The Daily Stoic Rock Bottom, Recovery, and Starting Over at 40 | Jon Gustin
114 snips
May 9, 2026 
Jon Gustin, creator of The Tired Dad and author focused on showing up for family, shares his journey through sobriety, parenting, and rebuilding life at 40. He talks about hitting emotional rock bottom, replacing substances with daily practices like journaling and cold plunges, and how Stoic ideas and boundaries with social media helped him reclaim presence and purpose.
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Early Addiction Signs From Teen Experiences
- Jon Gustin discovered substance use as an escape at 13 with Adderall and later alcohol, realizing early experiences signaled an addictive pattern.
- His first drunk led to alcohol poisoning at a school dance and decades of hiding emotions behind substances.
Getting Sober Was The Start Not The End
- Jon got sober at the start of 2023 and describes the first year as confronting twenty years of avoided issues rather than relief.
- He credits his wife for support and books like Stillness Is The Key and Daily Dad for catalyzing the change.
Replace Addictive Energy With Extreme Healthy Habits
- Do replace addictive rituals with intense healthy practices like cold plunges, breathwork, journaling, running, and working out.
- Jon used daily cold plunges and consistent routines to redirect addictive energy into constructive outlets.
