#Trending Series: Pt 1: Craving vs. Addiction

On their own path to recovery, Mike and Glenn will be the first to tell you when it comes to cravings vs addictions, both words are subjective. Discussing it at the coffee shop, they both agree – cravings are one sign of addition and fertile soil where addiction can really grip in and grow. When you’ve lost control of a craving and you just keep doing it, that’s an addiction.

Sober curious and wondering about cravings? Glenn suggests cravings last about 20 minutes. Can you suffer better for 20 minutes and use tools to get out of the situation like changing your environment or calling a friend?  

On the road to recovery? Be aware when you’re going into a situation where you might be tempted – yes you may have a craving, but deal with it. Process it and have a plan.

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

Want more clinical information about Cravings vs Addiction?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog: https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/cravings-vs-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

Bonus Drop: Dr. John Outlines the “ISM” vs. “WASM”

Dr. John relates the “ISM” of alcoholism to the human condition, a yearning to fill the void, a yearning for wholeness and connectedness. With Mike & Glenn, he discusses the viewpoint that we don’t need AA to tell us that drinking makes life s*&% or that if you don’t drink your life will be better. What we need AA for is that even when we don’t drink and things get better, even when we clean up our act, we still have a hole in our soul, still yearn, still hunger. If alcohol is the only thing that fills that void, it’s easy to relapse. Which makes working the program, going to meetings and staying connected important on the path to recovery.

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

Welcome Steve G – A Story of Experience, Strength & Hope

Steve G joins Sober.Coffee at a table for three and gives us a glimpse into his life and how he found sobriety. A sneak peek – it took losing everything over a 20 month period, being homeless and living in the back of a Jeep Renegade, then finding himself in a surprise intervention to get Steve on the path to recovery. 

Now, 30 years sober, Steve still goes to a lot of meetings. Why? Because nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking as intense work with other alcoholics. Besides sponsoring others, going to meetings, and being available to meet for coffee – Steve focuses on sober living, and is the Executive Director for RCOSA, a sober living community in Chicago.

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

Mentioned in this episode:

RCOSA: https://www.rcosa.org/

Blue October Home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJTMBGFJVkk&feature=youtu.be

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

Bonus Drop: Dr. John 1 – Step One – “You’re F&#@cked”

Dr. John joins the Sober Coffee shop with Mike & Glenn to explore Step 1 and why it is more complicated than it appears. After all, rarely will a person fail if they thoroughly follow the path. Yet 90% fail. Why?  Because they don’t embrace the first step – you’re f&#@cked. Learning to live this reality is how you get better. Listen in for a deeper dive.

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

Welcome Curtis & Dani – Founders at The Sober App – A New Sober Tool in Development

Curtis and Danni had two very different journeys to recovery. While Danni’s tough childhood was filled with abuse and exposure to alcohol and drugs, Curtis was surrounded by social drinkers. Each shares their experiences from the first drink to how they found sobriety, and how they ultimately met each other and embarked on a business venture to create The Sober app. 

The Sober app is a safe space where anyone suffering with addiction, or wanting to stay connected, can go to find recovery tools or get help virtually. From meetings and education to resources and community, it can be found on the app. 

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

For more about Danni, Curtis & The Sober app:

Danni on IG: https://www.instagram.com/sober_socially/

The Sober on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thesober.app/

The Sober website: thesober.passion.io

Download The Sober app on Google: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.po1n27xul1xr.p3l6x32ygapp

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

Advice from “Old Timers”

From how to pick a sponsor to why old timers and newcomers are – and are not – so different, Mike and Glenn talk about perceptions, reality, and what those years of sobriety actually mean. Coffee is sipped, experience is shared, and the secret sauce is revealed. Listen in to the coffee shop for the 7 keys and most important pieces of advice from admittedly not old timers. 

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

Resentments in Sobriety – Relapse Fuel? Peace Killer? How to Deal…

Resentment is bitter indignation and a negative reaction to perceived mistreatment. Every time you see something, or hear something, it gets processed through your filter. You’re either going to process it as a personal assault on your pride or ego – or you will have acceptance.

Talking about emotional perception and the role it plays in resentment, Mike & Glenn discuss resentment in addiction and in recovery. What fuels it? How does it start? And more importantly, ways to combat resentments, ways to live so you don’t pile them up – and when they do come, ways to dissect and diffuse them.

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Big Book of AA: https://www.aa.org/the-big-book

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

“How’s Your Year Going” ?? Laying a Sober Foundation

The foundation to building a life in recovery doesn’t always start with lofty goals and high expectations. Sometimes slow and steady builds the sturdiest foundation. The question “how are you doing now that it’s the middle of the year?” starts an open conversation about what the middle of the year and the middle of recovery looks like for Mike  and Glenn – and just how much it has to do with how they started. 

The answer to the question of how you are doing depends on whether you’re comparing now to the start of the year, or the start of recovery, or even the start of the yesterday. Sure, someone might be doing great compared to before sobriety, but Mike & Glenn suggest that how you find growth is to ask, “are you doing better today than yesterday?” It’s part of being patient, and if you are thinking about changing your lifestyle, know that recovery is going to take time. It’s important to let it play out, be patient, and lay that foundation.

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

Health Check: Impact of Drinking on Health

The news tells you drinking a glass of red wine each night improves health, but news outlets also say anyone under 40 shouldn’t drink any alcohol. The impact of alcohol on health is not always obvious and let’s face it – health is likely lowest on the priority when out there indulging. Mike and Glenn know from experience and have seen close friends suffer physically from negative impacts on alcoholism on their health. Listen in as Glenn compares alcohol to rat poison and Mike talks about mental health, stress and watching friends pay the ultimate physical price – losing your liver.

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

Want more clinical information about the Impact of Alcoholism on Health?

Visit Care Addiction Center’s Resources For Recovery Blog: https://www.careaddiction.com/edu/effects-of-alcohol-on-health

Mentioned in this podcast:

9 Habits Linked To A Longer, Happier Life: https://www.cnn.com/2022/08/23/health/longevity-live-longer-tips-wellness/index.html

Alcohol Is Never Good For People Under 40: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/jul/14/alcohol-is-never-good-for-people-under-40-global-study-finds

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

Key Learning: “Never Go Back”

Do you have relationships that are hurting your efforts to sobriety? Over a cup of coffee, Glenn shares his catalyst to moving towards sobriety – starting by getting out of a strenuous relationship because he was trying to get sober on a foundation that shook. 

Dr. Henry Cloud, in his book “Never Go Back: 10 Things You’ll Never Do Again” gives this advice: do the hard thing. When you recognize you’re in a situation where you’re back-and-forth, back-and-forth – do the hard thing and get out of that situation. Your life is going to suck for six months. But at the six month mark you’ll look back and say “my life is so much better”.

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

Mentioned in this episode:

Song: Never Go Back Again by Fleetwood Mac: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HM6FrSitvc

Book: Never Go Back by Dr Henry Cloud: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Go-Back-Things-Youll/dp/1451669313/

For more about this podcast:

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

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