Ever wondered if addiction might have a deeper purpose? In this eye-opening episode of Recovery Elevator, host Paul Churchill chats with Kerri, who took her last drink on November 6, 2018. Kerri dives into her early experiences with alcohol, the rock-bottom moment that pushed her to seek help, and the incredible transformation she's undergone since embracing sobriety. But that's not all – this episode also tackles the provocative idea that addiction could serve a purpose. Drawing from insights by Dr.

Gabor Mate, Paul and Kerri explore how trauma and life stressors often play a role in addictive behaviors. Kerri's story is a testament to the power of community support and creativity in the recovery process. Whether you're curious about sobriety or looking for inspiration on your own journey, Kerri's candid narrative offers a beacon of hope and resilience.

Join Kerri on Recovery Elevator as she shares her sobriety journey and explores whether addiction serves a deeper purpose.

Kerri's Journey: Understanding the Purpose Behind Addiction on Recovery Elevator

Kerri took her last drink on November 6, 2018.  This is her story. Update on the Alcohol is Sh!t book!  The book is out!  Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-SH-Re-ignite-Recover-Person/dp/1086176545/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr="> here</a>!  You can get the Audible version <a href= "https://www.audible.com/pd/Alcohol-is-Sht-Audiobook/B07XGDMXQF?qid=1569247192&sr=1-2&pf_rd_p=e81b7c27-6880-467a-b5a7-13cef5d729fe&pf_rd_r=TY51EJJZJ0XQDPRMN0MA&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_2"> here</a>! Happy New Year!  On January 1st the 4th Café RE group, UP, opened.     2020’ Recovery Elevator LIVE event, Dancing with the Mind, will take place June 11-13 in Denver, CO.  Registration opens on January 8th, you can find more information about our events <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/events/">here.</a> On today’s episode Paul talks about meeting the man he would stay with while in Mexico, hearing his story, and discovering they had a connection through the TEDx Talk that Paul gave.  You can find the TEDx Talk, I’ve been duped by alcohol, <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiK7ONxHErY&t=1s">here</a>.  Paul also discusses a video he recently watched, an interview by Dr. Gabor Mate, (author of In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts).  Dr. Mate says if you want to look at what causes the addiction you have to look at the benefit of addiction.  That the greatest myth on addiction is that its genetic, the other myth around addiction is that it is a choice that people make.  You can watch the Dr. Gabor Mate video <a href= "https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=547891595770940">here</a>.    [10:14] Paul introduces Kerri.  (**Doing the shownotes for my own interview is awkward! **)    Kerri just turned 50, is married, and lives in Redding, CA.  She has two adult daughters, that both have families, and is a grandmother to 4.  For work Kerri recently fell into a new career, as a baker, and does stuff for RE.  For fun Kerri loves to be outdoors, hiking, taking her 3 rescue dogs out, travel, and kayaking.    [15:51] Give us a background on your drinking.   Kerri started drinking in high school and was a black out drinker from the start.  A family move before 9th grade made Kerri very angry.  Alcohol helped her fit into a new school and she quickly became known as a partier.  Kerri got married at 19, had her daughters right away.  She says that her and her ex-husband were problem drinkers throughout their entire 17-year marriage.  Kerri’s drinking really ramped up after her divorce.    [17:00] How old were you when you realized you had a problem with alcohol?    Kerri says that in high school she knew she didn’t drink like her friends, but that she didn’t care.  Alcohol got her out of her shell.       [18:00] What happened after your divorce?   Kerri says her drinking ramped up and it got bad, really quick.  It was a big life change for Kerri, with the divorce, having to go out and find a job, and her daughters basically being out of the house.  She was drinking at home alone, blacking out every time.    [23:35] How come you didn’t feel ready to do this interview?       Kerri said she didn’t feel like she had anything worth sharing.  She said that has felt that way all her life.    [26:23] Did you have a rock bottom moment?   Kerri said yes.  After getting her teaching credential later in life, which Kerri says was a dream job, she was fired from two teaching jobs as the result of her drinking.  Kerri surrendered her teaching credential.            [31:00] Talk to us about how you did it the first weeks, first month.   Kerri said it was really hard, that she didn’t know what anyone (co-workers, parents) was told or what they knew.  Kerri was afraid to leave her house for fear of running into someone, she would grocery shop at 2:00 AM.  She said she was filled with so much anxiety that she didn’t know how she was going to come out of it the 2nd time around.  She went to a therapist for the first time.  She sought out and entered into a 90-day IOP program.       [35:17] You’ve burned the ships on social media, what kind of response have you received?   Kerri said she has received nothing but support and encouragement, and she encourages everyone to do it.    [37:50] Talk to us about the breakthrough you had at the Bozeman retreat.    Kerri said she got much from the entire retreat but it was the Clarity Breathwork that really did it for her.  She said once she was able to stop paying attention to what was going on around her and just do her thing, she was able to experience something powerful that changed her.    [44:38] Rapid Fire Round   <ol> <li>What’s a lightbulb moment you’ve had on this journey?</li> </ol>   That I don’t have to live up to, what I think are, other people’s expectations.         <ol start="2"> <li>What is a memorable moment that a life without alcohol has given you?</li> </ol>   All these RE retreats, that is something I never would have imagined doing…taking off and meeting strangers.    <ol start="3"> <li>What is your favorite alcohol-free drink?</li> </ol>   I’m kind of boring, I really don’t do the mocktail thing, I’m a water drinker.    <ol start="4"> <li>What are some of your favorite resources on this journey?</li> </ol>   Definitely Café RE, these sober meetups, retreats and I listen to a lot of podcasts.            <ol start="5"> <li>What is on your bucket list in an alcohol-free life?</li> </ol>   Travel, travel, and more travel.  I want to do a marathon.    <ol start="6"> <li>And what parting piece of guidance can you give to listeners?</li> </ol>   To recover, get sober, whatever you want to call it, your way.  Your way may be different than someone else’s, and to not worry about what other people think.    You might need to ditch the booze if...   You wake up one morning with a broken ankle and you have no idea how you did it.    Upcoming Events and Retreats.  <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/thailand-retreat-2020/">Asia Adventure</a> – January 20-31, 2020 <a href="https://www.recoveryelevator.com/denver-2020/">Recovery Elevator LIVE: Dancing with the Mind</a> - in Colorado – June 11-14th, 2020 <a href="https://www.recoveryelevator.com/costarica/">Recovery Elevator in Costa Rica: From Jungle to the Beach</a> - October 8 - 18th, 2020 You can find more information about our events <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/events/">here.</a>   Resources mentioned in this episode: SkillShare Get two months free of classes with Skillshare at <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/ELEVATOR">www.skillshare.com/ELEVATOR</a> BetterHelp  Visit <a href="https://betterhelp.com/ELEVATOR">betterhelp.com/ELEVATOR</a> and join the over 500,000 people talking charge of their mental health with the help of an experienced professional. Recovery Elevator listeners get 10% off your first month at <a href="https://betterhelp.com/ELEVATOR">betterhelp.com/ELEVATOR</a>.  Skillshare For two free months of premium membership visit <a href="https://www.skillshare.com/elevator">www.skillshare.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.  We can do this.”

RE 255: Does Addiction Serve a Purpose?

Recovery

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Alcohol

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Society and Culture

Interviews

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Alcohol, Addiction & Recovery

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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 if addiction might have a deeper purpose? In this eye-opening episode of Recovery Elevator, host Paul Churchill chats with Kerri, who took her last drink on November 6, 2018. Kerri dives into her early experiences with alcohol, the rock-bottom moment that pushed her to seek help, and the incredible transformation she's undergone since embracing sobriety. But that's not all – this episode also tackles the provocative idea that addiction could serve a purpose. Drawing from insights by Dr.Gabor Mate, Paul and Kerri explore how trauma and life stressors often play a role in addictive behaviors. Kerri's story is a testament to the power of community support and creativity in the recovery process. Whether you're curious about sobriety or looking for inspiration on your own journey, Kerri's candid narrative offers a beacon of hope and resilience.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 255: Does Addiction Serve a Purpose?

RE 255: Does Addiction Serve a Purpose?

RE 255: Does Addiction Serve a Purpose?

Monday 6th January 2020

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Kerri's Journey: Understanding the Purpose Behind Addiction on Recovery Elevator