Recovery Daily Podcast

In today's episode, I take you through the last 24 hours filled with creativity, comfort, and self-care. Join me as I recount a leading a spirited morning sobriety meeting, preceded yesterday evening with a sewing class that exceeded my expectations. I also share my joys of being in the kitchen making vegan Oreo ice cream and breakfast cookies. Of course, I got the rejuvenation of a well-timed...

The concept of H.A.L.T., an acronym that stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, and Tired, is one that was introduced to me in sobriety. Understanding and applying the H.A.L.T. principle has been a game-changer in my recovery and daily life, providing a tool to maintain emotional balance. In the throes of our daily lives, it's easy to overlook the basic needs that drive our emotions and behaviors....

Today Autumn the Weimaranar and Boris the English Bulldog make another stunning and well-behaved appearance. If you aren't too starstruck after that, I talk about the difference between being emotionally driven or spiritually led. Steps 1, 2, and 3 along with repeating the serenity prayer over and over again each day helped me to acknowledge what I can control and what I can't. Most import...

Three years ago, my life took an unexpected turn when I experienced a stroke. Previously enjoyable activities became sources of pain and frustration. As a recovering alcoholic, I find solace in the principles of the first step of Alcoholics Anonymous: admitting powerlessness and recognizing unmanageability. If I replace recovery from alcoholism with stroke recovery, I can apply the concept of admi...

Unfortunately, pain holds a vital place in our journey towards sobriety and ultimately, serenity. Recently my sobriety network has been shadowed by immense sorrow, mourning the loss of individuals to suicide, stemming from a refusal or inability to recover. Such tragedies are a reminder of the lethality alcohol. Alcohol causes death through poisoning, cancer, car accidents, heart failure, liver da...

Today's episode is about what feels like a solitary intense effort of self-improvement and healing while those around us do not seem to be putting in the same level of effort for healing our damaged relationship. Our sobriety program demands that we engage in daily practices of attending meetings, working the steps, and constantly evaluate our behaviors and thought patterns. The work is ceasel...

In this episode, I talk about navigating the delicate balance between recovery efforts and family life. Recovery can reshape family dynamics and together we can foster unity and understanding at home. Our families travel a parallel track to our recovery journey. As we invest time in AA meetings, fellowship, and therapy, it's not uncommon for our loved ones to feel neglected. It's a fundame...

What is a boomerang phrase, Rachel? Well, I'm glad you asked, listener! No matter where my mind has shot off to, a phrase like “first things first” reminds me of my priorities. Boomerang phrases I've learned in my sobriety program help me navigate the daily choices I face when living in full-time recovery as a stroke survivor with vestibular migraines and vision challenges as a result of a...

For today’s episode, we open our arms and our airwaves to the newcomers in any recovery community. Whether it’s your first listen or you're a returning lifetime listener, today we travel back to the beginning and remember what it was like to be a newcomer in a recovery community. Personally, I've experienced the power of the open-door policy firsthand over my years of sobriety and now as I...

Understanding control and unmanageability began when I got sober but I still am enlightened by new perspectives even today. The wisdom to know the difference between what we can and can't control is a cornerstone of recovery philosophy. An unmanageable life is a sense of being overwhelmed by factors outside our control, leading to chaos and confusion. For the recovering alcoholic, the distinct...

Today's focus is on Step 10 spot checks from my sobriety program, which has been an invaluable tool for self-awareness and course correction throughout the day. For those recovering from a stroke and dealing with chronic pain, the idea of Step 10 spot checks can be equally transformative. Step 10 spot checks involve taking a brief moment to assess our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors at vario...

Today, I’m reviewing the book "Identity Theft", written by Debra Meyerson and co-authored by Danny Zuckerman. It has validated so many of my emotions during this post-stroke rollercoaster I’m on. For anyone navigating the challenge of reclaiming, rebuilding, discovering the other sides of their identity after a life-altering event, this book says out loud what we feel. Meyerson is a stro...

The belief that people can't change is a notion challenged and disproven by countless stories of recovery, including my own. In applying the principles of faith and obedience to stroke recovery and vestibular therapy, I can acknowledge that these are not just strategies for overcoming alcoholism but fundamental truths about the human capacity for change. Change is a slow, deliberate journey. T...

In today’s episode, I talk about rest. I refer to both sleep and the broad spectrum of rest, its critical role in our physical and mental recovery, the science behind sleep, and practical tips for nurturing both sleep and rest in our lives. Rest goes beyond mere inactivity. It's a complex, essential process that supports the body's repair, growth, and strengthening. While resting, our bodi...

Today, I talk about why meditation is pivotal in recovery, sharing practical steps to incorporate this practice into your life, addressing common hurdles, and reflecting on the personal peace it brings, making the world seem a tad less overwhelming. Meditation helps to find stillness and clarity within. Whether from addiction, illness, or life's nonsense, meditation can ground us, helping us r...

The Recovery Daily Podcast is now available on video! 🎥 Today, we're stepping into the video world and its important to do so because I'm talking about a critical first step for some in their journey toward sobriety: the detox facility. It's a place of beginnings, of challenges, and ultimately, of hope. I'll walk through what a day in the life of a detox patient looks like, the be...

Today, I wanted to talk about why individuals in recovery from stroke, sobriety, and those battling chronic illnesses might find the once robust support network around them slowly waning. It's a reality many of us face, and it's disheartening and adds another layer of challenge to our recovery process. In this episode, I explore why this happens and, most importantly, how we can nurture an...

Today, I share about how to combat fatigue while undergoing vestibular therapy. It's a path marked with challenges so far, and fatigue has been a significant hurdle. Let's explore strategies to help manage energy levels and maintain momentum in the recovery process. Vestibular therapy is a tailored exercise-based program designed to improve balance and reduce dizziness-related problems. Ho...

In this reflective episode of Recovery Daily, I'm dialing it back a bit to share simply how I'm feeling and prioritizing sleep. Over the past weeks, I've embarked on the start of vestibular therapy where I was forewarned that I will feel worse before I feel better. I do hope the feel better will follow this fatigue and brain fog I'm experiencing. So I've been catching more Z&#3...

Fatigue encompasses a range of symptoms from low energy to brain fog, affecting alertness and endurance. People with vestibular disorders may experience fatigue due to the extra work their brains have to do. Today's episode is a review of an article straight from the VEDA website entitled " 8 Steps to Manage Fatigue. " I've been suffering from extreme fatigue and brain fog over t...

In today's episode, I discuss my struggle with catastrophic thinking. I share how, over the past month, I've come to recognize my tendency to play out the narrative of my life with an unhappy ending. My conversation today is about the "what ifs" and complex thoughts that can leave us feeling small and powerless. I'll discuss how chronic pain can lead to a spiral of negative t...

I listened to a movie today! In this episode, I share with you my thoughts of "When Love Isn't Enough: The Lois Wilson Story," a film that resonates with anyone who has ever tried to love someone out of addiction. I reflect on the parallels between Lois's story with her husband Bill and the dark side of my disease. I explore the rhyme of shared experiences. Many are left untold b...

Ok, I'm just putting it out there. I wasn't at the top of my game tonight for making a cohesive episode, so listen at your own risk. 🤣 In this episode, I discuss freedom from these invisible illnesses, how my alcoholism felt like a self-architected prison, and the unexpected place where I find temporary freedom today.

In this episode, I talk about the emotions that are stirred up by the song "How To Save A Life" by The Fray. I have raw reflections on friends lost, and the lingering question: could we have done more? I recount personal stories of friends lost to the darkness of their struggles and confronting the realities of old what-ifs . In allowing the sharp side of this pain come to the surface, I...

Inspired by lyrics from "Over You" by Daughtry and "Be Like That" by 3 Doors Down, today I talk about the collision of instincts that fed my painful past. Those same instincts can come flooding back during emotional unrest and can cause me to cling to my old character defects that are so incredibly damaging and isolating. As a nod to Step 8, I mention how confronting the past a...