Ever felt overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of life? You're not alone. In this episode of Recovery Elevator, hosts Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Bethany, a 34-year-old from Michigan who took her last drink in January 2021. Bethany opens up about her struggles with addiction, the toxic relationships that fueled her drinking, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms she used to get by.

Her story is a raw and honest look at the dark side of addiction but also a beacon of hope for anyone seeking a way out. Bethany discovered that community and service work were her lifelines. She talks about how these connections helped her overcome her pain and addiction, providing a support system that continues to be crucial in her sober life.

This episode isn't just about the challenges; it's about the triumphs and the joy that comes from breaking free from destructive habits. Bethany's journey is a powerful reminder that sobriety is not only possible but can lead to a more fulfilling life. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and maybe find a bit of serenity for yourself.

Bethany shares her journey to sobriety on Recovery Elevator, emphasizing the role of community and service work in her recovery.

Bethany's Path to Peace: Finding Serenity in Sobriety

Episode 418 – Serenity Now!   Today we have Bethany. She is 34 from Michigan and took her last drink in January of 2021.   We have partnered with <a href= "https://www.soberlink.com/partners/recovery-elevator">Sober Link</a>. You can find some tips and can sign up for a $50 off promo code.   [2:15] Highlights from Kris:   Kris enjoys living in a small town where everyone helps one another, and the pace is rather consistent. He and his wife were recently on a trip to the city, and it was busier than usual which created sensory overload for Kris. He found himself in the candle section of Target taking a moment and saying the serenity prayer. It helps him shift his thinking that it’s all about him and reminds him that he can exist better with others.   God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change The courage to change the things I can The wisdom to know the difference   It doesn’t fix everything right away, but it assists with pausing and choosing how to react going forward.   Better Help:  <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/elevator"> www.betterhelp.com/elevator</a> - 10% off your first month. #sponsored   [10:15] Kris introduces Bethany:   Bethany is 34, has two kids and a fiancé. She just graduated college last year, works as an account manager for a car parts company. For fun she likes to play video games and plays often with her fiancé. She also enjoys running, camping, travelling and quality time with friends and family.   Bethany wasn’t exposed to alcohol much growing up. She had her first drink when she was 14 and got sick so she didn’t try it again for a while. Started going to high school parties but didn’t drink when she was playing sports. She found herself in a toxic relationship with a boy she met in church. After a messy break up she stopped going to the church and ended up feeling the loss of community as a result. After going away to college, she started partying as a way to escape her depression.   By her sophomore year she stopped going to classes and for the next year, her drinking escalated a good bit more. She met her ex-husband around this time. She ended up getting pregnant and then they got married and had another child. She says they weren’t compatible, and they didn’t have a healthy relationship. Bethany feels she didn’t have a good real-life example of strong relationships growing up because her mom died when she was four and her dad never remarried. Her husband was in the military where the drinking culture is very normalized, and they drank a lot. Towards the end of the marriage, she realized that the drinking was getting in the way of her parenting, and it was hard to take any breaks from it. Everyone she was around drank like she did, so no one ever said anything to her about it. For a while she stayed stuck in the cycle of drinking too much, taking a few days off and then starting back again.   She met her fiancé at a friend’s party. He is a normal drinker and would sometimes call her out for her drinking. Bethany says her behavior towards him and others could be abusive, so she started trying to set rules around her drinking. It wasn’t until an incident that had her feeling bad about not being present for her kids prompted her to think about trying to quit drinking.   A Google search led her to finding RE and she discovered a few episodes that really resonated with her. For the first time she realized she wasn’t alone and felt hope for the future. She joined Café RE for support and accountability and started reading a lot of Quit Lit. Soon into recovery she found herself enjoying life without alcohol and enjoying her children playing sports. Her grades improved and she graduated with honors. She has started making friends that she enjoys spending time with.   [52:25] Kris’ Summary   Telling our stories is a brave thing and can help a lot of people. Reach out if you are interested in sharing your story: <a href="mailto:kris@recoveryelevator.com"> kris@recoveryelevator.com</a>   <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> <a href= "https://appsto.re/us/z8w_5.i">Sobriety Tracker iTunes </a>   Recovery Elevator The only way out is through, we can do this I love you guys

RE 418: Serenity Now!

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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 felt overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle of life? You're not alone. In this episode of Recovery Elevator, hosts Paul Churchill and Kristopher Oyen sit down with Bethany, a 34-year-old from Michigan who took her last drink in January 2021. Bethany opens up about her struggles with addiction, the toxic relationships that fueled her drinking, and the unhealthy coping mechanisms she used to get by.Her story is a raw and honest look at the dark side of addiction but also a beacon of hope for anyone seeking a way out. Bethany discovered that community and service work were her lifelines. She talks about how these connections helped her overcome her pain and addiction, providing a support system that continues to be crucial in her sober life.This episode isn't just about the challenges; it's about the triumphs and the joy that comes from breaking free from destructive habits. Bethany's journey is a powerful reminder that sobriety is not only possible but can lead to a more fulfilling life. Tune in to hear her inspiring story and maybe find a bit of serenity for yourself.

Paul Churchill

Paul Churchill

RE 418: Serenity Now!

RE 418: Serenity Now!

RE 418: Serenity Now!

Monday 20th February 2023

About this podcast

Recovery Elevator

Bethany's Path to Peace: Finding Serenity in Sobriety