Ever wondered how quitting alcohol might impact your mental health? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Nick, who has been sober for 111 days, to talk about his path to sobriety and how it has helped him combat depression, anxiety, and stress. Drawing inspiration from Rumi's words, 'These pains you feel are messengers.

Listen to them', the episode takes a deep look at how living in the present can be a powerful remedy for mental distress. Nick opens up about his life in Vancouver, his work at a university career center, and the struggles he faced before deciding to quit drinking. Through his story, you'll learn how removing alcohol can lift the heavy cloud of depression and bring anxiety levels back to normal.

Nick also shares how finding a supportive community and exploring new hobbies has given him a renewed sense of purpose and joy. Whether you're sober curious or already on your recovery journey, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement. Tune in to hear Nick's inspiring story and discover the transformative power of living in the moment.

Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen chat with Nick about overcoming depression, anxiety, and stress after quitting alcohol on Recovery Elevator.

Breaking Free from Depression: Nick's Journey on Recovery Elevator

Nick, with 111 days sober, shares his story.   On today’s episode Paul discusses anxiety, depression and stress.   “These pains you feel are messengers. Listen to them.” ~ Rumi.       Depression is when mental energies are stuck in the past, anxiety is when we are living in the future, and stress accumulates when the end goal is more important than the task at hand.   Liberation from all three of these dysfunctions resides in the present moment.    There is an undeniable connection between alcohol and depression.  Remove alcohol and the bulk of melancholy should be lifted within a matter of months.  Anxiety levels should also return to baseline after removing alcohol from your life.  When we are primarily focused on the end outcome, and not the task at hand, we experience stress.  Stress can be devastating to the equanimity in the body.  The most powerful remedy to depression, anxiety, and stress is to ground yourself in the moment.    SHOW NOTES   [10:40] Paul introduces Nick   Nick is 32 years old and lives in Vancouver, Canada.  He works in the career center at a university.  He has been married for 2 years.  For fun, he is still trying to figure that out in sobriety, but he enjoys having conversation and making connections with people.    [13:20] Give us a little background about your drinking.    Nick didn’t really start drinking until his early 20’s.  He says he liked to drink, that there never really was a time that he did not enjoy it.  He felt he could drink more than most and still be OK.  And what that ended up doing was it basically normalized drinking large amounts of alcohol, because he wasn’t getting sick or waking up with a hangover.  Things slowly escalated from there.   In 2010 Nick moved to Vancouver.  There were a few times when he decided that he didn’t like how much he was drinking, and he would just stop for a few months at a time.    [17:00] What was the catalyst for you to decide to go a month or two without alcohol?   He went through a really messed up experience between his best friend and the person he was dating at the time.   He dealt with that experience by drinking.   What he came to realize was that alcohol just made him feel worse.   So, he distanced himself from those 2 people and from alcohol.  He went 3-4 months without drinking, not thinking he would never drink again, but more because he felt he needed a break from it.    When Nick started to drink again, the next year or two, it wasn’t that bad. But what came back very quickly was the familiar feeling that alcohol made him feel comfortable, safe, more confident.    The thing that tipped Nick off to drinking becoming a problem was in order to feel normal or comfortable in a situation, he needed alcohol.    [20:15] When did you realize that your drinking was a problem?    It’s hard for him to pinpoint exactly when that happened.  It built very slowly over time.  It snowballed and it wasn’t until many years later that he realized that he had lost control.     [22:05] When was the moment that you did stop and see that alcohol was the factor that was causing that unease in your life?       Nick says there were lots of smaller moments, but when he really knew it, it was about 6 months after a good friend died from leukemia.  He started isolating and drinking alone.    [25:50] Did you have a rock bottom moment?  How did you finally make the push forward into sobriety?        Nick tried to moderate, which didn’t work.  He then started to go to counseling on a regular basis.  He was honest with his therapist about his drinking.   He started journaling which helped him to see why he was drinking.  He became more self-aware and was communicating better.  He was still sad and grieving.  Over the next year his drinking escalated.   Around September 2018 he was listening to a lot of podcasts and just knew that he had to give up drinking.  He came home one day, after listening to the RE podcast, took his earbuds out, and just cried.  Part of the reason he cried was because he realized that he was not alone.    [34:05] When the tears came flowing, what did it feel like to fully lean in?       Nick says it felt terrifying and he felt very vulnerable, but also so relieved.  That began a long series of day ones.   On December 1st he joined the Café’RE Facebook group.  After drinking a lot after a staff party on December 7, he has not picked up since.    [41:30] What was the first week like, the first month?  How did you do it?       The first few days were a little rough.   Because of all the journaling he had done he knew the hours that he needed to keep himself busy.  He changed the route he would take as he would walk home so that he would not be passing liquor stores.  He got connected and reached out to others in the group.    [44:16] With 111 days what’s he biggest challenge you’ve encountered so far?    The feeling of plateauing.  He’s sober and isn’t experiencing cravings, so the question of “what now”?    [45:50] What was the Recovery Elevator Nashville event like?   It was great.  As soon as he heard about the Nashville event, he knew he had to try to get himself there.    [48:30] What are you going to do next in recovery?   Nick would like to work with people in addiction and recovery.    [51:20] Rapid Fire Round   <ol> <li>Worst memory from drinking?</li> </ol>   Waking up and realizing that you hurt someone you care about, but you can’t remember why, is the absolute worst feeling in the world.    <ol start="2"> <li>Do you remember a specific ‘oh-shit’ moment?</li> </ol>   The last night he drank.  It was though the scotch he was drinking was water.  It just wasn’t working anymore.       <ol start="3"> <li>Best advice you’ve ever received? And what advice can you give to someone who is thinking about getting sober?</li> </ol>   Be open and vulnerable, be willing to give and receive love.         <ol start="4"> <li>You might be an alcoholic if...</li> </ol>   You go to slide a wine bottle under your couch, and you hear it hit another bottle, which hits another bottle.           Upcoming retreats: Bozeman Retreat – August 14-18, 2019 Asia Adventure – January 20-31, 2020 You can find more information about these events <a href= "http://recoveryelevator.com/events">here</a> Resources mentioned in this episode: This episode is brought to you in support by ZipRecruiter. Right now, my listeners can try ZipRecruiter for free. Visit <a href="https://www.ziprecruiter.com/elevator">Ziprecruiter.com/elevator</a>   <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/cafere/">Connect with Cafe RE</a>- Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY for your first month free <a href="https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes</a> <a href= "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.recovery.sam.sobrietycalculatorPro"> Sobriety Tracker Android</a> Sober Selfies! - Send your Sober Selfie and your Success Story to info@recoveryelevator.com   “Recovery Elevator – It all starts from the inside-out.”

RE 220: Depression, Stress and Anxiety

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It isn't a NO to alcohol, but a YES to a better life!  Best selling author Paul Churchill, along with Kristopher Oyen interview people who have stepped away from alcohol in their own lives. Each week this podcast does a deep dive into an exploration of what a booze free life might look like from various perspectives and opinions. 

If you are sick and tired of alcohol making you sick and tired, we invite you to listen to Recovery Elevator. Check out what an alcohol free life can look like as others share their own stories of sobriety. If you are sober curious, newly sober, supporting a loved one or living your best life already in recovery, then you are in the right place.

This podcast addresses what to do if you’re addicted to alcohol, or if you think you’re an alcoholic. Other topics include, does moderate drinking work, does addiction serve a purpose, what happens to the brain when we quit drinking, should you track sobriety time, is A.A. right for you, spirituality, and more. 

Similar to other recovery podcasts like This Naked Mind, the Shair Podcast, and the Recovered Podcast, Paul and Kris discuss a topic and then interview someone who has ditched the booze.

Recovery Elevator

Ever wondered how quitting alcohol might impact your mental health? In this episode of Recovery Elevator, Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Nick, who has been sober for 111 days, to talk about his path to sobriety and how it has helped him combat depression, anxiety, and stress. Drawing inspiration from Rumi's words, 'These pains you feel are messengers.Listen to them', the episode takes a deep look at how living in the present can be a powerful remedy for mental distress. Nick opens up about his life in Vancouver, his work at a university career center, and the struggles he faced before deciding to quit drinking. Through his story, you'll learn how removing alcohol can lift the heavy cloud of depression and bring anxiety levels back to normal.Nick also shares how finding a supportive community and exploring new hobbies has given him a renewed sense of purpose and joy. Whether you're sober curious or already on your recovery journey, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement. Tune in to hear Nick's inspiring story and discover the transformative power of living in the moment.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 220: Depression, Stress and Anxiety

RE 220: Depression, Stress and Anxiety

RE 220: Depression, Stress and Anxiety

Monday 6th May 2019

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Breaking Free from Depression: Nick's Journey on Recovery Elevator