Soberful

We all have a 'role' in our families. In this episode, we look at family dynamics. For many of us, when we are drinking that role is 'black sheep' of the family. Other family members may be 'rescuer,' or, 'scapegoat.' Every family has some dysfunction and unhealthy dynamics. Being conscious of our 'role' and how this impacts others when we get sober will help us manage the change that will occur i...

Lynn Matti is a psychotherapist the founder of Sobersoul recovery a platform dedicated to helping women recover. In this interview, Lynn shares her story of destructive drinking, infertility, divorce, and rebirth into the vibrant, healthy woman she is today.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Veronica interviews fellow psychotherapist and coach Sherry Gaba. Sherry is an expert in relationships ad the Law of Attraction in recovery. Sherry tells her own extraordinary story of co-dependency and healing.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

The holiday season provides a unique opportunity to abuse alcohol in a way that is socially acceptable. 'Legitimate Christmas drinking' is where standard rules no longer apply and it can be hard in early recovery to even consider not drinking alcohol in December. This season not only provides lots of triggers to drink it can also trigger to feel loneliness and feelings of isolation. Plus there is...

In this episode we answer questions about sugar and food cravings in recovery, detoxing safely from alcohol, overcoming regret about the past and abandonment issues.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Being a parent can be one of the hardest jobs we do. We discuss the guilt and shame that comes with having children when you are still drinking and how you can begin to heal this. We also talk about raising children in recovery, how not to overcompensate and how to talk about alcohol and drugs.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Why do people find it so hard to stop drinking? What leads to a release. Veronica and Chip answer all these questions and give their opinion on what risky situations to avoid in early recovery.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

***Trigger warning*** In this podcast we discuss the loss of a child.  In our first interview, we listen to Trishna Odedra's compelling story of staying sober through the loss of her 13-month son. We hear her incredible story of recovery, how she grieved and why she remained committed to her sobriety. Tragic and inspiring you won't want to miss this.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

We noticed a lot of people ask this question in the Soberful Facebook group and decided to address it in the podcast. Because there is such an expectation to drink alcohol (and others are so used to you drinking) it can often feel difficult the first to say 'No thanks, I don't drink anymore.' Chip and Veronica walk you through how to deal with this.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Recorded the day after the Senate hearings on Brett Kavanaugh, we discuss the role of alcohol in sexual assault. We also discuss feminism and the role patriarchy has in preventing women from coming forward.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

We discuss how the alcohol industry has tricked us into believing alcohol is harmless and beneficial to us. And how they have convinced us that without alcohol we are missing out on something. We challenge the myths and assumptions that have lead to the normalization of abnormal drinking.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

When we lose something that matters we grieve. We discuss the grief process as it applies to giving up alcohol and drugs as well as losing someone you love.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

**Trigger warning** How do you learn boundaries when they were violated as a child? We discuss why healthy boundaries are crucial to recovery and how you can begin to learn how to develop them.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

The biggest challenge Veronica faced was dealing with romantic relationships. At 3 years sober she was suicidal again. With nothing left to lose she had to find a way to deal with old demons and stay sober.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

In this episode, we cover Veronica's story. How she became an alcoholic, what happened, and what led her into sobriety.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Denial is how we lie to ourselves. It is a psychological defense mechanism that prevents the alcoholic from seeing the truth of what they are doing to themselves. In this episode, we break down the different ways denial manifests itself and offer suggestions on how to deal with it.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

How do you help someone who drinks? We consider how dealing with kids and teenagers needs a different approach than adults. We discuss how to have boundaries and what to say. How to deal with someone who keeps relapsing.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

In this episode, Chip deconstructs the 12-steps into simple, applicable everyday language. If you have read Russell Brand's book 'Recovery' and were looking for further insight into how the 12-steps work then this episode is for you.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

Recovery has its own language but what does all of it mean? We deconstruct different recovery terms like 'alcoholic,' 'problem drinker,' 'alcohol use disorder.' We also look at what it the difference is between being 'recovered' and 'recovering.' We also look at what it means to be a 'dry drunk' and how stopping drinking is only a small part of the challenge. The main problem is dealing with our f...

If you want to stop drinking should you join a recovery group? What kinds of groups are there? Chip and Veronica discuss the pros and cons of recovery support groups. Do you have to believe in God? What if I'm an atheist? What alternatives are there to AA? All these questions answered and more.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

*Trigger warning* Discussion of child sexual abuse. In this episode, we answer questions from 'Sarah' in Australia who asks how she can forgive her alcoholic mother. We also answer 'Jasmine's' question on how to overcome the suicide of the family member who sexually abused her. We discuss the process of forgiveness, dealing with resentment and accepting the relationship you have with your parents...

One of the biggest fears about quitting alcohol is that we will no longer have fun. In this episode we discuss how having fun in recovery is entirely different from having fun drunk. Sober fun is unplanned it happens naturally and usually has no price tag to it. We also talk about how scary it can be in early recovery just trying to do new things and how you can overcome these feelings so it becom...

Chip and Veronica answer questions from listeners on the subjects of going to 12-step recovery meetings, living with someone who drinks and still having cravings at 2-years sober.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

*Trigger warning* Discussion of overcoming childhood sexual abuse. How do you heal from abuse and trauma? Can you overcome childhood abuse and go on to have a happy life and fulfilling relationships? Chip explains exactly how he did that.   To learn more, visit the show notes .

*Trigger warning* Discussion of childhood sexual abuse. In this episode, Chip tells his incredible story of recovery. He grew up in an upper-class British family with no love or warmth, was abandoned to a boarding school at age seven where he was bullied. By 18 he was sticking needles in his arms. He spent time in prison and five days on life support. Listen to his amazing story of transformation....