Addiction Unlimited Podcast

Healthy Habits –  What if I told you there are a handful of simple actions you can take right now that will definitely improve your life? Would you be willing to try? Even if you “don’t feel like it”? We’re supposed to eat healthy, get 10,000 steps a day, work, sleep, take care of your family, exercise, go to your support group meetings, do self-care… and…seriously?!? Well,...

Mind Chatter –  Does your brain start chattering and seemingly never stop? Do you feel distracted and unable to focus, like your brain just won’t shut up and it can be so noisy up there it’s overwhelming? I’m right there with you, my friend. The constant mind chatter that analyzes every single thing about you and your life, your circumstances, your fears, and all of your shortcomings. Reflec...

Sobriety –  When you think about your sober future, what kind of life do you dream of living? What kind of impact will you have on your family? If you don’t think it’s possible to feel crystal clear on how to take your recovery and use it to build your dream life, happiness, and have a powerful impact on your family… you’ve never met Veronica Valli. Veronica is a busy mom and wife who passio...

Alcoholism and Relationships –  If you think being an alcoholic is hard, try being in a relationship with one! You’ve heard me talk about relationship dynamics from time to time, and just how important it is to communicate with the people around us and to be patient with one another. But I’ve never really talked about what this looks like for the family, friends, and partners. On their own,...

Rock Bottom –  You’re all familiar with the concept. You see it in movies, all over television, and we read it in books. Someone’s life is spiraling out of control – they are getting DUIs, getting arrested, getting fired, going to prison – and when they are at their all-time low, they land at their rock bottom moment and decide they have to change their lives. The problem with this pic...

Quit Drinking Alcohol –  You may feel like alcohol helps with feelings of stress, anger, worry and sadness, but it isn’t what it seems and can actually have negative effects both in the short-term and long-term. Let’s get into this topic about your mental health –  how you improve when you stop drinking, are the effects of substances permanent or is it fixable, and what that jour...

Betrayal Trauma –  If a parent or romantic partner violates your trust, you may experience betrayal trauma. Any betrayal can cause emotional distress and that trauma may affect your self-esteem, emotional health, and relationships with others. Psychologist Jennifer Freyd first introduced betrayal trauma in 1991. She described it as a specific trauma that happens in key social relationships w...

Addictive Behavior –  Have you ever felt like you have an addictive personality? Like you don’t have an off switch in anything. When you start something new it becomes your sole focus, you’re 100% in, and if it feels good and you like it, you just want to do more of it. I’m willing to bet, you’re nodding your head yes right now and I’m right there with you. The good news is, there’s nothing...

Drinking in moderation Wherever you may be in your journey, attempts to moderate drinking are a part of (almost) everyone’s story. It’s a relationship we spend years nurturing. It has your back, it’s always there, and it always gives you what you need. Until it doesn’t. You may know today’s guest as the superstar host of the Hello Someday Podcast. And, believe it or n...

Sober Vacation –  What do you have planned for your next trip? A family vacation? A family reunion, a work trip, or a camping trip? Days on the beach? Nights on the town? It’s hard to imagine doing any of it without a drink in hand, especially if you are new to sobriety or, if you are facing your first ever sober travel. Going on vacation usually means relaxing and being carefree. And...

Ever wonder what’s possible when you change your life? In this episode, we’ll get into the amazing success story of Will Thatcher, a sober guy and published author. Will, the author of Killing Hurt , has taken his recovery to new levels by harnessing a passion that was already inside of him but had been hiding quietly for years. I understand that feeling of wanting to do things, have fun in your l...

Long-Term Sobriety Successful recovery has everything to do with how you approach your daily life. Imagine this scenario: Your recovery is going great. You’re staying sober everyday, things are on track, and overall, you’re feeling pretty proud of what you’ve accomplished so far. But let’s b real — you’re also  feeling a little bit  burnt out  from pouring every ounce of your soul into your sobrie...

How to Forgive:  When someone wrongs you in some way, you may feel certain you’ll never be able to forgive them. Even after your immediate anger calms down, you may continue to think about the betrayal instead of letting it fade into the past. It’s pretty common to feel this way. The problem is, holding onto the negativity will harm you  more than anyone else. Forgiveness might seem challenging, b...

Effects of Alcohol on the Body Figuring out your relationship with alcohol can be hard. Especially if you’re looking for all the reasons to convince yourself you’re “not that bad”. And, on top of all the questions flying around in your head, like, am I really that bad? Will I be able to control it after I stop for awhile? Do I really have to quit forever? You may also be wondering what type of dam...

Cope With Cravings For Alcohol   Can you relate to this: You’ve made a commitment to yourself, and maybe even your family, that you aren’t drinking anymore. You remind yourself you’re going to be more committed than ever, you’ve started some morning rituals to keep you on track, and you know this time it has to be different. Maybe you’ve made it a week or a month- maybe you’ve even made it a...

Avoid Relapse  You’ve heard it before, right? Relapse is a part of recovery. So how do you actually avoid relapse? The truth is, the vast majority of people relapse in their first year of sobriety. I know through my own experiences and those of my clients that understanding relapse and having a plan in place to overcome it, can dramatically change your life. What does that plan look like? How do y...

One of the most challenging aspects of breaking the cycle of yo yo sobriety is learning to believe in yourself again. Rebuilding confidence isn’t an overnight process, but with the right guidance and mindset, you can rebuild a stronger, more resilient version of yourself. We all understand that facing the relentless cycle of stopping and starting again can be incredibly disheartening. It&#82...

Are you tired of constantly chasing this elusive ideal of how you think you should be, only to end up feeling frustrated and burnt out? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Today, we’re diving headfirst into the tumultuous waters of perfectionism and learning how to conquer it. Perfectionism is this sneaky little thing that creeps into our lives, whispering lies in our ears. It convin...

If you know me, you know I live for a good success story. And today is definitely one of those. What you’ll love about my guest today is that she shares her real life and real struggles, from sitting in her life pre-pandemic dealing with a break-up, weight gain, and over spending to soothe her broken heart, to how she used the global pandemic to her advantage. You may know Alexa Lowe as a be...

Have you ever wondered if someday you’ll be able to drink again? Wondering if you quit for a few months, a year, or even multiple years, if you’ll be able to come back around and drink like a “normal” person? First of all, there is nothing normal about those people- they’re terrible alcoholics and they have no idea what they’re doing- but I’m willing to bet, if you’re listening to this podcast rig...

Did you know that 56% of people with bi-polar disorder have a history of drug abuse? And 44% struggle with alcohol issues? I’m so glad you’re here today, because this is something that we, as a community, need to continue talking about more, and that is our mental wellness. And I’m raising my hand right now as someone who struggles with wellness, and I’m curious if you are as well. Here&#821...

In general, “be yourself” means be true to your core identity rather than faking a different one because you think it will be attractive to others. (psychologytoday.com) You’ve heard the saying your whole life – Just be yourself! But how do you “just be yourself”, when you don’t have a solid sense of who you are? That’s what we’re talking about in today’s episode. How do you figure out...

Does exercise and movement give us a framework to follow for sobriety and fulfillment? Coach Blu definitely thinks so, and he’s here to tell you all about it in today’s episode! In this episode, Blu breaks down how to align your passion for sobriety with getting moving and healing your wounds… instead of just getting by day in and day out. Blu is a mental health therapist, host of the Addict II At...

Does the thought of doing all the summer things and trying to stay sober at the same time absolutely overwhelm you? If so, I can guarantee you’re not alone. I felt the same way when I thought about the lazy days at the pool with all of my over-drinking friends, or the 4 th of July bbq’s where the bbq is really an afterthought and the cocktails are the main attraction. I knew I didn’t want to drink...

If you come from a dysfunctional upbringing, have failed relationships, and struggle with boundaries, codependence and/or people pleasing.. you’ll want to tune in to this episode, my friend. We’re going to cover all the bases of toxic traits in relationships, emotional abuse, selfishness, and everything in between. And you may be surprised by a few details I share about myself. My guest today is a...