Addiction Unlimited Podcast

what is moderate drinking If the illusion of moderation is very persistent and you find yourself thinking, “Maybe I can, in fact, have just ONE drink”. And things aren’t going as well as you’d hoped, or you find yourself feeling left out in groups, or the lie tells you that once you ‘work through it’ then you can manage just one drink. If any of this sounds familiar then you, my friend, are in the perfect place right now. This is a must-listen-to podcast if you are any of those scenarios. So, if you’ve ever had challenges with the moderation myth or your brain keeps telling you it will different now and you’re a little bit worried about how to get through it, today is like a checklist of different areas that you can troubleshoot to make sure if you’re stuck you can move through it; and if you haven’t fallen into the trap yet, then you can side step some of these big mistakes. It’s important that you actually listen to this episode and not tune out because this isn’t happening for you right now. This is

Movies About Addiction Today’s episode is a little extra special. The reason for that is that we’re approaching this topic from a totally different angle. We’re not going to talk about programs. We’re not talking about pitfalls, recovery plans, and another day 1. Not that we’re not talking about any of it, but, we are going to talk about a totally different approach to quitting drinking that you’ve probably never thought of before. Today, we are talking about movies about addiction. That might seem a little bit weird as a way to get sober, and, if you know anything about me you already know I’m a planner and like to have things laid out. So this completely unorthodox way of approaching recovery really intrigued me. When my new friend, Ted Perkins, reached out to me about his book and wanted to talk about the connection between movies and addiction and how he used movies about addiction to get sober, I thought it was something I definitely wanted to explore. Ted is a former Universal Pictures and Warner

dealing with triggers I’m going to start this episode with a mind-blowing statistic. Are you ready? Okay, here we go. Everyone has triggers. Crazy, right? I know, I know, it’s not that mind-blowing when you think about it because we are all living life, dealing with the ups and downs and the changes we have to make as we go through it. Change is inevitable. And when we are undergoing change, leaving old behaviors, habits, and people behind, there will be triggers. It’s also a little comforting to know we’re in this together because if you’ve had to overcome triggers, like I have, then we’re not alone. Actually, we’re in great company. Now, if I told you that you can get through all your triggers and I can show you how to do it, would you be interested? Yes? I hope you just said yes because that’s what we’re doing today. It’s important to continue talking about this topic of triggers because I know many of my clients experience it, to the point that they fear starting new and exciting endeavors or they wi

people pleasing People pleasing is a common struggle for most people, especially those of us with addiction issues. The key is to not let those habits stop you from doing the work that you know you need to do. So what do you do when the fears of saying “no”, or setting boundaries around your time and energy threaten to throw you off your game or derail you completely? You get guidance, take action, and learn to keep moving forward. And sometimes you need a little inspiration to keep you going. In this episode, my friend Nick Pollard (TikTok phenom) and I are going to dig into the underlying fears and feelings people have that turn us into exhausted little people-pleasers. As a Coach, Nick’s work is to pull back the curtain on the underlying issues we have to work on to create happier lives with more energy for our friends and families, and feeling more confident in the choices we make. Some of the very things you may be experiencing now may be obstacles, but they are not insurmountable. This is my 15th ye

New Year Plan Can you believe 2022 is over already? I know it’s so cliché and everyone is saying it- but this year has gone by so fast! Maybe you can relate. I know when a year is packed with as many projects, challenges, milestones reached and lessons learned as 2022 has been for me, it makes time fly by. Some years ago I adopted a new way of thinking about it - instead of thinking about resolutions, as if something isn’t right and needs to be resolved – I think about my intentions for the upcoming year. And because my sobriety birthday is in January, I have a tradition at the end of the year I always reflect back on what my life was like before I got sober. Of course, that immediately puts me in a place of gratitude because I was such a mess in so many ways. And, it gives me fresh inspiration on how I want to approach the coming year. This year, I went through some major stuff. And, if we all get honest here, every year is full of major stuff. So as I was reflecting on the past 12 months, I was wri

Feeling better, adulting better, and how life will steer you the right direction (whether you’re ready for it or not!) A mom with a huge heart, a nurse, and determined to change the game, Lucy Maina is here and she’s ready to help you take action on your recovery dreams, move forward even when fear wants to hold you back, and use the gifts you already have to support your sobriety. I love this interview with Lucy, and I know you will, too. In this episode we talk about how she channeled her energy from the beginning to support her decision to quit drinking, why her thoughts and mindset were such a powerful tool in the process, and the importance of getting comfortable being uncomfortable. There are so many light bulb moments, “a-has”, and brow-raising WOWS in this episode, I can’t even name them all. You’ll just have to listen to the podcast and hear them for yourself. On this show, conversations have a life of their own and a lot of wisdom is revealed. And when Lucy says, “I decided to focus on two thing

Healthy Routines When you're going into a stressful time of year your healthy routines get off balance, there are tons of things to do, and stressors lurking around every corner. And if you don't know what to do, that lack of clarity can you lead you down the path of overwhelm and high anxiety. That's why I recorded today's episode. To take away your stress and make this process a lot easier for you. I'm breaking down a few fundamental steps to focus on when your rituals and routines are thrown off balance in the holiday season with travel, family, and all the added financial and time stressors. Whether you're just getting started, or you have decades of sobriety under your belt. These are absolutely crucial for a successful and sober holiday season (or any high-stress situation!). Are you a successfully substance-free and getting through stressors with ease? Don't click away because this episode is for you, too. I not only focus on these steps for the holidays, but I still practice this today whenever I

I don't fit in anywhere Not all success stories are created equal. There are easy stories, hard stories, and everything in between. All are different and unique in their own way and all of them can have a happy ending. In this episode, I share an enlightening conversation with Nate Kelly about his quest of growing up, figuring himself out, and ending up in an unhealthy relationship with alcohol. He talks about... How he used alcohol to make him more social and to fit in more. The successes, and struggles, he went through trying to figure out where he fit and what his life would look like. Plus, we delve into trying to find yourself in a world that doesn't support those of us who don't fit in anywhere. If you've ever just felt different, and unsure about how you fit or where you fit, this episode is for you! Links mentioned in this episode:  Join Me On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited Sobriety Diaries Podcast: Sobriety Diaries Podcast Book A Call With Angela: addictionunlimited

Mental Wellness I wholeheartedly believe that mental wellness in recovery can be one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It gives you the freedom to design your life the way you want to and gives you the energy to do the things you love. But as you have probably figured out, if you don't have the right plan in place, the stress of social and family events can really take a toll on you. Every day, recovering people are dealing with things like anxiety, loneliness, and burnout. The statistics on relapse are alarming, and if I'll be straight with you... the numbers are far too high and hit a little close to home. It's a goal of mine to bring more awareness and solutions to this issue that affects so many people. And that's why we're talking all about the actions, solutions, and tools you need to protect your recovery and continue to build on that happiness and comfort you're striving for in sobriety. Especially when you are going into social and family situations that can push ALL your buttons and triggers

take control of your life When it comes to creating the life you want, most people think they are at the mercy of outside forces.  But what if I told you… you have the power to create what you speak?

Finding Passion If you find yourself doing busy work because you don’t know what else to do, or feel like you are at a total loss when it comes to knowing yourself and your hobbies, it’s time to start finding passion in your life. Imagine this: You get out of bed early feeling refreshed and ready for your weekend. You love to spend time with your kids and make their favorite pancakes for breakfast, and you can’t wait to get some time for yourself to do the things you love. You know your happy place, you love your hobbies, and you feel excited to get there! Having activities you enjoy in your life is important! And, as much as we enjoy being workaholics, parents and partners, there has to be more to your life than just work and family. Studies show that taking part in fun and leisure activities improves your overall health, but when you get lost in addiction you often lose sight of yourself and the things you once loved. What are you passionate about? What activities do you enjoy on your day off? If yo

mommy wine culture You feel embarrassed and humiliated because you know you are hiding this secret, and you feel like you should know better. Unfortunately, way too many moms fall victim to the mommy wine culture and as a result, get completely lost in the comfort of the drink. If this sounds familiar to you, then keep reading, my friend, because today’s guest, Michelle Smith, has a powerful story about losing yourself in alcohol and hiding it from the world, all while trying to work and be a great mom. Michelle is a speaker, influencer, and educator with a digital community for women exploring an alcohol-free lifestyle Her recovery is thriving -- but that hasn’t always been the case. In fact, it took a lot of soul searching, exploration, and life struggles for Michelle to land in a safe sober place in her life and how it truly lit her up. And by staying on track and pushing through some really difficult situations, she was able to create the sober life of her dreams Today, Michelle shows women all acro

When life throws you a curveball, sometimes you have to get back to basics until you feel better. When you are going through something really heavy, at some point you have to make a decision to get into action. Otherwise, you’re going to sink. I was sinking. And I knew I would continue to sink if I didn’t make a conscious choice to do some things, to take action to counteract all the negativity and sadness. I had to feel better. And my first thought was, just get back to basics. Just do the most basic things that you know are good for you and if you do those things consistently, and let time heal you, you will get better. There will be times in our lives that we will cry. There will be curve balls that make you feel like your soul is dying. Those days that are a struggle, that you don’t want to do it, you want to give up -  those are the days that define who you are. Don’t quit. Hard times come for everyone, and they are what make you strong but only when you make the decision to keep moving forward.

Sober Motivation It may sound crazy to think about getting geared up for holiday season, but I want you to be prepared so we are starting with some warm and fuzzy motivation. In the midst of all the weight of getting sober, having jobs, raising kids, and being high-functioning... it can be exhausting to stay excited about this self-help journey. And knowing there is plenty of stress for everyone, I want you to take a minute to breathe, and think about all the rewards for the hard work you are doing. It's so easy to look at the road ahead and get focused on how far we have to go. It is a road with no end, by the way, our work is never finished. At the same time, focus also on how far you've come. I went back in the archives of Addiction Unlimited and pulled some clips from some of my favorite guests to put together an episode that is laser focused on the beauty of transformation and all the rewards that come with having a clear mind and a vision for the future. Allyson Kane, Russ Perry, Omar Pinto, Mark

family support in sobriety If you’ve ever made a big change in your life then you know firsthand how lonely it can feel to be on the road less traveled. And it’s not because the change you are making is bad or wrong (trust me, I’m a huge fan of changing and growing), you most likely feel lonely because the people around you are staying the same. Having a strategy is the surefire way to stick to your change. It’s the driving force that will keep you going when it gets difficult or feels overwhelming – when you’re exhausted, and think you want to give up, isolate in your room with the door locked and watch the latest episode of Love Is Blind. I’ve been there before, and I know you have, too. And that’s why, in this episode, I am giving you 4 easy actions you can take to ease the anxiety of feeling like you don’t have family support in sobriety and you begin to doubt whether it’s worth your time and energy to keep going. Grab a pen & paper… or open an app… and get ready to jot down these steps so that thos

If you’re a human being on this planet then I’m willing to bet there have been a million times that you have said, “If only I knew then what I know now, I would have ____________.” Yes, my friend. Hindsight is always 20/20, and it’s so much easier to see the truth of your situation when you’re looking back on it in the past rather than standing in it in the present moment. It’s also easy to look back and blame yourself for the “mistakes” you made. But here’s the thing, you were doing the best you could with what you knew at the time. And when you know better, you do better I mean, I thought it was a great idea to overpluck my eyebrows in the early 2000s, and here we are now spending a small fortune to restore those beautiful brows back to the thicker life they once had. But all jokes aside, in this episode you’ll meet Bob, one of my star clients with an incredible success story. He’s going to share his own bumpy ride to recovery, how relapse helped him stay sober, the things that have given him a ton of m

Relationships in recovery It scares you and excites you all at the same time. You are making lifestyle changes and want, more than anything, to regain control of your life. You can see this sober future full of friends and laughter, having a clear mind, and achieving more than ever to build your dream life. But where does romance fall into the equation? Maybe the thought of leaving the booze behind to pursue an alcohol-free life gives you butterflies, but every time you think about how it will affect your marriage or your dating life you think, "Oh man, this could change everything." Something I've learned over the last 16+ years of recovery and personal development is that nothing is more important than communication. Those butterflies in your stomach are a loud and clear message that it's time to shake things up and take some action. It isn't always comfortable- I mean, let's keep it 100 - you have to get out of your comfort zone to do anything amazing and rewarding. But I can promise you this, the b

Addiction in the family Any difficulty can be resolved when people are willing to own their emotional issues and to get the process of communication healthy. You can have the kind relationships you have always wanted, but it takes becoming the kind of person who treats others the way you want to be treated regardless of how they treat you. This is a story of a father and son’s journey to healing through substance abuse, depression, anger and family conflict. It is a story of redemption and growth through the emotional anguish that many families experience in the teen years and shares a message of hope that shows a path to maturity for struggling teens and for their parents. These stories are told both through a father’s eyes as a family therapist and through the teen’s perspective and shares the profound heartache and deep love between a father and son. The lessons learned and the growth for parents and teens are clearly described so everyone who reads this can use these lessons in their own lives. Heali

"I don't know where to start! I feel so overwhelmed by sobriety!" Sound familiar? No worries! I've got you covered. Most people know it's important to take action and do certain things to get, and stay, sober. But there's a big problem. They aren't sure how to do the right things at the right time to be consistently building their recovery and feeling better. They get super busy with a giant TO DO list filled with books to read and podcasts to listen to, and that's only part of the equation. There is a HUGE piece of this that starts right between your ears, with your beliefs and thoughts about sobriety. As parents and spouses and business owners we don't want to waste any more time on feeble attempts to get sober, to relapse again, and have zero understanding what happened and even less understanding of what to do next. Am I right? There's a better way to think about recovery and there are certain truths you HAVE TO get clear on to create your sober life without more overwhelm and failed attempts. I'm going t

ADHD Symptoms Do you have ADHD symptoms? Have you ever struggled to complete the most basic life tasks? Being on time, keeping up on the housework, and never knowing what day it is? Does this scenario sound familiar? You sit down at your computer, you open a tab to get started on your first task. You know you have a few important things to complete today and you are ready to get it done. Then something else catches your eye and you think, "I'll just do this real quick", and next thing you know two hours have flown by, you've got 20 tabs open on your computer and you never completed the original task you sat down to do. I think most of us can relate to a scene like this at one point or another. But there is hope, my friends! And that hope comes in understanding what's happening for you, why, and how to deal with it. And this episode is FULL of all of that information! With some simple tweaks in the way you approach your day, and your life, you'll find much more success in the small things that may drive