SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery
Old Enough To Serve, Old Enough To Drink
Old Enough To Serve, Old Enough To Drink
Old Enough To Serve, Old Enough To Drink
Thursday 18th November 2021
Listen to Holly Paulsen's journey from military service to sobriety and how SMART Recovery helped her find a new life.
30 minutes
Inspiring
Empowering
Informative
Hopeful
Encouraging
About this podcast
Author:
SMART Recovery
Overview:
Categories:
Sobriety Toolkit
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
Family Recovery from Addiction
Body & Mind
Financial Health in Recovery
Links:
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Episodes:
79 (View all)
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Get the buttons here!From Military Ranks to Recovery: Holly Paulsen's Inspiring Journey
I want to make a change, and I stopped... So to see things that had worked for me in the past that I could apply to an area of my life that I was struggling in my sobriety was in jeopardy at that point, and it took me a few months to realize how close I had come to a lapse or a relapse, but I knew it was in danger and to find something that I said.
Imagine growing up in small-town Iowa and following your brother into the Army at just 17. That's Holly Paulsen's story. She quickly found herself navigating the unique pressures of military life, including the pervasive culture of drinking. The saying, 'Old enough to serve, old enough to drink', was more than just words; it was a reality that Holly lived daily. But her journey took a dramatic turn when she woke up one morning still drunk from the night before.
That was her wake-up call to change her life. In this episode of the SMART Recovery® Podcast, Holly opens up about her path from military service to sobriety. She shares candidly about how the peer pressure and culture in the military pushed her towards alcohol, especially during her deployment in Afghanistan. Holly talks about how undiagnosed PTSD and injuries led her to use alcohol as a way to numb the pain.
A pivotal moment came when a friend suggested she try SMART Recovery meetings. Initially supportive of her friend's journey, Holly eventually found herself attending these meetings for her own recovery. The structured approach of SMART Recovery, with its practical tools and cognitive-behavioral techniques, resonated with her military background. Now, Holly is not just living her best life; she's helping other veterans find the resources they need.
She co-facilitates SMART meetings and advocates for veterans and first responders, emphasizing that no one should struggle alone. Her story is a powerful reminder that recovery is possible with the right support and determination. Tune in to hear Holly's inspiring tale of resilience, the importance of community in recovery, and how SMART Recovery's science-based approach can make a difference.