Mad Without Losing Your Mind by Lamar Bruce Communism of Love by Richard Gilman-Opalsky Joyful Militancy by Carla Birgman & Nick Montgomery Books on Substances and Harm: This Naked Mind by Annie Grace Towards a Less Fucked Up World by Nick Riotfag Books on Accountability Processes: Creative Interventions Toolkit by Incite! Toward Transformative Justice by Generation Five How to Be Accountable by Joe Beil & Faith Harper After Accountability by The Pinko Collective Conflict is Not Abuse by Sara Schulman Books on Abolition: Becoming Abolitionists We Will Not Cancel Us by Adrienne Maree Brown Resources for Supporting People Who Have Caused Harm: As if They Were Human: A Different Take on Perpetrator Accountability (zine) What About the Rapists? (zine) Supporting Harm Doers & Building Accountable Communities (Video Series by Banard Center for Resesarch on Women) Study showing 75% of people recover! Sexual assault hotline: 1-800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ Joey's zine distro! Click here to join our Patreon! Click here to donate via our Donorbox! Connect with us on Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Holler at me in the email! [email protected] Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg  

In today's episode, Joey shares his journey from a kid longing for attention to a touring punk musician immersed in a culture that normalizes alcohol addiction. Passed around between family members growing up, Joey learned how to adapt, perform, and fight for belonging. He finally found a place to belong in the punk community, but a life of touring and party culture slowly sunk him into deep alcohol addiction. We talk about attachment wounds, punk culture, and how he ultimately caused harm to someone while drunk. Joey's road to healing was not perfect, and not linear, and it showcases how and why we need better methods of holding each other accountable when harm is caused. National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673 https://rainn.org/help-and-healing/hotline/ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/parenting-translator/202307/do-trigger-warnings-do-more-harm-than-good Want to support this work? You can donate in any amount to our nonprofit and we would be forever thankful! Click here to donate! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Have feedback? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram & Substack! @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

In today's episode Jakob tells his addiction recovery story. Jakob's story begins with supressing deep traumatic grief with the use of substances- something he saw demonstrated by adults in his life. His story moves through dabbling and being addicted to a variety of hard drugs, alcohol, and weed. Kratom and cocaine ultimately landed him in a not very classy rehab, which he left after three days, and then returned to. He spent a while being Cali-Sober (only using weed products) until that landed him in the emergency room, with a near death experience. He tested the waters on weed again, resulting in a second round of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome. After that he decided to leave it all behind, raw dogging the shit out of life, and he has never looked back. In today's episode we also discuss the ultimate question: How DO you pronounce "kratom"????? Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Want to help support this work? Your tax deductible donations can be made via our website! Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

In this episode we hear Sara's addiction recovery story. Her life starts with being raised in a party environment, picking up cigarette butts at the age of 7, and using alcohol and every drug under the sun before graduating high school. After a series of awful relationships and worsening addiction to drugs and alcohol, Sara's life imploded and she ended up stuck in the psych ward. After she got out she decided she wanted to "try something different"- and moved on forever. Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Want to support this work? Tax decuctible donations can be made via our website! Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo - Stevie Petet Theme Music - Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Addiction recovery starts with survival. In this episode, Early shares how their relationship with their dog Cheyenne helped them survive addiction and have a reason to live. They share how even during times of complete isolation and social rejection, their dog propped them up and gave them unconditional love. They also discuss the importance of our ability to learn how to tolerate discomfort and how this emotional skill is fundamental to a strong recovery. Grab a box of tissues and buckle up. Want to support this work? Sign up for our Patreon by clicking here! Or donate to our Donorbox in any amount by clicking here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Theme music - Logan Bragg Logo - Stevie Petet

In part two of Cecil's story, he opens up about how continued emotional suppression and ADHD contributed to his worsening addiction to alcohol. He also shares about porn addiction, self-harm, being cheated on, and another tragic suicide attempt. He was ultimately kicked out of the military after seeking mental healthcare for his struggles. After spending sometime homeless and living in his car, he found a path to lasting healing by learning how to deal with his emotions in a healthy way, and hashing out his childhood trauma with a therapist.  Want to support this work? Donate via our Patreon by clicking here! Or, donate via Donorbox on our website. Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

In Part 1 of Cecil's story of addiction recovery and neurodivergence/ADHD, he talks about how childhood trauma, poverty, and emotional suppression lead to his addiction to alcohol. ACEs, or adverse childhood experiences, have been shown to have a dramatic affect on a person's chance of developing addiction. Cecil reflects on his upbringing in a trailer in podunk Arkansas with an abusive father who drank to excess. He quickly learned that showing emotions was unwelcome, and learned how to stuff them down. As a teenager he found that drinking with his cousins led to the human relationships he had longed for as a kid. He signed up for the military at age 17 as a way to escape. Tune in next week for Part Two! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Want to support this work? Join our Patreon here! You can also donate to our Donorbox (less fees for us as a 501c3 nonprofit!) Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Dry January can be more than a break from alcohol. It can be the beginning of the path to long-term secular addiction recovery, especially when our focus is on healing ourselves with science and community instead of shame and dogma. In this episode, Early shares their highlight reel of secular addiction recovery books and podcasts for sober curious folks exploring sobriety outside of the traditional 12-step or religious frameworks. These authors and podcasters explore recovery through the lenses of neuroscience, intersectional feminism, indigenous wisdom, and harm reduction. Addiction doesn't exist in a vaccuum; it's shaped by intergenerational trauma, capitalism, colonialism, gender race, and access to care. Whether you're doing Dry January, are sober curious, practicing harm reduction, or seeking sustainable recovery without religion, we got you! It is time to bathe our brains in a soup of new information.  Click here to sign up for our Patreon! Click here to donate via our website! Click here to check out our merch store! Want to be a guest on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Logo - Stevie Petet Theme music - Logan Bragg Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified

JT returns for a follow-up conversation on ADHD and addiction recovery, exploring how ADHD affects cravings, emotional regulation, school, and daily routines. We discuss building structure, finding purpose in recovery, and navigating grief and emotional overwhelm. This episode also touches on social media's impact on mental health, and some very nosey questions from Early about dating in recovery and the asexual/aromantic spectrum. Tune in if you've been struggling with executive dysfunction with ADHD/neurodivergence, want tools for emotional regulation, or are learning how to manage cravings in recovery. Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here! Sign up for our Patreon and get fun gifts! Click here to join the Patreon! Connect with us on Substack/Instagram @recoverydemystified Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg

In this episode, Benji shares the story of dating a partner in addiction recovery and the loss that followed from a fentanyl overdose. Through the lens of a queer relationship, they discuss the reality of loving someone in recovery, navigating mental health struggles, and coping with the grief in the aftermath of addiction. The episode also incudes harm reduction education, addressing the dangers of fentanyl, why recovery can be fragile, and how stigma impacts people seeking support. We explore the complexity of addiction recovery, queer love, mental health and the importance of compassion, education, and community in reducing harm. Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Want to support our nonprofit? Donate here! https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Trying to find addiction recovery support can feel overwhelming when you're poor, neurodivergent, or have never had to navigate the world of mental healthcare. In this episode, we talk honestly about how to look for a therapist when money is tight, the system is confusing, and the process itself can be overwhelming or retraumatizing. We also unpack something that doesn't get talked about enough: how to balance your emotional needs between yourself, your community, and a therapist. This episode explores: -Why and how we can balance community support, professional help, and emotionally regulating ourselves -Step by step how to find, narrow down, and choose a therapist -How to get insurance -Options for people who cannot get insurance www.psychologytoday.com www.healthcare.gov Want to support this work? Check out our donation page on our website! Every little bit helps. https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Check out our merch store! Click here! Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg  

In part 3 of Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story, she breaks down the step-by-step reality of going from homelessness to rehab, sober living, and long-term stability. She shares how she managed triggers, avoided relapse during chaotic jobs, and stayed sober while building her business and buying a home. All the while, she follows her intuition through every growth phase, confronts the reality of being a felon, and unlearns the shame society projected onto her. This episode explores setting boundaries with family, including the painful decision to cut off her mother, and what it actually takes to protect sobriety in real life.   Want to tell your story on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Want to support this work with a tax-deductible donation? Click here to donate! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Connect with Hana @pickle_de_chip Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Let's take a deep dive into a neurodivergent, radical perspective on surviving the holidays with practical addiction recovery skills. We discuss tools that foster empowerment, nonviolent communication, healthy boundaries, and harm reduction that are specific to the unwanted pressure society puts on us this time of year. Family dynamics can cause added stress that fuels cravings. We talk about addressing and sitting with our loneliness without shame. You'll learn how having somatic awareness of your own nervous system can save you from getting overwhelmed. If you've been looking for an off-the-beaten-path view on holiday survival, you're in the right place. Want to support this work? We welcome tax-deductible donations in any amount! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Sign up for our Patreon! Click here! Connect with us on Substack & Instagram @recoverydemystified Want to tell your story on this podcast? Have thoughts or feedback? We would love to hear from you! [email protected] Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet

In this episode, Hana shares her raw and unflinching story of addiction, trauma, and survival. We dive into Part 2 of her story with a harrowing tale of being held at gunpoint by a drug dealer, followed by stories of a near-amputation, sex work, and homelessness in Seattle. She was in and out of jail and treatment. One day she heard another addict tell their story of addiction and recovery, and had a lightbulb moment. Recovery was possible for her. She found her path to sobriety and has been off drugs for 8 years. She now owns her own home and business, and gives special credit to her cat, Smash, the unsung hero of her story. This episode is for anyone seeking hope for their own addiction recovery, trauma recovery and healing, harm-reduction approaches, or alternative recovery paths. Hana's miraculous story is a testament to resilience, radical honesty, and the possibility of building a life worth living. Want to tell your story on this podcast? Send us an email [email protected] Want to support this work with a tax deductible donation? https://www.recoverydemystified.com/donations/ Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg

Hana's miraculous addiction recovery story begins with growing up with an alcoholic mother who created an extremely chaotic living environment. Hana was forced to caregive and be a "friend" to their mother, a phenomenon known as parentification -- when a child is forced to be in an adult role. She got into meth and alcohol as a teen in order to make friends and be away from her home life. Hana's substance use and rebellious behavior managed to get them kicked out of everywhere, including school. As an adult, alcohol and substance use quickly spiraled out of control, and stayed out of control. Hana's story is an astonishing example of just how far we can dig ourselves into a hole, the resilience of the human spirit, and how no one is too far gone to find lasting recovery. Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Support this work with a tax deductible donation to our Venmo or PayPal @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg  

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early and Amber Hollingsworth of popular YouTube channel Put the Shovel Down discuss data-informed methods of how to help our loved ones escape their addiction. Most people accidentally put themselves in the "villian" role in their addicted family member's life, even though their actions are rooted in love. Why is this? What can we do better? How can we use compassionate understanding to help them escape from alcoholism and drug addiction? We also discuss dual diagnosis, and how folks often recieve false bipolar disorder diagnosis and other mental health problems due to exacerbation of their addictions. If you want to know the best way to help an alcoholic or drug addicted loved one, this is the episode for you! Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Join our Patreon! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us on social media! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today Early discusses more addiction recovery resources for people in recovery, sober curious folks, and anyone else on a healing journey with their relationship to drugs and/or alcohol. They discuss a book from White Bison Inc about the hundreds of years old Indigenous resistance to alcoholism, and the decolonization movements that heal Native American communities. Next is a book outlining the principals of a unique trauma therapy modality called Internal Family Systems. They also discuss the controversial Dr. Nicole LePera and her book How to Do the Work. They then go over the (also controversial) podcast by Luis Mojica, which covers topics like how we can heal trauma with nutrition and somatics. Last, we've got next week's podcast guest: Amber Hollingsworth of the popular YouTube channel, Put the Shovel Down, and how she teaches family members to support their loved ones with addiction. Books: Alcohol Problems in Native America by Don L. Coyhis and William L. White No Bad Parts by Richard C. Schwartz, PhD How to Do the Work by Dr. Nicole LePera Podcast: The Holistic Life Navigation Podcast by Luis Mojica YouTube Channel: Put the Shovel Down by Amber Hollingsworth Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Have other feedback or ideas? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here!   Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Today we hear Danny's addiction recovery story as a neurodivergent person. He describes himself as being a highly emotional child who cried often. He tried LSD at the age of 11, and promptly changed his world view and became a musician and someone who ditched class. He got kicked out of multiple schools and was sent to a jail-like boarding school. After a bad breakup in early adulthood, opiates started to hit different. He got deeper and deeper into hard drugs until working with plant medicine Ibogaine, which unlocked his creativity and set him free. We explore the topic of harm reduction and kratom in this episode! Want to tell your story on this podcast? Send us an email: [email protected] Want to support this work? Send donations in any amount to Venmo/PayPal @recoverydemystified Connect with us: Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today Early discusses a bit more about their own story in addiction recovery. They outline the three most important plant medicines they have worked with on their journey: valerian root, kratom, and ayahuasca. What's right for one person may be harmful for another, and the most important thing is learning to listen to your own intuition and find what's right for you. Our relationship to plants, the earth, and each other has been growing further and further apart as our culture becomes more solitary and technological. Some part of us deep down is still drawn to nature and the seasons -- it's why people have the impulse to put pumpkins on their porch. Not long ago we actually grew and harvested our food and medicine, and fostering a new connection to nature can create wholeness and healing in our recovery. We explore the idea of harm reduction with kratom in this episode. Want to tell your story on our podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here! Connect with us on Instagram and Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Today we hear Kelly's addiction recovery story. Her life started with a complicated childhood: a mix of happiness, love, and abuse. She was tasked with caring for her younger brothers as they suffered from life-threatening health problems, which she later realized was parentification. She had an "aha" moment after her first drink, and soon fell in with a crowd of older kids who were partying with ecstasy and weed. She lived the life of the party girl for a long time, getting heavily into cocaine and kratom, along with a variety of other drugs. She continued to play the role of caretaker in her relationships in adulthood. Eventually she began to isolate and continued to use cocaine in large amounts. She eventually ended up in drug court, which ultimately saved her life. Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Want to support this work? Send a donation in any amount to our Venmo or PayPal @recoverydemystified Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early discusses the foundational ideas that the RD secular addiction recovery/sober curious support groups have been built upon. These ideas are a work in progress, but include:  -a land & history acknowledgement -viewing oneself as a scientist and a test subject in our recovery -the belief that we are powerful and already whole -a practice of recognizing our addicted voice and distinguishing it from our core self -a practice of reconnecting to our intuition -forgiveness for ourselves instead of shame -safe(r) space dynamic within the group, being grateful for our differences and treating each other with mutual respect -leaning into discomfort and distinguishing the safe zone, growth zone, and panic zone -valuing harm reduction as valid and life saving To follow along with the packet, click here. Want to be a guest on this podcast? email [email protected] to get scheduled! Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here! Join our Patreon! Click here! Connect with us! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

In today's episode, we hear Brittany's addiction recovery/sober curious story. She grew up with parents in active addiction and experienced abandonment and trauma in early childhood. When she had her first drink, fireworks started going off, and she knew that this was the key to feeling better... for now. As she became an adult her drinking got out of control, although she wasn't able to view it that way at the time. She experienced tragedy after tragedy, and as she did, she spiraled further and further with alcohol. No one called her out on it at the time because it's normal in our society to self-medicate grief with booze. As time went on, the death around her never stopped, and neither did the drinking. She reached a breaking point when she had a realization that her drinking was pushing people away, and she decided to change her life. She's currently in the place of trying to quit drinking but not always succeeding. This part of the process is relatable, challenging, and not often talked about. Donate to our cause! Venmo/PayPal @recoverydemystified Want to be on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us! Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In order to rewire our brains, we must feed them new information. Or bathe them in a soup of new information. Today, Early recommends a few books and podcasts to support addiction recovery. They also start the conversation about accountability for harm caused during addiction. Books: How to Eat to Change How You Drink by Brooke Scheller, DCN, CNS Dry by Augusten Burroughs The Places That Scare You by Pema Chodron Podcasts: How We Handle Harm by Punch Up Kick Down Distro (click here) Love in a Fucked Up World by Deane Spade   Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to support this work? Send a donation! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Holler at us! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? [email protected] Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Today we hear Emily's addiction story and about how she became sober curious. Emily's childhood involved having one parent in severe addiction, and the other parent covering for them. She discusses the complexity of loving someone who is abusing you, and using sex as a young person to seek the approval she wasn't getting at home. She began drinking and smoking pot, and soon began using both quite heavily. Emily reflects on how her upbringing affects her relationships in adulthood. Today she is wondering: what are all these substances really doing for me? Support this work! Donate to our Venmo or PayPal @recoverydemystified Connect with us! Instagram & Substack @recoverydemystified Have a story to tell? Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode, Early discusses the two pivotal mental shifts they made in their life that turned recovery from feeling impossible to being possible. Once they made these mental shifts, they were no longer "trying to quit drinking." Instead, they finally just quit. Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here to donate! Join our Patreon! Click here! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Connect with us on Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Today we hear Bill's addiction recovery story. Bill first saw the destructive powers of alcohol when his dad started drinking a lot after his parents got divorced. His own experimentation with binge drinking led to blackouts early on. In high school, he recognized that his drinking and weed smoking had started messing up his life and he decided to move in with his grandmother. After moving out and going to college, the lack of oversight led to an acceleration in his drinking and he flunked out of college. Working in the restaurant industry normalized this level of drinking and added cocaine to the mix. Multiple DUIs and waking up hungover still laying on his back porch pushed him to get sober during the pandemic, and he has never looked back. Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us and email: [email protected] Support our work! Donations can be sent to Venmo or PayPal @recoverydemystified Connect with us on Instagram & Substack: @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg  

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Today we explore more secular addiction recovery resources for sober curious people. What works for you is what works for you! Try everything and see what sticks. Maybe understanding your shadow self will help. Perhaps reading about someone else who has been on a crack bender will make you feel less alone. Maybe the practical tools of Buddhism will soothe your anxious mind. Everything is connected, and perhaps if we can destroy our inner queerphobia/transphobia and start to love the gender diversity inside us, we can create a stronger foundation for recovery! Books: Existential Kink by Carolyn Elliott, PhD Portrait of an Addict as a Young Man by Bill Clegg When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron Podcasts: Gender Spiral by Ally Beardsley and Babette Thomas Gender Reveal by Tuck Woodstock Translash Podcast by Imara Jones (RD is featured in S5 Ep147!) Check out our merch store! Click here! Join our Patreon! Click here! Instagram/Substack: @recoverydemystified Support this podcast! Donations are greatly appreciated! Click here to donate! Contact us! [email protected] Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg

Today we hear Jonny's addiction recovery story as a neurodivergent veteran. Jonny grew up with a father who drank quite a bit. He made it to the age of 19 without ever drinking or using drugs, and then after signing up for the navy, he started to party. Drinking felt like a better version of himself - at first. After leaving the military he started working at a bar on Dickson Street. The drinking culture of bartenders gave him a free pass to take shots whenever, and to be drunk at work. Eventually things spiraled out of control, and a series of drunken decisions had him kicked out of his favorite bar, lose his car, his glasses, and kicked out of his house. Amazingly, he was able to get sober while continuing to work at that same bar on Dickson Street, where he is still working today. Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Want to support this work? Venmo/PayPal @recoverydemystified Connect with us! Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In this week's episode, Early shares a bit about addictive cravings and how to survive them for sober curious people or folks in addiction recovery. They also share a few resources of things that have been helpful for them along the way. However, what's most important is to find what works for you. Do you like running? Music so loud your ears bleed? Yoga videos? Do you like calling your mom? Make a list of things that you like, and that you know make you feel better when you're done doing them. Then pull out the list any time you get a craving, do something for twenty minutes, and see if the fleeting feeling has passed you by. This isn't about supressing the feeling, it's about transforming it and surviving! Things Early likes: Alternate Nostril Breathing Sudarshan Kriya Yoga Vagus Nerve Reset Only in Dreams Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to be on this podcast? Send an email! [email protected] Want to donate to our nonprofit? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here! Instagram/Substack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg  

In today's episode, Early speaks with Hope about their addiction recovery story as a queer and neurodivergent person. They were raised by their grandparents due to their parents being in active addiction. Hope was determined to not be like their parents, but things didn't turn out the way their kid self had planned. They began by smoking weed to alleviate cramps, and later started stealing beer from their grandparent's fridge. Skipping school became the norm, and after getting their GED they started drinking more and more. They watched their friend have a near death experience while using inhalants, went through a xanax phase, and drank often and to excess. The sudden death of their sister propelled them into extreme alcohol addiction, bed rotting, and a state of listlessness. The same grief later propelled them into sobriety, and they have never looked back. We explore the topic of using weed as harm reduction in this episode!   Want to be interviewed on this podcast or help us with our fundraising needs? Send an email to [email protected] Want to support this work? Send a donation to our Venmo or PayPal! @recoverydemystified Connect with us! Instagram & Susbstack @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg  

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. Let us continue to bathe our brains in a soup of new information. This month's list contains two addiction memoirs and a book on attachment theory, as well as three single-episode recommendations for podcasts on attachment theory.  Addiction recovery stories help us feel less alone, and understanding attachment theory can help us lead a healthier sober or sober curious life!   Books: I'm Black and I'm Sober by Chaney Allen Pill Head, The Secret Life of a Painkiller Addict by Joshua Lyon Attachment Theory By Thais Gibson   Podcasts (single episodes): Mahon McCann - #63, Attachment Adam, How to Fix Your Attachment Issues DharmaPunxNYC - #454, Safe Enough to Love: A Journey From Insecure to Secure Attachment Two Dudes Talkin' Therapy - Healing Anxious Attachment   Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to support this work? Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Connect with us! Instagram & Venmo @recoverydemystified Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet  

Obsidian returns to discuss their ongoing addiction recovery story as a queer and neurodivergent person! In today's episode, we discuss the complexity of using again after a period of abstinence. Our healing work doesn't just disappear, and it can inform our experience when we use again. Picking back up again can be very different, end quickly, and be a reminder of why we quit in the first place. The danger lives within our perspective, and whether we view ourselves as inherently "bad" for using again. Do we believe that using again means we are a failure, or unintelligent, or a fuck up? Or do we believe that this experience is an opportunity to learn more about ourselves, including perhaps that using still feels like shit? We also discuss the Addicted Voice, how to recognize it, and where it comes from! We uplift harm reduction along the way! Want to be on this podcast? Send an email to [email protected] Instagram/Substack: @recoverydemystified Support this work! Venmo/PayPal: @recoverydemystified Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet

Today we hear Randy's addiction recovery story. Randy's life started with tragedy and abandonment trauma; he was the sole survivor of a car wreck that killed his mother and two brothers when he was only 9 months old. Growing up he was always the odd one out until he found drugs and bad kids. He managed to keep his life together for a long time while drinking and using a variety of drugs. Eventually, crack became his downfall. Years of hard drug use landed him in a scientology based rehab, then later, drug court. He decided to go "all-in" and move into a men's sober living facility. Little did he know, he would later revamp, expand, and run Modern Recovery.   Want to be on this podcast? Send us an email! [email protected] Support our work! Venmo & PayPal @recoverydemystified Instagram: @recoverydemystified Theme music: Logan Bragg Logo: Stevie Petet  

Recovery Resources that actually help, build your own recovery with secret resources you probably never heard of. In today's episode Early goes over our inherent need for both community and alone time, why your social anxiety makes you normal, how alcohol advertising targets our "wound of existence", anti-individualism, why normal things don't feel good anymore, and the ultimate question to ask while socializing: "Why am I here??" Follow along with the slideshow: Click here! Johan Hari's Ted Talk: Click here!   Help support our cause! Click here to donate! Check out our merch store! Click here! Join our Patreon! Click here! Want to be interviewed on this podcast? Send us an email: [email protected] Instagram, Substack: @recoverydemystified Logo: Stevie Petet Theme Music: Logan Bragg