What does it take to stay sober during a global crisis? Cassie, a 30-year-old from Colorado, shares her remarkable journey of ditching alcohol on August 29, 2019, in this episode of Recovery Elevator. As the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, Cassie opens up about the challenges and triumphs of maintaining sobriety in these unprecedented times. Host Odette kicks things off by reflecting on the resilience of those who chose to get sober during COVID-19.

She draws parallels between leaving rehab and navigating post-pandemic life, emphasizing the importance of having a plan. Cassie’s story is a testament to the power of community and self-discovery. She highlights how reaching out to others and making sober friends have been crucial in her journey. Cassie also shares unexpected perks of sobriety, like finding joy in genuine connections and the fulfillment that comes from self-work and healing.

Whether you're newly sober, considering sobriety, or supporting someone on their journey, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement. Tune in to hear Cassie's inspiring story and learn how to prepare for life after the pandemic.

Join Cassie on Recovery Elevator as she shares her journey of staying sober during the pandemic and finding support in a community.

Cassie's Post-Pandemic Sobriety: Embracing Change and Finding Community

Episode 320 -  Keep an open mind and see what happens. Reach out to people, make sober friends, and you are going to find your way.  Just let go.   Cassie took her last drink on August 29, 2019. She is from Colorado and is 30 years old.  This is her story of being Alcohol-Free (AF).   Café RE Merch https://www.recoveryelevator.com/merch/ Discount code:  PANDA   Finding Your Better You – Odette's weekly message   Odette has been speaking with many people who got sober and stayed sober during the pandemic.  She is amazed and impressed with these folks making major life choices to ditch the booze during a global crisis.   Odette wants to remind you …. you can do hard things.   As Covid begins to recede, Odette can't help but wonder what post-Covid sobriety will look like?  As we return to normal or the new normal, how do we prepare for what's next?  Odette likened this to her rehab experience and working with her rehab team to develop a treatment plan when she left rehab.  Many people fear leaving rehab because you are going back into the real world without the safety of a controlled, safe space.     What does your treatment plan or sobriety toolbox look like for the "new normal" after COVID restrictions have subsided?  What boundaries and guidelines do you need to set up for yourself?   Proper preparation prevents poor performance – thank you, Odette's Dad, Carlos.   Develop a plan to protect your sobriety.   [07:53] Odette introduces Cassie   Cassie's last drink was August 29, 2019.  She is celebrating18 months and switching up some of her tools to maintain sobriety.  Cassie leads Café RE's "young people" chat.   Odette was recently contacted by a 19-year-old trying to find his place in sobriety.  Cassie said it's incredible for someone so young to start a recovery journey.  She encouraged all young listeners to keep an open mind, reach out, find sober friends, let go, and you will find your people and your way!   [11:12] Tell us a bit of your background.   Cassie is 29 years old, living in Denver, and is a receptionist for a urology clinic while pursuing her Bachelor's in nursing.  She is doing pre-requisites now.  She lives with her boyfriend, recently bought a house, and has two dogs.  She loves snowboarding during the winter, paddle boarding, hiking, and rock climbing during the summer and hopes to explore dirt biking soon.   [13:14] Tell us about your history with drinking.   Cassie had her first drink at thirteen.  One of her first memories is stealing peppermint schnapps with a neighbor at her parent's house.  She got alcohol poisoning, and her mom sent her to middle school the following day with a hangover.  She had to clean up her mess after school.   By freshman year of high school, she continued to drink with friends and consumed on the school bus on the way to school. She was suspended for drinking.      Before eighteen, she was in legal trouble for drinking and quickly building a party girl's reputation.  She was all-in with alcohol; she never drank one or two drinks.  She drank to fit in and did not fit in with the nerds or the popular crowd.  She would hang out with the skaters, smoke pot, and throw parties at friend's parents' houses when they were out of town.   She got into the music scene, particularly raves, and traveled across the US to music festivals to catch different artists.  She doesn't remember many of the concerts because she was wasted.   [16:28] Were you aware that your drinking was becoming a problem?   Cassie said she was not self-aware.  She knew she was a troublemaker, but her friends drank like she did.  During her formative years, she didn't go to class much.  She dropped out of college because partying was her priority.   [17:58] How long did that chapter last?   Cassie said awhile, probably ten years.  She still enjoys music but can now enjoy music sober.   [18: 33 ]  Did you have to transition into adulting?   Cassie was always working during that chapter, and she changed jobs a lot because of the seasons.  She started working in the medical field in 2015, and she relaxed her drinking a bit.   [19:48] Did anything happen in your life that forced you to grow up a bit?   Cassie said getting into the medical field was a real transition.  She had to deal with patients and knew she had to be responsible.  She was living with friends and wanted to take care of herself and maintain independence.   [21:14]   How did your relationship with alcohol evolve?   Cassie said during the music festival chapter she was binge drinking because there were no rules.  She transitioned from being a binge drinker to having beers after work and being a weekend warrior.  Her drinking eventually got out of hand.  She was only drinking on the weekends, and she tried to moderate.  She leveraged the gym to keep her AF during the week.  Moderation didn't work for Cassie.   One of her roommates, a dear friend, passed away in a kayaking accident.  She believes it may have been alcohol-related.  It became a big turning point for Cassie.  Her other roommates drank heavily to cope with the shock and grief.  Cassie became a pillar of strength for them.  She binged occasionally but started to see that drinking wasn't what she wanted for herself.  She moved back home, and her parents were also heavy drinkers. Her drinking escalated, and within a year, things completely fell apart.  Cassie lost herself.  Going to brunch to drink in the morning or pre-gaming a baby shower with alcohol felt normal.  She started sneaking beers in her room, so if she woke up in the middle of the night, she would have alcohol close at hand.  Cassie is still working through feelings and learning to stop blocking her emotions.    [29:44]  How did this progress into you deciding to quit?   Cassie said she wasn't working at the beginning of 2019.  She was drinking beer in her bedroom, taking tequila shots and not eating regularly, taking showers, or going to work.  She lost her will to live.   One day her Dad came into her room and asked, "what do we need to do?" Cassie was afraid of the withdrawal.  She went to the ER, then to medical detox for a day.  She stayed home for three days, got rid of most of her belongings, and moved to Phoenix to live with her mom.  She had some starts and stops in Phoenix. Then her mom moved to Texas.  Cassie moved back to Colorado and told herself, "I've got this." Her drinking advanced rapidly.  She had a four-day bender and told her step-mom she needed to go through detox again.  She did, and she hasn't had a drink since!  Cassie said the second time, she knew it was time to own up to it and take some action.  She didn't want to die.   [35:48] What was your plan after leaving detox to start stacking days?   Cassie moved in with her sister's Dad.  She wanted to move to a sober environment.  Her Dad and step-mom continued to drink, and she didn't want to ask them to stop.  Her step-mom referred her to Recovery Elevator and offered to pay for her first month if she wanted to check it out.  The Facebook group helped her stay accountable, and she went to her first sober meetup within 30 days.  Making connections helped a lot.  She also saw a therapist for the first six months.  She began getting more involved in  Café RE.  At about a year, she started hosting webinars.   Now she is doing a lot in the recovery community because it keeps her focused on her sobriety.  At six to eight months, she felt a shift.  After a year, she had experienced several FFT's (F*ing first times) – first concert, first wedding, etc.  Now she is exploring past traumas and learning what caused her drinking.  She is going to AA meetings, looking for a sponsor and reading, "Recovery" by Russell Brand.  She enjoys the structure of AA.  Cassie has big plans for the future and hopes to eliminate the stigma of addiction and let people her age know that sobriety is fun!  She is excited about the future.  She wants to build a family, re-write her family's sobriety trajectory, and inspire others along the way.   [46:16]  Do you still get cravings?   Cassie said yes, but the cravings are seasonal depending on what's happening in her life.  Cravings are more of a fleeting thought now, and her sober circle helps her stay accountable.  She is aware that cravings often come with change and external factors.  If she lightens up on the self-care, the cravings creep up.  She knows what tools work and can anticipate what's coming and how to manage it.   [50:11]  Rapid Fire Round   <ol> <li>What would you tell your younger self?</li> </ol>   You are worth it.  Have faith, and everything will work out the way it is supposed to.   <ol start="2"> <li>What is your favorite ice cream flavor?</li> </ol>   It's currently Snicker's ice cream bars.   <ol start="3"> <li>What has been a lightbulb moment for you on this journey?</li> </ol>   The more you connect, the less you think about alcohol.   <ol start="4"> <li>What is an unexpected perk of being sober?</li> </ol>   Being able to do what I want at any time of day because I don't have to worry about drinking.   <ol start="5"> <li>Are sober concerts better?</li> </ol>   100% yes! It's one of the best experiences.   You might need to say Adios to booze if …   You wear a hoodie to sneak alcohol anywhere, including your room.   Odette's Summary   Make time this week to create your post-Covid plan.  Plant a seed, create steps of action to set yourself up for success.  Write it down, share it with a friend, have your own back.   You are not alone, together is always better.  Sobriety is our super-power!   Upcoming events, retreats, and courses: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.recoveryelevator.com/bozeman/">Bozeman 2021</a> (August 18-22, 2021). This is our flagship annual retreat held in the pristine forests of Big Sky Country, 10 miles south of Bozeman, Montana. During this 5-day event, you'll discover how to expand the boundaries of your comfort zone.</li> <li>You can find more information about our events </li> </ul>   Affiliate Link for Endourage: For 10% off your first CBD order with Endourage visit this <a href= "https://endourage.com/affiliate-partner/recoveryelevator" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">link</a> and use the promo code elevator at checkout.    Affiliate Link for Amazon: Shop via Amazon using this <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/amazon">link</a>.   The book, Alcohol is SH!T, is out. Pick up your paperback copy on Amazon <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/Alcohol-is-Sht-Paul-Churchill-audiobook/dp/B07XFGVMQ9/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=alcohol+is+shit&qid=1590430998&sr=8-1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">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" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>!     Resources:  <a href= "https://www.recoveryelevator.com/cafere/">Connect with Cafe RE</a> - Use the promo code OPPORTUNITY to waive the set-up fee. <a href= "https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuWac9dxkn3J93xJOka3L2g">Recovery Elevator YouTube</a> - Subscribe here! <a href="https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes </a>     "Recovery Elevator – Without the darkness you would never know the light - I love you guys"

RE 320: Post COVID Planning

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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

What does it take to stay sober during a global crisis? Cassie, a 30-year-old from Colorado, shares her remarkable journey of ditching alcohol on August 29, 2019, in this episode of Recovery Elevator. As the world begins to emerge from the pandemic, Cassie opens up about the challenges and triumphs of maintaining sobriety in these unprecedented times. Host Odette kicks things off by reflecting on the resilience of those who chose to get sober during COVID-19.She draws parallels between leaving rehab and navigating post-pandemic life, emphasizing the importance of having a plan. Cassie’s story is a testament to the power of community and self-discovery. She highlights how reaching out to others and making sober friends have been crucial in her journey. Cassie also shares unexpected perks of sobriety, like finding joy in genuine connections and the fulfillment that comes from self-work and healing.Whether you're newly sober, considering sobriety, or supporting someone on their journey, this episode offers valuable insights and encouragement. Tune in to hear Cassie's inspiring story and learn how to prepare for life after the pandemic.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 320: Post COVID Planning

RE 320: Post COVID Planning

RE 320: Post COVID Planning

Monday 5th April 2021

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Cassie's Post-Pandemic Sobriety: Embracing Change and Finding Community