The Other Side of Hell Podcast

What happened to us is not our fault. Being alcoholic is not our fault. Becoming addicted is not our fault. BUT-it is our responsibility to do what is necessary to not let those things take us over.  We ask for the strength to change the things we can. And today, we’re talking about taking responsibility for those things.    This week’s topic is inspired by the warstory from Mariah! Mariah grew up...

Does social accountability equal personal recovery?   As long as our outsides look good then who cares about our insides, right? This was often the thought we had when we were using. As long as certain boxes are checked, its okay that we’re spiritually bankrupt. Boy were we wrong.    Join us this week where we talk about this thinking error and what it took to realize the truth. This conversation...

“The only thing you have to change is everything.”   Is it possible to hang out with your drinking buddies when you’re sober? How about your drug dealer? You can still talk to him right? I mean just because you’re not using now doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends. These are nice thoughts but the reality is, the company we keep can make or break our sobriety.    This week we dive into the influ...

Stinkin’ thinkin’. It’s been said that we can not think our way into right acting, but we can act our way into right thinking. In our case it's taken a lot for us to get away from the default mode of alcoholic thinking. And even now, it seems to be easy to slip into a default negative thought pattern. So what can we do about it? Let’s talk about it.    On this week’s episode we’re talking about re...

As we trudge the road of happy destiny, it's fair to say we may encounter some bumps in the road. Especially later in the game.  What we have found as we continue down the path is that it's important we remain open, honest, and willing. ALWAYS! If we do these things, when we hit the slump that can come with long term sobriety, we’re more likely to do what is necessary as the need for more work is...

Ready? Here's the truth: We used and we drank because it did something for us that we weren't getting any other way. At least, at first. But what?? What exactly was it doing for us? And how do we get that after we sober up?? Good question. Let's talk about it.    We got a great warstory this week from Allison who inspired this topic. Allison was a bit of a late bloomer but once she found out what...

Do you have a journey with a god of your own understanding? Let’s face it, most of us have some sort of history with religion, god or faith. On this week’s episode we talk about the journey of navigating through those waters and how rediscovering God can truly grant the peace we may be seeking.    This week’s topic comes from our warstory from Ryan! Ryan is a pastor of a local spiritual community ...

How many of us literally shouldn’t be here? For most of us, it isn’t hard to point out more than one occasion where we should have lost our lives. Whether it’s because of something we did drunk, or when we were young or even because of an ailment, we’re not short on second chances.    So what are you doing today to take advantage of YOUR second chances? Well, today we’re sharing this week’s warsto...

Most of us addicts have been through some shit. Then there are those of us who have REALLY been through some shit. Unfortunately, we addicts don’t rule the market on trauma. It generally gets spread indiscriminately to those who may simply be in the wrong place and the wrong time.    This week we’re talking about Thriving after Trauma, a topic inspired by a warstory from Jesi. We asked Katie to jo...

What is so appealing about alcohol that we go through the trouble of figuring out how we can drink normally? Are we drinking because we’re unhappy or unhappy because we’re drinking? Is alcohol relieving our depression and anxiety or masking them?    We have questions.    Lucky for us, today’s guest has answers.    On this week’s episode, we welcome Gill to the show. She is host of the Sober Powere...

What an interesting topic. Making yourself available? For what?    FOR OTHERS IN RECOVERY!!!   If there is one thing we’ve figured out by now, a sure fire way to get out of self is by helping others. In order to do so we must make ourselves available to those who may still be suffering. Easier said than done sometimes. Luckily, we have a great many-a-people we can look to for advice if ever we get...

“I always thought I liked heavy metal but did I really like heavy metal?”   When we get sober it's said that the only thing we have to change is everything. For some of us that means EVERYTHING. Generally, we’ve been out using and drinking so long that we don’t really have any sense of who we are as sober individuals. It takes going through the process of self-discovery to learn new things about o...

This one is one for our 12 step folks. It’s a long overdue topic that plays a pivotal role in any successful 12 step recovery program. Sponsorship.    What is a sponsor? Why is it important? How do you get one? Can we apply a mentorship attitude towards other aspects of our life outside of sobriety? Join us as we dive deep into that one-of-a-kind, love/hate relationship that we 12 steppers call Sp...

It’s one of the hardest things we may have to do. We’ve felt the high that comes with sobriety. We’ve been on fire with recovery. We’ve established ourselves within our new found community. And then, relapse. Why? The why isn’t as important as we may think. Truth is, we’re alcoholic. We’re addicts. The solution is still the same. Coming back after relapse is emotional and frightening. But, if we’r...

We’ve all had pivotal moments in our recovery; things that really changed the game for us. With a new found sense of seeking we often are able to determine action needs to be taken. Often that action can lead to true breakthroughs.   On this episode, Willy and Cameron are talking about game changers in recovery. Those people, places or things that really allowed us to change our perspective. Can’t...

If you tuned in today looking for a new episode, please check back Friday! New content will now be released at the end of the week to help you get through the weekend!   In lieu of a new episode, we hope you’ll enjoy this compilation of behind the scenes shenanigans from the show! A good reminder that we can always have fun in recovery! Enjoy!   https://youtu.be/H121uMLTcSU   RESOURCES Excellent D...

It’s been said that the first thing we put before our recovery is the second thing we’ll lose. We put a lot of energy into our drinking and using. In fact, it was usually the only thing we were putting energy into. It was more important than our relationships, our jobs, or our morals and values. In recovery, it’s important that we build our lives around sobriety and never forget that if we didn’t...

When most of us were at our bottom, we were spiritual bankrupt. There was no sense of anything other than self within us and we were hopeless. Our thoughts only served to keep us sick and our actions usually followed suit. But then, a miracle.   Our topic comes this week from our Warstory from Storme. Though she was raised in a healthy, well-to-do family Storme still felt uneasy until relief came...

Our pasts are a tricky thing. We’ve all done things we’re not proud of while out runnin’ and gunnin’. If we’re to move past that stuff we have to forgive ourselves for it. Then we’re able to find value in our story and use it to help those around us. But not before we look inward and forgive.   This week’s topic is inspired by Charlie who shared his warstory with us. Charlie grew up in the room’s...

It seems like most of us at one time or another, have been guilty of isolating. It’s something we hear a lot about in recovery as a “bad thing.” It tends to be a way to shield our negative behavior. But is isolating always bad? Tune in to this week’s show and join the conversation.   Our topic this week is inspired by Edana’s warstory, which you’re sure to identify with. It’s fair to say that Edan...

Say it with me: I am not responsible for my first thought, only my first action. This can take some time to really sink in. For most of us, we had to come the realization that our thinking is a bit skewed. The things that occur to most “normies” may process through our thinkers differently. It’s okay! It’s what makes us who we are today. Accepting our flaws and understanding our thinking errors is...

We’ve all done it. Some of us more than others. And typically when we were in the depths of our disease, we couldn’t not do it. So what are we talking about? Lying, of course.   Most of us didn’t even know how to be honest. We’d lie without even realizing it was happening with our number one offender being ourselves. So not surprisingly, just like everything else we had unlearn, lying was a big on...

Solidarity is defined as unity that produces or is based on community of interests, objectives, and standards. To say we have found this in the recovery community is a severe understatement. With solidarity comes love, support and strength, all the ingredients necessary for a solid recovery. One might even go as far as to say, the solidarity with in the Recovery community is a power greater than a...

When we began a process of recovery, we didn’t know what to expect. We only knew that drinking and/or drugging was destroying us. Hopefully, we get to the point where the fear of the unknown outweighed the pain of staying in the disease.   For those of us in A.A., we hear certain promises that we’ll receive as a result of working the 12 steps. Though they seemed somewhat unobtainable when compared...

There’s a reason why one of the first things we have to do in order to get better is to admit we are powerless. When we do, we open ourselves to help from a power greater than ourselves. When most of us are at rock bottom, just about anything will suffice for that power. But it doesn’t come without first realizing that we can’t control the things we think we can.   This week’s topic, admitted we w...