In today’s episode, I'm discussing the transformation from chaos to clarity that sobriety brings. I share how sobriety helped me find an anchor in what seemed like an unfair life.

For many of us, alcoholic behaviors removed the colors in our view of the world, painting everything as bleak and dismal. I remember feeling like life was fundamentally unfair, a perception heavily tinted by my own actions, and yet I believed I deserved every bad thing that happened to me. Isolation became my overprotective shield, keeping me from asking for or accepting help. But in doing so, I was just making life harder for myself.

In sobriety, I realized I didn’t have to navigate life alone. Submitting to the process was tough; it felt like giving up the independence that I clung to out of fear—fear of abandonment and rejection. Recognizing a power greater than myself was pivotal. It shifted my perspective from seeing everything and everyone as a threat to understanding that I could trust others and be part of something bigger.

I share a story from my college days to illustrate the irrational thoughts I was acting on—I call it the tale of Rachel 1.0, a version of myself that I no longer identify with, but one that taught me valuable lessons about who I was as an active alcoholic.

What does sanity mean to you?

In today's episode, I discuss the intersection of neuroscience and recovery to explore how the brain subtly prepares for relapse long before we're aware of it. A psychological study about this unseen decision offers hope about recognizing early warning signals of our impending actions. I also discuss personal "red flags" that signal I'm headed down a bad road, emphasizing the importance of recognizing early indicators. By identifying behaviors such as increased isolation, neglecting personal care, and reverting to old, negative thought patterns, we can intervene before these signals spiral into more severe consequences.

Moreover, this episode provides practical, proactive strategies to encourage mindfulness, including maintaining open communication with your support network, taking meditation breaks, and regularly revisiting coping strategies. I aim to empower us with the knowledge to understand and monitor our brain's subtle cues, enhancing our ability to maintain sobriety.

As the sun casts rays, and our days fill with the amazing energy of summer, it's a wonderful time to talk about sobriety. During the season of festivals, pool parties, and outdoor dinners, we need to go a bit further than just maintaining our sobriety. We need to celebrate it!

Summer brings a unique set of challenges for those of us in recovery. For many, it's a time of vacations, celebrations, and alcohol. Being an alcoholic applies year-round—summer included, a time filled with scenarios where I used to drink. Interestingly, since summer only rolls around once a year, this means I've only practiced staying sober in this season seven times so far. So I get to practice again in the coming months and wanted to share a bit about my experience with summer as an alcoholic.

This morning, our reading from "Living Sober" titled "Looking Out for Overelation" struck a chord with me. It reminded me that I'm still practicing not drinking when I'm happy, relaxed, celebrating, having fun. It's one thing to guard against drinking when we're stressed or upset, but equally important to maintain that vigilance during good times, too.

My summer drink has been replaced with slurpees and snow cones. I absolutely love them! And there are so many ways to celebrate without alcohol. Keep your favorite non-alcoholic beverages handy, surround yourself with supportive friends, and find fun in the new activities.

Listen to this episode for more on enjoying life's warmest days, sober and present.