Recovery Elevator | Stop Drinking, Start Recovering. | Alcohol, Addiction & Life In Sobriety

Episode 429 – The Connection Between Alcohol and Anxiety   Today we have Dale, he is 55, from Roanoke, VA and he has been alcohol free since March 23, 2019   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [02:34] Paul’s thoughts:   Paul knows now that there is a connection between his drinking and his anxiety but while actively drinking, he could not. We are told that alcohol relaxes us – which it does by shutting down important parts of our brain.   According to Dr. Sheila Shilati,"Alcohol ultimately replaces those important chemicals like dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which mitigate anxiety, therefore, in episodes where you are not drinking, then your brain is searching for those all-important 'feel-good' connections, which become diminished because the supply has been mitigated,"   We hear a lot about “self-medicating” in recovery. Which isn’t a bad thing, but when we rely too much on this strategy, it stops working. This becomes an even bigger problem because we don’t realize it so we just

Episode 428 – Do I have a Drinking Problem?   Today we have Lauren, she is 54 from Rochester NY, and took her last drink on November 19, 2022.   Shout out to Ty with 15 YEARS alcohol free!  Thank you for all you do for RE!   Shout out to Bradley from south Denver with 3 days alcohol free!  Great job!   Café RE is a private online unsearchable recovery community. Get accountable and be the best version of you. Together is always better!  Use promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the setup fee.   [03:23] Intro summary:   In the past Paul has talked about the worst  place a person can be with a drinking problem is in limbo (episode 417). But how do we find out if we actually have a problem so we can get out of that space?   There is a test listed in the DSM-5 to determine if we have a drinking problem or not. There are 11 questions, and you must meet two of them within the past 12 months to have what is called Alcohol Use Disorder. It’s not hard to determine if you have a drinking problem based on that test.  

Episode 427 – But a Symptom   Today we have Ian, he is 24, from Baltimore, MD and he has been alcohol free since December 26, 2022.   What are you doing for Memorial Day?  You should join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta! We have an event for Café RE members on Saturday and then Sunday night we have a conference style event that everyone is invited to attend. Information about the Sunday night event can be found here. Café RE members can get more information through the members website if they are interested in the weekend event.   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [02:15] Thoughts from Paul:   If alcohol isn’t the primary problem, and it’s a symptom of something else, what does that mean, and what course of action do we take? None of us are able to correct the unrest in our lives when alcohol is present. That’s why moderate drinking for the problematic drinker doesn’t work either.   For Paul, after he ditched the booze, he recognized that his nervous system needed healing and found that nature

Episode 426 – It Gets Easier   Today we have Jeffrey, he is 35, from Monument, CO and he took his last drink on July 23, 2022.   Registration is open for our flagship annual retreat held in Bozeman, Montana, this upcoming August 9th – 13th.  This event is all about having fun, connecting, and learning the tools needed to be successful on your Alcohol-Free journey. You can find more information here!   [02:16] Thoughts from Paul:   Paul shares that he recently attended an AA meeting where a member celebrated 40 years of sobriety. One thing he took away from this is that it will naturally get easier the more time away from alcohol you have and the more life experience you get. It is also helpful to focus not on the destination, but the journey itself.   There is a YouTube channel that Paul watches where the host, Michael, showcases some of the most scenic railways in the world. Michael also shares similar views about the destination vs. the journey. Here is the link to one of his videos documenting the

Episode 425 – What Recovery Pathway is Right for Me?   Today we have Doug. He is 59, from Buena Vista, CO and he took his last drink on July 28, 1982.   Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend for a fun conference style meet up at the Marriott in Alpharetta.  This event is all about getting your connect on and it will be a fun time.  Spouses or loved ones are encouraged to attend the Sunday night event and Silent Disco afterwards!   [2:30] Thoughts from Paul:   When building your recovery portfolio, a good goal is 50% external and 50% internal. At first, the internal work may be too big of an ask, but as your nervous system settles down, you want to aim for a balanced split. Here are some quick examples of what I mean when I say external vs internal:   External: Driving to an AA meeting, or hopping on a Café RE zoom chat Phoning a sober friend Working with a sponsor   Internal: Meditation Journaling Reading Quit-Lit   When building out your recovery I recommend this 5-tiered ap

Episode 424 – Caring for You   Today we have Abby. She is 49, from Phoenix, AZ, and took her last drink on 9/25/2020.   Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend for a fun conference style event at the Marriott in Alpharetta. Spouses or loved ones are encouraged to attend the event on Sunday. Registration is open please click the link for more information.   We have registration for the annual Bozeman Retreat opening on April 3rd. The retreat is scheduled for August 9th – 13th.    Better Help:  www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored   [03:23] Thoughts from Kris:   In an effort to escape the long North Dakota winter, Kris and his wife took a short vacation to Dallas. They had a fantastic time enjoying the city and the company of friends. The key takeaways Kris had are the importance of self-care and connection. He believes that most people are very resilient, and we tend to allow things to keep stacking things onto our plate to the point of overwhelm. That’s

Episode 423 – Some Phoneless Fool   Today we have Laura. She is 45, from Boston, MA, and took her last drink on September 27, 2014.   Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend for a fun conference style event at the Marriott in Alpharetta on Sunday.  This event is all about getting your connect on and it will be a fun time.  Spouses or loved ones are encouraged to attend. Registration is open please click the link for more information.   We also have registration for the annual Bozeman Retreat opening on April 3rd. The retreat is scheduled for August 9th – 13th.    Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [02:07] Highlights from Paul:   Paul feels that addictions are adaptations to unhealthy environments. Rates of addiction, disease, inflammations, and cancers are all on the rise. In recovery we are tasked with creating a world for ourselves and others where we feel connected, worthy, and part of the community. Recovery is not about new world exploration but restoring the circuitry

Episode 422 – The Pursuit of Happiness   Today we have Susannah. She is 42 from Hampshire, England, and took her last drink on 4/29/2022.   Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta over Memorial Day weekend for a fun conference style event at the Marriott in Alpharetta on Sunday.  This event is all about getting your connect on and it will be a fun time.  Spouses or loved ones are encouraged to attend. Registration is open please click the link for more information.   We have partnered with Sober Link.  You can find some tips and can sign up for a $50 off promo code.   [03:09] Highlights from Paul:   Paul shares a blog post created by Odette regarding happiness in sobriety. He also shares his thoughts that sobriety does not equal happiness or solve all of our problems, but it does give us the chance to build a life where happiness knocks on the door more frequently. The school of sobriety is going to teach you the most important lessons of life. Love and acceptance. It will keep teaching you these lessons until yo

Episode 421 – Keep It Simple   Today we have Stephanie. She is 44 from Georgetown, MA and took her last drink on September 6, 2020.   Recovery Elevator podcast just surpassed 10 million downloads!  Thank you to our guests, all the team members, Café RE members, and especially our listeners!   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [2:49] Highlights from Paul:   In an age where almost everything plugs in, we as human beings do not. Often when we are feeling upset or triggered, one (or more than one) aspect of H.A.L.T is at play. Try and ask yourself if you are Hungry, Angry, Lonely and Tired.   Paul gives us a lot of suggestions of simple ways to address these feelings and asks the listener – how do you keep it simple?  Let us know on Monday’s post on Instagram in the comment area!   Better Help:  www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored   [10:42] Paul introduces Stephanie:   Stephanie took her last drink on September 6th, 2020. She is 44 years old, lives in George

Episode 420 – The Most Prolific Trap   Today we have Matthew. He is 49 from Phoenix, AZ, and has been a sober rock star since 12/15/2006.   Our next Ditching the Booze course is starting Monday March 20th. It is free for Café RE members. You can learn more about the course and Café RE by clicking this link.   [03:00] Highlights from Paul:   As humans, we are prone to the trap that things will be better, or we will feel better after x, y or z happens. If we are constantly attaching happiness to accomplishments, checklists, or sobriety clocks, then eventually this surface level happiness fades and doesn't last nearly as long. Diffusing this trap is our most important task as a species at the moment. To find inner peace regardless of what is going on outside.   The first thing we can do to confront the trap is recognize it and then try to find happiness in the present moment while working towards the goal in mind. This is being okay with being okay or being okay even if you feel like dog crap. You are not do

Episode 419 – Boredom and Sobriety   Today we have Joel. He is 42 from Lawton, OK, and took his last drink on November 28th, 2022.   Join Recovery Elevator in Atlanta, GA over Memorial Day weekend. Registration opens March 1st, and the Sunday evening event is for everyone, and you can find more information about it HERE!   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [2:18] Highlights from Paul:   Boredom is a completely normal and natural emotion, one of the many all humans have. In today’s world, we are were unconsciously wired to feel inadequate if we are not stimulated 24/7. But boredom is healthy and what is needed for a creative spark. Big alcohol has done a great job of convincing us that we cannot have fun without alcohol, and part of the sobriety process is finding joy or fun again – without the shit. We can learn to leverage technology and maybe start researching something that we are interested in. And everything becomes a possibility when you quit drinking. It takes our body time to find a h

Episode 418 – Serenity Now!   Today we have Bethany. She is 34 from Michigan and took her last drink in January of 2021.   We have partnered with Sober Link. You can find some tips and can sign up for a $50 off promo code.   [2:15] Highlights from Kris:   Kris enjoys living in a small town where everyone helps one another, and the pace is rather consistent. He and his wife were recently on a trip to the city, and it was busier than usual which created sensory overload for Kris. He found himself in the candle section of Target taking a moment and saying the serenity prayer. It helps him shift his thinking that it’s all about him and reminds him that he can exist better with others.   God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change The courage to change the things I can The wisdom to know the difference   It doesn’t fix everything right away, but it assists with pausing and choosing how to react going forward.   Better Help:  www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored

Episode 417 – The Best and Worst Place to be With a Drinking Problem   Today we have Jenny, she is 36 from Hudson, WI and took her last drink on 2/16/2020.   Shout out to our Café RE hosts!  They do an amazing job. If you are interested in joining, click the link and use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to wave the setup fee.   [02:45] Intro Summary:   When Paul describes the best and worst places to be with a drinking problem, they both look a lot alike.   That realization that alcohol no longer serves us, but we can’t imagine life without it can be a scary place to be. Alcohol has us right where it wants us. It may feel like part of you is dying, that feeling is grief.   But on the flip side, when we realize that alcohol no longer serves us, we can see that as an invitation to live the life we were meant to live. We are at the tipping point about to embark upon the greatest journey in our life.   We are all right where we need to be. Life will keep giving us the same lesson until we are ready to learn or make a c

Episode 416 – The AF Beverage   Today we have Mike, he is 59 from Newport, OR and took his last drink on 1/27/2022.   Shout out to one of our sponsors - SoberLink – click the link for a promo code for RE listeners.   Our six week Sober Ukulele Course brought to you by Kala Brand ukulele starts this Saturday! There is still time to sign up.  If you need a ukulele, use the promo code 23ELEVATOR for 15% off.   Thank you Café RE chat hosts!  You do an amazing job!   [01:34] Highlights from Paul:   When quitting drinking, the thinking mind creates 99 problems or obstacles, but what to drink when we ditch the booze shouldn’t be one of them. Exploring AF beverages in recovery should be fun.   Paul gives us the three key pillars (the drink, the temperature, and the glass/cup) along with many great tips on combining these elements to make the perfect AF drink.   Better Help: www.betterhelp.com/elevator - 10% off your first month. #sponsored     [10:31] Kris introduces Mike:   Mike has been sober for 323 days at the ti

Episode 415 – Dopamine   Today we have Jorie, she is 31, from Westford, VT and took her last drink on 9/19/2020   There are two spots left for our next sober travel trip to Costa Rica from April 12th-21st for more information click the link Costa Rica 2023.  The deadline to register is February 24th.   Registration is open for our 6 week Ukulele Course brought to you by Kala Brand ukulele – use the promo code 23ELEVATOR for 15% off. The course starts in three weeks on Saturday, February 11th so you have plenty of time to pick-up a ukulele.   [02:01] Highlights from Paul:   We hear a lot about dopamine in recovery.  All humans have dopamine, but our dopamine systems all work differently.  It is the chemical that drives us eat, find warmth, shelter, find a mate and is also known as the pleasure molecule.   Living in a world of abundance rather than scarcity finds us with an overwhelming number of dopamine-triggering stimuli for nearly all of us in one way or another.  Many of us reached the point in our drinkin

Episode 414 – You Won’t Regret Not Drinking   Today we have Emily, she is 44, from Phoenix, AZ and took her last drink on March 10th, 2019   There are about four spots open for our next sober travel trip to Costa Rica from April 12th-21st for more information click the link Costa Rica 2023.  The deadline to register is February 24th.   Registration is open for our 6 week Ukulele Course brought to you by Kala Brand ukulele – use the promo code 23ELEVATOR for 15% off. The course starts Saturday, February 11th.   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [02:34] Paul’s thoughts:   Paul doesn’t make many promises on this podcast but feels he can 100% positively tell us that we will never regret not drinking.  You won’t regret the extra $20 you save; the planet won’t regret the gallons of water not used after “breaking the seal” or the trash drinking creates. Your family will never regret you not drinking. Your pets, your plants, your job, your community. Your hobbies, and your goals as well as any one of the 7

Episode 413 – Grit, Grace, and Gratitude     Today we have Matt who is from Atlanta and took his last drink on November 15th, 2022.   Registration is open for our 6 week Ukulele Course brought to you by Kala Brand ukulele – use the promo code 23ELEVATOR for 15% off. The course starts Saturday, February 11th.   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   [02:35] Thoughts from Kris:   Turning 40 found him thinking more about longevity and being able to be healthy later in life. He has struggled with his physical health the past few years but gave himself a pass because his mental and spiritual health was more important at the time. Now, five years later and several stops and starts, he realizes he needs to treat his nutrition and physical health goals like another form of recovery. Much like sobriety, he felt he shouldn’t do it alone and reached out to a friend in the health and wellness world and asked for help. Together they set some small, attainable goals rather than a strict daily routine bound for failur

Episode 412 – Get Connected   Today we have Brad who is 35 from Fort Wayne, IN and took his last drink on 8/31/2018   Exact Nature: https://exactnature.com/RE20   On Saturday February 11th we start the 6 week Ukulele Course brought to you by Kala Brand ukulele – use the promo code 23ELEVATOR for 15% off.   [3:19] Highlights from Paul:   Human beings are wired for connection, we need it to survive. It’s up on the list with food, clean water, and shelter.  Paul shares several statistics surrounding chronic disorders with the biggest one being mental disorders and loneliness. Loneliness has been compared to smoking in how it affects our bodies and is considered to be unhealthier than inactivity or obesity. Our addictions are symptoms of our disconnection.   Are we doomed?  Paul says no. There is a remedy - get connected!   The ability to connect is a skill that we acquire naturally as kids/young adults but connecting later in life isn’t as easy.  Here are some steps to help with connecting: #1 – leverage your de

Episode 411 – The Grateful Alcoholic   Today we have Lisa who is 65 from Atlanta, GA took her last drink on 11/17/2022.   Whether you are on day 1 or day 1000, there is still time to join REStore. The next class is tonight at 8:30pm EST   There are still spots open for our next sober travel trip to Costa Rica from April 12th-21st for more information click the link Costa Rica 2023   Highlights from Paul:   Paul didn’t understand a fellow AA member’s references to being a “grateful alcoholic”.  Only after getting to know Jim, did he understand what they meant. It took a few years for Paul to get to that point to be grateful for his addiction.    He reflects that our addictions are signposts trying to guide us to a more authentic life and that there are no such things as failures. They are learning opportunities and we should never give up.  We should trust the process of healing from the addictions, and we can all become grateful for the role that alcohol has played in our lives.   Better Help: www.betterhelp.

Episode 410 – What’s the Point?   Today we have Justin who is 37 from New York   Check out the AF drink recipes curated by Kate on the Recovery Elevator blog   NYE Sober Prom in San Diego on December 31st. We have Athletic Brewing, Sip Clean, Sound Soda and Crumbl Cookies sponsoring this event, open to Café RE members only.   Whether you are on day 1 or day 1000, there is still time to join REStore. We start this Sunday, please join us!    Highlights from Paul:   Many of us have asked the question “what’s the point of life?” The response is always a near derivative of love. It’s safe to say that the core religions can be summarized with one teaching. The Golden Rule. The mystics recognized, we are all one, what you do to another you do to yourself and if you treat your fellow human being with respect and dignity, you in turn will experience the same.   We have learned that we cannot find the point of it all at the bottom of a bottle.  And when we hear The Golden Rule, we often think of the other person, but w