The Hope Chase Podcast

Episode 26: “You are as sick as your secrets.” This week, host Angie explores the relationship between shame and healing in addiction recovery. She discusses how shame can be a barrier to recovery, healing and ways to overcome it. Why is it so important to your recovery and healing journey? Angie shares her own personal experiences with shame and how she was able to move past it, sharing for the f...

Episode 25: Exploring the topic of measuring success in recovery, Angie shares her personal experiences and insights on how to define and measure success in addiction recovery & healing journeys. She explores how breakthrough moments can be used to measure success in your recovery. Angie also discusses strategies for identifying and working towards breakthrough moments in your recovery & healing j...

Episode 24: If you're recovering from addiction, it can be tempting to settle for less than you deserve. When life seems “good” & you’re finally breaking the cycle… all of a sudden, you get a craving..? Accepting a reality that’s less than what you deserve can create an environment for settling for less, & that can hinder your progress. In this podcast episode, Angie talks about the importance of...

Episode 23: Your thoughts are killing your future. In this episode, Angie explores the concept of changing negative thoughts & untrue thinking in recovery. She shares practical tips, strategies & what she has done to shift thought patterns, cultivating a more positive & productive mindset. Angie discusses the importance of self talk, self awareness & the people you surround yourself with in regard...

Many of us have found ourselves in the middle of a traumatic situation, wondering why, asking why, what’s the reason behind it?? Only some of us, though, will look for & find the meaning behind these events. We have to look for the reason. We have to choose to stop using these events as excuses to continue the dysfunctional, negative, addictive behaviors… & choose to look for the reason, using it...

Do you feel stuck in your recovery? Do you wonder how to break the cycle of negativity in your life? Most people can certainly relate to the feeling of being “stuck” in a cycle of negativity. It’s not specific only to addiction & recovery. Breaking the cycle of addiction involves so much more than just stopping the substance use. Even after we stop the substance use, often times we find ourselves...

Have you ever thought that “moving away” would solve all of your [addiction] problems? Have you ever wished that you could “pick up & move” somewhere else to “start fresh?” Maybe if you could just move somewhere else, then you’d be able to recover. This week Angie talks about how running away didn’t work for her. Geographical cures never work. Angie shares her personal experiences with geographica...

Chances are, you or someone you know goes to therapy. Whether you are depressed, anxious, or just stubbed your toe, seeing a therapist has become so normalized. Is that a good thing? Is therapy really helpful? This week, Angie, an ex junkie & ex therapist herself, talks about how her views & opinions about therapy have changed over the years. She has a Masters degree in Social Work, was a LCSW, &...

You don’t have to be a drug addict, alcoholic or ex junkie in order to want to drastically change your life. Everyone has equal opportunities for true growth, recovery & healing, regardless of the circumstances. This week, Angie talks about 3 things you can do, starting today, no matter the circumstance, to jumpstart your own healing and recovery journey towards the life that you really want. No m...

If you’re in addiction recovery, I’m sure you know the serenity prayer. “Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can & the wisdom to know the difference.” Easier said than done. This week Angie talks about how she’s able to recognize & deal with all the things outside of her control in her recovery & healing journey. In times when she’s faced...

Some people have to learn lessons of life the hard way; & Angie is one of those people. 20 years of addiction, 17 years of being a junkie plus the last 4 years of recovery & healing has been quite the journey for Angie. This week, she shares 6 life lessons that she thinks are important for everyone to learn. From having to learn to save herself, to realizing that those people weren’t her friends…...

Do you get addiction recovery & healing inspiration from social media? There is a lot of toxicity within the addiction recovery & healing communities, especially online. This week Angie talks about one thing that annoys her about the toxic ideologies within these communities. Also, are you someone who enjoys spending time with yourself? Or are you someone who gets anxious when in a room alone…? An...

In addiction recovery & healing, eventually we all learn that life just sucks sometimes & we cannot control it. So there you are, minding your own business on your side of the street in your recovery… & boom, life happens. How are you supposed to stay positive, focused, & in that recovery / healing mindset when the uncontrollable happens? It can feel impossible at times. It can feel like “life” is...

Some people call it “hyper independence,” some people call it being self sufficient… or getting shit done. Google says that it’s a “trauma response.” Angie is calling bullshit. This week, Angie defines “hyper independence” & relates it to her own experiences with “doing everything herself.” Is it a trauma response? What does it look like? Is it a bad thing? Angie tells you why she thinks it’s a go...

Addiction recovery & healing is an emotional roller coaster. A lot of us find ourselves taking a lot of things personally, caring a little too much what others think & living in “fear of judgment” from others, getting stuck in trying to change what others think of us or how they act towards us. The reality, though, is that NOBODY CARES! Nobody cares what you’re doing; nobody is thinking about you,...

Everyone with addiction struggles with self sabotaging behaviors. Even “normal” people… & we all have fears. Whether they are conscious or not… they have to be identified & let go in order for any real change & recovery can occur… and last. This week Angie shares some of her own experiences with self sabotage, where they came from & what she’s doing about “fixing” them & moving on. & why she says...

If you’re a drug addict or alcoholic, that probably means you are no stranger to death & losing people around you to the disease of addiction. This week Angie talks about how losing most of her friends to addiction has gotten harder. Instead of asking “why not me?” …. she thinks of it as more proof & confirmation that she is meant to do something “more” with her life. Angie also talks about gratit...

Are you a loner ? Most people with alcohol/drug addiction consider themselves to be loners in life. Episode 8 Angie talks about relationships, friendships & the people we choose to surround ourselves with… and how that all relates to being a loner in addiction recovery. As we change, grow and heal in recovery, how does that affect the relationships and friendships we have? How does our recovery ul...

Most people say “enabling” a person with alcohol and/or drug addiction is a “bad thing,” & something to avoid doing. Angie talks about her own experiences with being enabled by her father for over 10 years while she was battling heroin addiction; & how her denial was affected by that... why she says that enabling someone with addiction isn’t always a bad thing. Also, what are the most important ch...

Episode 7: Can drug & alcohol addiction really happen to anyone?? Anyone?? & Is the rise of addiction representation in the media a good thing? more & more people seem to be talking about the subject of alcohol & drug addiction, but is that a good thing? Angie shares why she says no, it’s not a good thing & everything we are seeing about addiction in the media/social media, it all sucks. Why does...

Is it possible to recover from addiction on your own? Is there any other way to really recovery besides doing a 12 step program? Most people say no, it’s not possible & there really is no other way besides AA, NA or any 12 step program. Angie, however, says yes. Yes you can do it on your own. She goes through her own experiences with AA & how she’s been able to find another way to transform hersel...

From almost losing limbs, to being banned from most banks in the country, Angie recounts several experiences that resulted in life long consequences from a 15+ yr heroin addiction & how she didn’t care about anything but the next high. We Do Recover ox

Addiction treatment comes in so many forms. But do they work? Can you recover from addiction if you’re mandated or forced into it (by the courts or family, etc)? This week Angie talks about “mandated treatment,” whether or not it’s ever worked for her & she recounts personal experiences of being sent to treatment programs by the court system multiple times. what’s 1 change she thinks would drastic...

Everyone seems to have an opinion about the police these days. In episode 3, Angie talks about her own experiences within the criminal justice system from an 18 yr addiction to heroin. In light of the Tyre Nichols case & whats happening within the police, Angie recounts several arrest stories, interactions with cops and her experiences from a 15+ yr criminal history while addicted to heroin. Liste...

Ep 2: Is 100% abstinence really necessary in recovery?? Medications? Methadone / suboxone programs? Weed? …Answering this QOTD and talking about my own personal experiences from my own 15 plus yr addiction to heroin, pills, and all the things. Listen to my unpopular opinion & do you agree or disagree? So if you’re looking for a little dose of hope or maybe some proof that healing & recovery is pos...