AJ Butler
AJ Butler
Class of '72 Steve D.
Class of '72 Steve D.
Class of '72 Steve D.
Sunday 10th March 2019
Steve D. shares his sobriety journey from the '50s and '60s on Oct-sober Recovery Podcast, focusing on surrender, 12 steps, and self-honesty.
Explicit
72 minutes
Informative
Hopeful
Empowering
Encouraging
Authentic
About this podcast
Author:
AJ Butler
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Understanding Addiction & Recovery
Creative Recovery Journeys
Financial Health in Recovery
Family Recovery from Addiction
Links:
Visit site
Episodes:
22 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!Steve D.'s Journey: Sobriety and Lessons from the '50s and '60s
You know, shakespeare said: live while you live and when you die, be done with it. You know the old timers used to say in Those Days you get here Five Years Later than you should've. And, uh, like I said, I had opportunities, people would die for it.
Imagine stepping into a time machine and landing in the 1950s and '60s, where addiction recovery was a whole different ball game. That's exactly what you'll experience in this episode of the Oct-sober Recovery Podcast. Host AJ Butler sits down with Steve D., who takes us through his gripping journey of sobriety, starting with his first drink of champagne and his early stays in mental institutions, which he candidly refers to as 'nut-houses'.
Steve's story is a rollercoaster, from his rocky relationship with his father to his first AA meeting in 1958 at just 20 years old. He opens up about the many times he found himself in rehab facilities like Beech Hill in Dublin, NH, and Dropkick Murphys at Bellows Farm. These places, which AJ hadn't even heard of before, played a crucial role in Steve's path to recovery. A key takeaway from Steve's narrative is the concept of surrender.
He believes it involves two critical steps: admitting and accepting. He even carries a unique set of mementos—a key to the locked ward of the mental institution he stayed at and a teaspoon from the Department of Mental Health—to remind him of how far he's come. The episode also dives into the importance of the 12 steps and having a sponsor, as well as the role of medication in sobriety.
Steve and AJ discuss how essential it is for medication to be prescribed by a trusted doctor. They also touch on the value of speaker meetings and being honest with oneself. If you're looking for an episode that blends historical insights with practical advice, this one offers a hopeful message on seeking help and the enduring power of recovery.