Recovery Rocks

It's common to self-medicate mental health issues with substance abuse. Lisa and Tawny did this for years before embracing sobriety. This week they share what their depression and anxiety look like, now, and how they deal with these issues in healthy, productive ways.

When Tawny and Lisa got sober, these crazy things called "feelings" showed up and they couldn't drink them away. Some of those feelings included regret and shame about the past. Not to mention dealing with grief and "emotional hangovers" while sober. In this episode, they talk about how they deal with these feelings today.

Tawny and Lisa both struggled with what they could and could not control, including their drinking and drug use. In sobriety, they still face this challenge, but have developed tools, from yoga to practicing acceptance, so they can handle what they can't control without picking up a drink or drug.

Substance abuse and addiction aren't just bad for your health; they're also terrible for your bank account. Lisa and Tawny blew a lot of money while drinking and using drugs. They have accepted that fact, forgiven themselves, and talk about how they moved forward.

When we put down drugs and alcohol, we learned about the meanings of sobriety (abstaining from certain substances and behaviors) and recovery (working on ourselves to understand why we had the desire to pick up in the first place). But, as with everything on this journey, they mean different things to different people and they can be done in all kinds of ways.

Lisa and Tawny dish on their favorite recovery-related movies, TV shows, books, and blogs. From Mom to Love to Shame to Party Girl to Some Kind of Monster to My Fair Junkie to Slash and Anthony Kiedis's autobiographies, we could go on and on. These works give insight into recovery from all kinds of substances and behaviors from all kinds of perspectives.

When an addict stops drinking or using drugs, their addictive personality typically sticks around, often transferring to other substances or behaviors. Tawny and Lisa open up about other addictions they deal with in sobriety: personal development, self-help books, sugar, work, and more.

A big concept in 12-Step recovery is avoiding the "people, places, and things" that can trigger us or make us uncomfortable. Tawny and Lisa talk through what this concept means and how it can help anyone in recovery, whether or not they are in 12-Step programs.

It's that time of year. Alcohol and other substances seem to be everywhere. And many of us find ourselves in challenging social and family situations. This week, we talk out how we handle this tricky time in recovery.

Lisa and Tawny discuss the important role that allies play in the recovery community. They also discuss the parallels between sobriety and being in the LGBTQ+ community. The perpetual coming out, the stigma that keeps us from embracing our true selves, and how allies can help us feel safe.

Lisa and Tawny discuss how sobriety restored their self-esteem and taught them to enjoy being single before they embarked on sober dating. It also helped them figure out what they want and need in a partner and how to communicate honestly with someone new.

Not everyone's relationship to alcohol is the same. Tawny was a career bartender and social butterfly who rarely drank alone. Lisa was a so-called "high functioning" alcohol abuser who frequently drank alone to numb out. They discuss the similarities and differences of how they finally decided to quit drinking.

Yes, it does get better! This week, Tawny and Lisa talk about the big things and the little things we discover and can achieve if we kick the booze and the drugs to the curb. So many happy surprises!

Social media. It's the ultimate double-edged sword. It can inspire us and give us community. It can also be toxic and make us feel less than those we see with seemingly "perfect" lives. This week, Tawny and Lisa discuss their love/hate relationship with social media and how they try to navigate its rocky waters.

There are multiple paths to recovery and which one to take is a hugely personal decision. Lisa got and stays sober through 12-step programs. Tawny got sober blogging and connecting online. In this episode they discuss the pros and cons of both.

While the "get outside your comfort zone" rhetoric can be helpful at times, Lisa and Tawny discuss the beauty of comfort zones and the important role they play for someone in recovery. They also explore the necessity of self-forgiveness, learning to give yourself grace, and setting boundaries to preserve said comfort zones.

Lisa and Tawny welcome you to the debut episode of Recovery Rocks podcast! Lisa talks about being a lawyer/author in recovery while living in Manhattan. Tawny talks about being a sober blogger/event coordinator in recovery in Manhattan. They also share their opposing opinions on the extremely important topic of The Grateful Dead with John Mayer vs. Jerry Garcia.

This is the beginning of a trip, where you will discover how two different generations join efforts to demonstrate that it is possible to leave behind addictions to alcohol and drugs