SB Studios
SB Studios
Episode 45: Sober in Central Park with Rachel Hechtman
Episode 45: Sober in Central Park with Rachel Hechtman
Episode 45: Sober in Central Park with Rachel Hechtman
Wednesday 3rd May 2023
Join Dr. Mei-Li Hennen as she talks with Rachel Hechtman about her journey from trauma to sobriety and creating alcohol-free events.
Explicit
52 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
Hopeful
Transformative
About this podcast
Author:
SB Studios
Overview:
Categories:
Recovery Reimagined
Creative Recovery Journeys
Family Recovery from Addiction
Recovery from Trauma
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
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Get the buttons here!Rachel Hechtman: From Darkness to Light, Embracing Sobriety in Central Park
Episode Overview
- Rachel's journey from childhood trauma to alcohol-free event consultant
- Challenges of heavy drinking and drug use in college
- Embracing sobriety and personal and professional growth
- Establishing Sober in Central Park and creating alcohol-free events
- Reimagining social experiences without alcohol and fostering connections
The bad days that you have in sobriety are 10 times better than your best days when I was drinking. No matter what bad day you're having, I'm not drinking to numb those feelings. I'm going to figure out why I feel the way I do, process the feelings, release the feelings, and then actually kind of move on from that instead of burying it down and letting it sit there.
Imagine being 14 and finding solace in alcohol, only to realize years later that it's dragging you down. That's the story of Rachel Hechtman, who shares her raw and honest journey on this episode of Recovery Plus Podcast: F*ck Yesterday, Focus on Today. Hosted by Dr. Mei-Li Hennen, this conversation dives deep into Rachel's struggles with childhood trauma, her parents' divorce, and the onset of anxiety and depression. Alcohol was her escape, but it soon turned into a relentless trap.
Rachel's teenage years were marked by increased drinking, leading her to repeat her sophomore year at boarding school. It was here she was diagnosed with ADHD, a revelation that explained why she always felt different. Boarding school provided structure, and she excelled academically, eventually making it to Dartmouth College. But college life brought its own set of challenges.
Partying was the norm, and for Rachel, it escalated into violence and sexual assault, pushing her further into the abyss of excessive drinking and drug abuse. Her twenties were a dark period, marred by substance abuse and unhealthy coping mechanisms. Even after graduating from Dartmouth, Rachel found herself stuck in a cycle of after-work drinking, poor sleep, and lack of motivation. But on January 3, 2021, she decided enough was enough and embarked on Dry January.
This decision marked the beginning of a transformative journey towards sobriety. Now in her thirties, Rachel has turned her life around. She's an alcohol-free event consultant and content creator for Sober in Central Park. Her mission is to create meaningful connections without alcohol, proving that social experiences can be enjoyable and fulfilling without a drink in hand. Rachel's story is one of resilience, personal growth, and the liberating power of sobriety.
Tune in to hear Rachel's inspiring journey from darkness to light and discover how embracing an alcohol-free lifestyle can lead to profound personal and professional growth.