Tag: alcoholism

Laura joins Mike & Glenn in the coffee shop to talk about SMART Recovery. Laura found SMART Recovery after she ended her chaotic relationship with drugs 40 years ago. Why after? Ten years ago she discovered her son was a heroin user. Knowing him, she knew he wouldn’t buy into the 12 step program, so she went looking for answers. While her son never attended any meetings, SMART Recovery changed her life and Laura is now a recovery coach.

An alternative to AA, SMART Recovery has a large online community all over the world – you are always able to access a meeting of peers 24 hours a day. SMART is a secular program – they believe a person’s faith often drives recovery but it’s personal and individual. SMART works on a 4 point program:

1. Maintaining motivation
2. Resisting urges
3. Managing our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors acceptably
4. Living a balanced life

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

SMART Recovery: https://www.smartrecovery.org/

Live For Lali: https://live4lali.org/

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

The Webster Dictionary definition of sober – not drinking or using mind altering substances – is more of a definition of being dry. Mike and Glenn discuss how sober is more than not drinking, it’s the byproduct of working a quality recovery program. 

So what does sober really mean? Sober is characterized by reason, sanity, or self-control; showing mental and emotional balance. Are you emotionally balanced?

Physically balanced? Spiritually balanced? 

Glenn and Mike lay it out at the coffee shop like this: “We’re on the sober path. We’re not at the sober ski lodge, we haven’t arrived. Sober is the journey, not the destination.“

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

Your Dictionary: https://www.yourdictionary.com

Dr John Episode: What Is Sober? https://www.sober.coffee/podcast/episode/40951704/bonus-drop-what-is-sober-dr-john-joins

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren: https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-What-Earth/dp/031033750X

Want more clinical information about what sober means?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog:

https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/what-does-sober-mean

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

Getting to know Danny we find out he’s not a human lie detector and while an introvert at heart, he believes we do our best work in community. Digging in deeper with the Clinical Director at Aspen Ridge Recovery in Colorado, Mike and Glenn hit Danny with a few hard questions about addiction and recovery:

• How do you know if you’re a good candidate for treatment? 
• How important is therapy in treatment? 
• Is abstinence the only option, or is there help to control drinking and how effective is it?

Listen in for Danny’s response and a real discussion about therapy, heart and community.

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

AspenRidge Recovery: https://www.aspenridgerecoverycenters.com/

Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/

Rat Park Study: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rat_Park

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

Glenn and Mike describe dry drunk as the grumpy guy that hasn’t had a drink but is miserable and complains about everything in their life. Why? Because stopping drinking is one thing, but then what? If you’re drinking to escape, then stop drinking without surrendering to recovery, you are still miserable but without the alcohol – and the same sh%^ behavior is still there. 

Glenn and Mike elaborate on the difference between drunk, dry and sober. You can be drunk by yourself, you can be dry by yourself, but sober takes a community and a commitment to recovery.

If you feel like you’re a dry drunk, some helpful hints:

1. Practice self care
2. Avoid trigger situations
3. Start a journal
4. Take mind off cravings by doing other activities
5. Limit things that hurt your sleep
6. Think about engaging in the 12 steps of AA

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

Dr John Episode: What Is Sober? https://www.sober.coffee/podcast/episode/40951704/bonus-drop-what-is-sober-dr-john-joins

Want more clinical information about Dry Drunk?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog:

https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/dry-drunk

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

You can learn from anyone. You can learn what to do. You can learn what not to do. If you listen to their story, listen to their life and the challenges they face, if you truly listen – their story is suggesting to you how to overcome an obstacle in your life. That’s what we hear from James C.

James shares that he was given the gift of surrender on a cold January night in Michigan. It was the end of the road. He was highly addicted to alcohol, heroin, methadone, and valium and spent detox in a dingy, dark room. On the third night, sick as a dog, James tells us about the circumstances that led to his surrender, his gift of sobriety and the willingness to do the hard work that would be facing him after detox.

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

Alcohol is a depressant, it affects your nervous system and slows down your breathing, heart rate and other important tasks your body does. Mike & Glenn share their experiences with alcohol poisoning – from friends who have been hospitalized, friends that didn’t have a chronic drinking problem and died from alcohol poisoning, and even being in the hospital for alcohol poisoning themselves.

Think someone you know has alcohol poisoning?

Do:

• Call 9-1-1
• Don’t leave them alone
• Try to get them sitting up
• Cover them with a warm blanket
• Keep them from choking

Don’t:

• Give them a cold shower – it can lower body temperature
• Don’t give them food – it can lead to vomiting
• Don’t have them walk it off – it can lead to a fall
• Don’t try to get them to throw up – it can cause choking

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

WebMD on Alcohol Poisoning: https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/alcohol-poisoning-overview

Want more clinical information about Alcohol Poisoning?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog:

https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/alcohol-poisoning

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

It’s a sober new year. But what does that look like? Join Mike & Glenn in the coffee shop as they discuss what their game plan is for the new year. With a trip down memory lane and a look at the past, each discusses how sobriety has changed their new years – from removing the remorse, regret and anxiety, to looking at the past as a scorecard and making plans for the year ahead, trying to point the ship in the right direction.

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

Wedding Bells podcast: https://www.sober.coffee/podcast/episode/1c66c129/wedding-bells-embracing-the-landslide

Purpose Driven Life: https://www.amazon.com/Purpose-Driven-Life-Rick-Warren/dp/0310205719

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

Mike & Glenn sit down in the coffee shop to discuss the signs and symptoms of drug addiction. Are they experts? No. But Mike shares that drugs are part of his story of recovery. With almost everyone he knows, they know someone who has a tragic addiction to Fentanyl or Opioids. 

Knowing the signs and symptoms to look for can help loved ones recognize a problem, and Sober.Coffee has collected a list of physical and behavioral signs of drug addiction. Keep in mind, some of these symptoms – like depression – might not be a drug addiction. But if you’re thinking it – pay attention to it.

Ultimately, if you think a loved one has a drug addiction, know that you cannot fix someone else’s drug problem. You can find resources for you:

• Al-Anon
• Individual Therapy
• Get information about Interventions
• Contact sober.coffee and we can help point you to the right resources

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Mentioned in this episode:

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Dial 9-8-8

Want more clinical information about Signs of Drug Addiction?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog:

https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/signs-of-drug-addiction

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

How do you get through the holidays with a focus on sobriety? The invites say go party, go drink, have spiked eggnog. Hallmark commercials and movies portray a joyous holiday season with bells ringing and happy family gatherings. But Christmas time can be a challenging time – full of stress, emotions and triggers. 

Listen in as Glenn & Mike talk about sobriety and staying on the path of recovery. They discuss:

1. Memories and what to do about them
2. Tips for Christmas parties
3. Talk about Steps #8 #9
4. Discuss expectations

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com

When discussing early signs of alcoholism, Mike and Glenn take a look backwards at themselves, their experiences, and what others saw in them as they struggled with addiction. 

If you are looking at this for yourself, pay attention and ask the questions laid out in the podcast. Glenn shares that by the time he was researching alcoholism, he was already on the path to addiction. 

If you are looking at this for someone else, realize there is very little you can do for someone else until they decide they want to be sober.  But don’t give up. Mike knew it was time because even though he didn’t listen or take their advice at the time, there were lots of seeds planted that gave him hope for recovery.

If you know someone who needs to hear this episode, share it with them!

Want more clinical information about The Early Signs of Alcoholism?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog:

https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/early-signs-of-alcoholism

For more about this podcast:

Visit Sober.Coffee website: https://www.sober.coffee

Sober.Coffee on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober.coffeepodcast/

Recorded at Audiohive Podcasting: https://www.audiohivepodcasting.com

In collaboration with Care Addiction Center: https://www.careaddiction.com