Keep Coming Back: Real Stories of Sobriety & Recovery

The links between mental illness, medication, sobriety and recovery

After getting 4 months, Neta relapsed. In today's interview she discusses what lead her there, and how her attitude towards her program and recovery changed afterwards.

AA at 16, rehab at 17. Paul H. discusses his journey in and out of sobriety, and what lead to his 21-month relapse. White-light moments in rehab, being a part of "sober seal team 6" and why "this time is different" highlight this week's episode.

There's methods outside of a 12-step recovery room to get sober. For several decades, Dr. Lieberman has successfully treated patients with addiction with a combination of prescribed medicine and "faith-based healing." In today's interview we explore and debate the merits of both, and additionally discuss why he's an advocate for the use of psilocybin (lsd) in the treatment of alcoholism.

Stories of smuggling cocaine into foreign countries, nitrous-oxide addiction to the point of minor paralysis, and of course recovery are the headlines for episode 18. Danielle recounts her friend's intervention for her, sober living, and early experiences in AA

Jake G. didn't latch on to sobriety to the first time around. However, after an intervention from his parents, a trip to the psych ward, and several near-misses at work, he believed the writing was on the wall. This conversation discusses the shift from "I need to take a break from drinking" to "I need to be sober"

It took James two-stints in rehab, and then sober living to finally get a grasp on his painkiller addiction. In today's conversation we discuss how his relationship with his wife was able to withstand the time away, and how relationships and work-life are today. (note this interview was recorded in 2019)

"It was around the time of Hurricane Sandy, I'm snorting cocaine around the clock. I would sit in my studio, playing solitaire, hoping I didn't wake up the next morning, fine if i died."

Drug tested 3x a week. Multiple therapists. Rehab. Sarah's story is one of recovery and relapse followed by more recovery. Today she is a recovery coach herself living in New York. Anyone interested in contacting her can write [email protected]

"And when I drove back...I'll never forget this, I walk right up to my mom and say "I have a drug problem."" She goes "what??!!...can we talk about this?" "No I'm going out to watch the Giants/Eagles game." "And I went and drank at a bar, 10 minutes after telling my mom I had a drug problem. That is how clueless I was to the disease of addiction back then"

"They gave me an ultimatum ...come in or we're done with you." Topics discussed: The evolution of a spiritual program, and the "alcoholic" mind

Back from quarantine episode 1: In today's first episode back, we discuss our last 3 months in quarantine, zoom meetings, celebrating my four year sobriety anniversary and much more

"I was going through hell...and I knew I was gonna drink....I was going to relapse. I drank the whole bottle in about 10 minutes, and the sad part is for about 10 minutes it gave me what i wanted. Once it was over, the addiction just started up again....like that!"

Here are the instructions to join the virtual meeting I'm starting this Monday, March 16th at 7pm EST. Hope to see you all there. Only the first 100 people will be able to fit in this first meeting. You'll need to download the Ringcentral app when prompted and enable all video/audio when prompted Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1480218717 Or iPhone one-tap : US: +1(773)2319226 meeting ID: 1480218717# Or Telephone: Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location): US: +1(773)2319226 Meeting ID: 148 021 8717 International numbers available: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/teleconference

"No one picked up the phone that day. Not my friends, not my sister, not my mother. Look where i am?! I'm in a hospital bed, and it's my birthday!"

Aaron C. was born in Mexico and migrated at age 8. He moved all over the country, eventually becoming a veterinary technician at age 16, gaining access to a plethora of pet-meds. We discussed the arc of his story, self harm, recovery, and the role "machismo" can play in a Latin man's life.

"I looked in the mirror....I looked into my eyes....and I saw nothing. I'd lost self control, a sense of self, and I didn't want to live that way anymore."

Melissa S is a trans woman, sober nearly thirty years, and transitioned three decades ago. We spoke about being a trans woman in recovery, what her bottom looked like, and her appreciation of sobriety a recovery.

"I lost total control. I really could not handle myself. I was doing drugs before work, at work, and that went on for about 3 years when I then had a very public blackout. Literally everybody that I didn't to see me that way saw me blacked out, and it was the first time I realize I could lose everything I worked so hard for"

"I had far crazier things, and by that i mean giant red warning signs saying "YOU NEED TO STOP DRINKING" long before i walked in the room of AA" "I've been divorced, bankrupt in three countries, I've been in trouble with the law.......but my rock bottom was purely emotional...i was exhausted.""

"I was so isolated. I was shackled to the bad things that has happened in my life, and I didn't know how to NOT talk about it.

They suggest you don't date in your first year of sobriety... "But what if I meet the girl of my dreams?! Technically I could miss out!" Ben R. has never had a legal drink, and we discuss the trials and tribulations of college, dating, and family when a person gets sober before turning 21.

"I had one roommate who was brutally honest with me. He told me "you smell terrible. You smell like the homeless guy on the train that everyone moves away from" The first episode of 2020 discussed the recent Op-ed in the NYT entitled "The Patriarchy of Alcoholics Anonymous" and then discusses Steven's journey, including his views on why Asian-culture seems to be underrepresented in 12-step recovery.

What's it like being the only sober guy in your college fraternity? What's it like living in not 1 but 2 halfway houses before the age of 22? Harrison and I discuss how a young man navigates socially, romantically and professionally during the course of our interview.

Last we left off Julia M was starting day 1 in her recovery. Over the next 30 minutes she describes her initial impressions of recovery rooms and describes how she stays sober today.

How does one go bankrupt? Two ways, first gradually, and then suddenly _E. Hemmingway In part one of my interview with Julia, we discuss all the events leading to day 1 of her recovery. From drinking, to pill addiction, to smoking crack cocaine, the conversation spans being a daughter, a wife, and a mother in active addiction.

Comedy writer and comedian Bill S. reflects on 24 years of sobriety in today's interview. We touch on growing up in a large Jewish family, his late-wife and the influence her sobriety had on him, and Bill provides some nostalgic tales from early days in recovery.

Born and raised in northern Louisiana , Stacy had spent time in two rehabs by the age of 19. During our time together we discussed the importance of sponsorship, her connection to a power greater then herself, and touch on why AA's seem to continue to struggle with relationships..

"5% of life is what's happening to you, and 95% of life is how we react to it" In the course of an hour, Ryan and I discuss the blackouts, the un-manageability , and the double life that comes with active alcoholism. In the back half we explored finding a relationship with a power greater then yourself and how that manifests in life today.

After years of sobriety, Lee O. took a break from AA. In this interview he discusses what lead to that break, what brought him back, and what keeps him coming to meetings after 13 years.

How does one navigate the 12-steps in moments when a belief in a higher power is waning or even non-existent? This is a question nearly everyone has struggled with at some point in sobriety. In this interview Farrell and I discuss his road to a rehab center, early enthusiasm for AA, and the "god" moments in his story

There's a reason so many alcoholics and addicts drank and drugged for too long...it wasn't ALL bad. Trying to recapture some magic from years before, whether it be a feeling, or a sense of comradery is a common theme for many. In this interview Ella and I discuss the shift from drinking with friends to drinking in isolation, and how she made the decision to stop.

Dating in sobriety, fellowship, and sharing in the rooms of AA are all discussed in this interview with Nicole. She talks to what it means to "drink like a man" and explains the difference between a physical bottom and a "spiritual bottom"

..."at this point I've crossed the threshold. Alcohol was no longer about having fun. It's not a social lubricant anymore, it was about not feeling the way I felt anymore. I would come home from work, drink beer, drink whiskey, smoke cigarettes , and pass out at 8pm so I didn't have to feel anymore"

Introduction to “Keep Coming Back.” In this initial episode I discuss a bit of my own story, followed by my interview with Rob B. Age 42 and sober since 8/8/11. We explore how drinking touched his work life, affected his marriage, and his initial thoughts on recovery and AA.