Real Recovery Talk

"Alcoholics Anonymous didn't just save my life, it taught me how to live a life worthy of having been spared and changed me from the inside out." -Eric Sheets Today, Ben and I are chatting to Eric Sheets, who is sharing his story of recovery and how he has taken his experience to give back and help other addicts become sober again. Eric's Background with Drugs and Alcohol Eric says he came to the 12 Step Program a "broken man" and admits that this is the first time he has been honest with himself. "I could see that fear has governed my life as long as I can remember." He did have a stretch of sobriety between 2003 and 2010 when his wife fell ill with a rare lung disease and was terminally ill. "In that time I found God and my understanding of him" because, for the first time in his life, he understood his purpose. Although he realized that God put his wife into his life, he still didn't believe that he was an addict and didn't understand what this lifestyle entails. The Second Phase of Drinking for Eric After his wife passed away, Eric didn't drink for several weeks until he was invited to a dinner party where a woman gave him a glass of wine after convincing Eric that he wasn't an alcoholic. He remembers that moment like it was yesterday and picked up his addiction at the moment he left off. At the moment he realized he couldn't move on anymore, he walked into a hospital and told the emergency staff he was going to commit suicide; and he was baker-acted and introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous. Living a Life of Purpose "Living a life of purpose makes me happy," Eric comments. He found that when he has a purpose, he can live sober and help others live sober. "Living in communion with my creator is how I found my purpose and what greater purpose can there be?" Listen in and find out how Eric came to find his purpose, what happened when he stopped being of service, how fear and selfishness crept into his life, and how he rebuilt his relationship with his son. Check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [05:01] History and background on Eric's early history. [10:58] The days and weeks following his wife's death. [12:45] Picking up his first glass of wine after being sober for seven years. [14:54] Eric's rapid progression through alcoholism. [17:05] When Eric started working the 12 steps, he started to care about other people. [18:56] How Eric found purpose in his life and how his purpose motivated him to stay sober. [20:53] The importance of addressing the little issues that trip up addicts. [23:30] How Eric patched his relationship with his son. [34:11] Eric found his new wife after his addiction. [40:23] Putting a "why" between his alcohol and his addiction. [43:34] The importance of having faith when you're a recovering addict. [53:13] His spiritual experience when going through the fifth step. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

"I'm able to get high on life with sobriety." -Faith Penda Today, Ben and I are chatting to Fatih Penda, a long-term addict who has recovered and is now leading a drug and alcohol-free life. Leading to building a recovery center, Fatih is now leading other adults into recovery and positive life. Fatih's Background with Drugs and Alcohol Born in Salem, Massechuessets with a Muslim upbringing, Fatih always felt different than everyone else. Although his uncle did drink, he isn't sure where his addiction comes from. "Throughout high school I started taking drinking to the next level, then using and abusing drugs and taking that to the next level," where he went back and forth between drugs and alcohol. Spending his summers overseas in Turkey, Fatih understood and spoke two languages fluently, going to school in Turkey and the US. "It was always hard to adjust when I came back to school after the summer." In his eighth grade year, he found out he was going to start high school in Turkey. With no drinking age, he was able to smoke and drink whenever he wanted to. Picking Up his First Drink and Getting into Addiction He would experiment with different drugs and return to the United States for his freshman year of college. Fatih found himself treating life as an adult, and it was hard to get back in with his jock friends and the circle of athletes he previously hung out with. Fatih's friend gave him acid, and he started tripping in classes, and his drug use escalated from there. Moving onto cocaine and other drugs, including prescription drugs, Fatih's addiction spiraled out of control. Fatih's First Experience with Addiction Treatment The Muslim culture doesn't understand addiction and the concept that addicts can't just stop their addiction. His parents sent him back to Turkey, in an attempt to get him away from the environment that was supporting his addiction. However, Fatih found a way to get prescription drugs cheap and was hooked on Xanax for weeks, eventually ending up in a mental health facility. Listen in and find how Fatih received sobriety through the 12 Step Program from AA, action steps you can take to start your journey into sobriety, and how sobriety has changed his viewpoint and perspective on life. Check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [04:30] Fatih's early years and his upbringing. [10:00] Returning back to the states for his college education. [15:00] His first attempt at recovery from his addiction. [19:02] Going to a Scientology recovery center for his second treatment. [28:49] Action steps you can take to make your first move into sobriety. [33:56] Witnessing the journey from addiction to sobriety. [35:44] Fatih talks about his upcoming heart surgery. [38:37] What saved Fatih from crashing and burning on drugs and alcohol. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

Today I will talk about the process and path of a person moving from being a "normie" to using drugs and alcohol and becoming an addict. In this episode, I talk with Brad Jensen, the founder of Key Nutrition, and is in recovery. He comes to us today to talk about how fitness and health have positively impacted his sobriety. Brad also talks about his struggles with sobriety. He'll talk about his experience, his awareness of the three pillars to life, and how he can assist clients with his coaching to be more successful on the path of sobriety. Struggling with anxiety and ADD from age 12, he tried alcohol as a release and found drinking worked to relieve his stress. Additionally, he was overweight and was picked on by friends. By age 14, Brad jumped into reading books on health and fitness and was hooked on his health class at school. He remembers wanting to look like a bodybuilder on the cover of a magazine, then realizing that alcohol would not let him achieve his goal and quit drinking. At the end of his sophomore year, he was fit, but still had anxiety and was presented with opiates at a party. Even with a stable family situation and a good life, Brad fell into drugs and alcohol. "This wasn't supposed to happen to a guy like me," he says, recalling his stable family life. Brad continued bodybuilding, along with his heroin addiction, until he finally ended up in prison for an extended period. Listen in to find out how Brad denied his addiction for years, how he recovered from his long-term addiction in November of 2012, and the best thing his parents did for him during recovery. Brad also talks about how the loss of his grandfather affected his recovery from addiction. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [03:59] Brad's journey through addiction and his background with drugs and alcohol. [06:01] Brad tells his story of how he was introduced to and hooked on opiates. [08:45] His experience of trying to take more pain pills and how to get a hold of more. [10:56] Building his identity through distributing opiates, the significant power this gave him and his first experience with heroin. [14:52] His senior year of high school his mom found a briefcase full of drugs. [22:56] Brad's first experience with a long-term prison sentence. [26:18] How Brad's parents stopped enabling him and how this helped him to stop using drugs. [28:06] What happened when Brad asked his mom for drugs. [30:00] Brad's first steps to recovery after he was released from 30 days in prison. [36:54] How materialistic items can keep people sober. [46:30] How fitness and health has impacted Brad's sobriety. [51:54] Get your anger, anxiety and issues out of your head with a good workout in the gym. [54:54] It's not how long you've been sober, it's what you've done during and after your recovery time. Links and Resources: Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Brad Jensen | Key Nutrition Coach

"I wanted to take something hard that I had to go through that was painful and help another human being to get through without struggling as hard as I did." -Maya Today, Ben and I are chatting to Maya who is a full-time employee at Rock Recovery Center. She is here to talk about her past history and how she became a professional in the substance abuse space. Why Maya Chose to Work with Recovering Addicts "I never thought that I'd be here working in mental health and the substance abuse field," Maya says about her career choice. She is excited to be working with us at Rock Recovery Center and is an excellent fit for our team. She was born and raised in Florida, growing up in an upper-middle-class family with a strong work ethic. However, both her parents were addicts, and her dad died of his disease. "I never felt a part of, or good enough, or that I belonged in any environment." Her parents divorced when she was one and didn't have good relationships with her stepparents on either side. "I was an addict long before I picked up any substance," as she was trying to validate her worth early on with love being conditional based on her achievements. As a result, she was a high-achiever in academics and sports. "It's hard to maintain that level of expectations." Her First Drink at Age 15 She remembers feeling scared when she picked up her first drink at 15 and the feeling of the potential damage that could arise with drinking. "It's like a switch flipped and it wasn't very pleasant." However, since there was some sense of relief, she continued with the addiction. It wasn't long before her disease progressed and friends noticed. Dropping out of school in the next year, she moved from her prestigious private school to public school. Waking Up and Realizing Her Addiction Having had opiates in her system every day of her life for over a decade, Maya was struggling just to survive. When she woke up in the medical unit of jail, she gave up hope and thought she would die. Listen in and find how Maya decided to become a mental health provider, why her recovery has to be separate from her work and clients, and her advice on how to deal with someone who is addicted. Check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [03:45] History and how she became addicted to alcohol and drugs. [07:49] Maya now embraces herself with her flaws and strengths. [08:30] Picking up her first drink at age 15 and the consequences of drinking. [11:17] Trying to forge her identity as an adolescent. [19:10] Her dad passes away and she ends up in jail for stealing a car. [27:10] Why addicts can't stop even though they want to stop the addiction. [31:14] How she decided to become a licensed social clinical worker. [33:44] Her personal experience navigating as a clinical worker and being in active recovery. [34:22] How she separates her personal recovery and work life. [43:16] Maya's advice for families dealing with a loved one's addiction. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

Tom and Benjamin B. are joined by Keith. Keith is a rockstar when he plays the guitar. He is also here to talk about why it's so important to have structure within sober living. There are some places that don't have any structure, but a guy like Keith could whip them into shape really fast. Keith is a behavioral health tech. He has also been a house manager, and he is a recovering addict. He tells it like it is, but is able to do it in a way where he doesn't offend people and is able to gain the respect of the clients. This episode is a great insight into how structure can help someone move forward with their life. Show Notes [03:00] Ben and Keith have known each other for at least three years now. Keith is also in recovery, and he is a behavioral health tech. [03:12] Keith is known for some methods that are tied into the structure and regimen that we are going to be talking about today. [03:30] Keith is an addict. He came to Florida in 2013 from a homeless shelter. This is where he first learned to start having a regimen. [04:16] He didn't want to be drunk, high, and irresponsible anymore. [05:12] Get up in the morning, make your bed, do your dishes, take a shower, and take care of yourself. [05:42] A lot of clients that we deal with tend to be a little bit spoiled. Keith had limited resources, but took what was available and applied what he needed to. [07:06] Keith was grateful to have a roof over his head at the homeless shelter when it was snowing outside. [08:04] Keith lost everything and anything that came to him after that he considers a gift. [10:27] Tom and Ben both started this text as well. [10:47] Keith demands respect, and he is very straightforward with his clients. [12:53] Clients spend 90% of the day with the techs, and it might just be the most important position here. [13:53] You have to think about what the client is going through. [15:18] People aren't perfect. Who runs treatment centers? People. [17:03] The work actually starts after you get sober. [17:34] A house manager is someone with a certain amount of sobriety time. This is one of the hardest positions to find. [19:13] It's really a job on top of a job. [20:28] Being a house manager was an opportunity that Keith took while he was also working another full-time job. [20:42] This was his opportunity to make things different and fix things that were wrong when he was a client. [22:02] Keith has flipped mattresses, and even set up a guy's entire room in a gazebo. [24:04] Keith is always involved in exciting stuff, and his life looks like a blast. The clients seem to pick up on that. [25:00] He'll go diving and jump out of a plane all in one day. He has also broken every bone in his body. [26:34] Say what you mean, but don't say it mean. [29:05] Experience is what Keith had to bring to the table. [31:25] There is meant to be confrontation in treatment. The job is to give people the opportunity to utilize coping skills. [33:15] It's a client's responsibility to contribute to the safety of the treatment program. [34:07] There are people from all walks of life with every defect in the house. [36:22] Keith has opinions that bring truth and help the treatment plan have balance. [41:41] Keith is from the Bronx. He presents himself for who he is. Links and Resources: AA

Geographical change can help assist people going through recovery. A change that includes getting away from the people and influences that led to the addiction in the first place can be helpful. Benjamin B. and Renee L. are here today to talk about the benefits of sending your loved one to recovery someplace that includes geographical change. We talk about South Florida recovery versus Northeast recovery and Renee shares her experience with both. Renee and Ben both share their experience with recovery and geographical change. We talk about medically assisted therapies like suboxone and methadone and how additional therapy geared toward abstinence, spirituality, or AA are needed along with a desire to change. Show Notes [02:50] Prior to coming to South Florida, Renee was deep in her addiction. She actually came to South Florida for geographical change. [03:21] She didn't stay in the Northeast because of people, places, and things. [03:40] In the Northeast, there's the high-end recovery that focuses on yoga or medically assisted treatment. [04:00] Renee had tried suboxone therapy and it didn't keep her sober. [04:18] There are a lot of suboxone clinics up north. [04:47] Ben also has experience with methadone and suboxone. [06:24] When Ben was taking the methadone, he received therapy once a month. The methadone and suboxone kept him alive long enough to gather enough tools to want abstinence. [08:35] Ben went to therapy in Minnesota where his grandmother lived. [09:07] Medically assisted treatment means some type of methadone or suboxone, but there is no actual therapy. [10:02] Technically, Renee wasn't sober. She was just switching from opiates to suboxone. [11:47] Suboxone is also an abusable drug that people can become dependent on. [12:53] Geographical change removes the addict from the place where they are comfortable with their addiction. [13:17] Getting on an airplane and going 1500 miles away from home is a commitment. It's also a good way to avoid triggers. [14:25] Without geographical change, Renee doesn't think she would have gotten sober. [16:50] In the first year, Renee changed nothing other than where she was living. Relationships made getting clean the hardest for her. [18:01] When relationships failed, Renee went back to drugs. [18:57] South Florida is known for having great recovery. [20:30] It's hard to get clean when you're still surrounded by people who don't want that to happen. [22:59] By traveling for recovery, it's harder to change your mind and go home. Addicts can be extremely impulsive. [24:28] It's vital that loved ones and those involved don't make the geographical change with the addict. This includes over the phone and Skype. People need to make their journeys on their own. [27:04] Life is going to happen no matter what. You can get through things without getting high. Treatment is not easy for your love ones, you can't derail it as a family member. [30:23] Families being involved are a vital part of the process, but there is a time and a place. [33:37] Renee is hoping to start a meeting in the Northeast. She built a good foundation during the five years she was in South Florida. [35:09] Exercise abstinence first. Don't look at a MAT program as your first option. Benefits to geographical change include commitment, recovery based culture, and lack of triggers. [37:33] Geographical change is very important if it is a viable option for you. Links and Resources: Episode 20: Is Methadone an Effective Treatment Option?

"I know people that have gotten clean and sober off of their drug of choice... and have tried this 'medical marijuana' aspect of it... and... I don't know of anybody that was able to stay that way and maintain sobriety after going down that road." -Tom Conrad Today, Ben and I are chatting about California Sober, brought to light recently by Demi Lovato on Joe Rogan's podcast, offering our opinions on it. While we aren't here to criticize how other people recover from addiction, as we are not witch burners, we just want to offer our opinions based on our own experiences being former addicts ourselves. How We Ultimately Feel About California Sober In her interview with Joe Rogan, Demi Lovato defines what she means by being California Sober, saying, "It's a term that a lot of people use to identify this path of moderation with the help of some green plants." Our perspective on this is that that isn't going to work for everyone. We both agree that while marijuana isn't usually a gateway drug and wouldn't likely cause us to revert back to harder substances, it wouldn't likely have any benefit in our lives and would, in fact, likely hinder productivity. Give it a go if it works for you, but our experiences suggest that, again, it does not work for everyone. How People Like Joe Rogan Have Misunderstood the Twelve Steps The first step of the twelve steps is admitting that you are powerless in your addiction, and some people seem to confuse powerlessness with helplessness. If you were helpless, then there wouldn't be recovery programs. Being helpless refers to an inability to take action, but these programs offer things that you can do, ways to fix the problem. It isn't helplessness. In fact, if anything, it can actually be empowering. Our Experiences and How They Shape Our Opinion on Marijuana MaintenanceWe, for starters, have known people who have relapsed and even died of overdose after years of sobriety because they started smoking marijuana. Living in the Palm Beach County Area in Florida, we have also seen four local treatment centers adopt the marijuana maintenance treatment method. Two of them were actually shut down by the FBI and owners got arrested because of how addicts were being taken advantage of, one voluntarily shut down because of its clientele not being serious about actually wanting to recover, and, finally, someone that we know personally throwing in the towel on the program because of his perspective that it had absolutely no benefit to him. What the Best Approach Is in Our Opinion While, again, we are not witch burners and are not even against marijuana, there is absolutely nothing to support the idea that marijuana maintenance is a more effective treatment than abstinence based treatment. While marijuana maintenance (or California Sober) works for some, that doesn't seem to be the norm, so it is our belief that it is always better to completely abstain from illicit substances, that that's always the best approach. Listen in and hear us discuss our experiences and how they shape our opinions on this topic. Be sure to check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [04:16] What the topic of this episode will cover – California Sober. [08:19] How Tom and Ben feel about Demi Lovato's discussion of being California Sober. [09:54] Whether or not marijuana is a gateway drug and what kind of effect it could have on someone trying to maintain longterm recovery from harder drugs. [12:18] How Tom feels about Joe Rogan commenting on helplessness in the addiction and recovery community. [15:01] How Joe Rogan's perspective on the twelve steps is misguided because there is a difference between powerlessness and helplessness. [19:54] Marijuana Maintenance has been adopted in treatment centers in the Palm Beach county area of Florida, none of them successes. [24:00] Why abstinence from all illicit substances is the best path to recovery. [30:53] How recovery is not absolute or black or white. [34:45] How substance abuse is, for some people, all or nothing, which is why abstinence is the best approach. [39:16] Summary of the episode's main points about California Sober. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Tom's Instagram Page Ben's Instagram Page Demi Lovato on Relapsing and Being "California Sober" Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

"This disease does not discriminate and it's really hard to get sober." -Nicole Bifano Today, Ben and I are chatting to Nicole Bifano, a primary worker at Rock Recovery Center and an LCSW, about the therapeutic process, the steps of detoxification, and the details of AL-ANON membership. Why Nicole Chose to Work with Recovering Addicts Nicole felt called by God to work in the realm of addiction treatment. Working at a treatment center was her only option when she graduated. Although Nicole didn't plan on working in an alcohol and drug rehab center, she fell in love with her job. "I was able to discover who I was in the process as I had an attachment to this disease since I grew up around it." Nicole's Perspective on Counseling Addicts She realizes that it's not about the substance; for addicts, it's the underlying emotional imbalance that brings them into addiction. "For me, it's about identifying with people on a human level." Nicole looks to connect with those in recovery to show them that they are loved and cared for as human beings. "Connecting with people on their level gives you the ability to help them." Breaking Through the Addictive Mindset Clients have a range of issues, and sometimes they are still in the party and drugging stage. By looking at their past life history and experiences, Nicole can get a good insight into the source of their addiction and work with them to move past their emotional grief. Many of her clients don't feel loved or that they don't belong, and addiction to drugs gave them a feeling of inclusion. Listen in and find out the multiple facets of addiction, how Nicole facilitates the healing process, and how she guides her patients through the recovery process. Check out our new website where you can download any episode along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [04:14] Why Nicole chose to work with those recovering from addiction. [06:15] Her approach to counseling those with addiction issues. [10:30] Nicole's treatment approach with her counseling. [12:51] Common elements across patients with drug addiction. [18:45] How time is spent working with clients during counseling. [20:27] Creating connection through a relationship built on trust. [25:05] Resources to support your loved one through their healing process. [32:55] Tangible Al-Anon takeaways and why Nicole uses them as a resource. [39:33] The importance of relinquishing control as an addict. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

"I knew I didn't like myself, but I didn't even know myself." -Steve Today, Ben and I are chatting with Steve, our intern at Rock Recovery Center, who will celebrate 12 years of sobriety this week! Steve has been with us since January. He is attending university for his bachelor's degree in social work, and we are excited to have him on the show today to talk about his recovery and his work here at Rock. What Steve is Contributing to Rock Recovery Center Being an addict in recovery, Steve understands our family's struggles and challenges here we at Rock Recovery Center go through regularly. "I think I can contribute to working with young adults, as I was a young adult when I decided to go into recovery." His parents sent him into recovery, where he was able to get back on his feet and stop living the junkie lifestyle that was "exhausting." Steve's History of Drug Use Growing up with Crohn's disease, Steve was in and out of the hospital dealing with the medical implications of this auto-immune disease from the time he was 11 to the time he was 17. The doctors had put him on high doses of Prednisone, destroying his hips, resulting in Steve's use of crutches and a wheelchair to be mobile. Steve dealt with many different side effects from being on long-term, high-dose steroids, such as excessive weight gain, which kids at school bullied him about daily. He also grew up in a chaotic household with his parents constantly arguing until their divorce. He started his abuse of drugs by smoking pot in his late teens. He remembers smoking pot and telling his friends he didn't want to not feel stoned. Steve had a hard time emotionally and used marijuana to self-medicate. By the age of 22, he was homeless and smoking crack daily in his car. "My life spiraled so fast from using Oxycontin and Roxie's - the next thing I know I'm smoking crack." Listen in and find out Steve's big wins from his 12-year sobriety, what steps to take to bring yourself out of the addict's mindset, and why Steve chose to work with addicts in a recovery center. Check out our new website where you can download any episode right from my site along with other useful information for those in recovery. Share this podcast with a friend and leave us a review! Show Notes: [03:46] Why Steve decided to work in the substance abuse field. [06:17] His battle with addiction and becoming homeless. [08:20] Steve's history growing up and how he became addicted to drugs. [17:03] Biggest sobriety accomplishments to date. [23:21] How to get ahead of the game when you're working on getting sober. [25:17] What draws Steve to work in a therapeutic setting. [33:19] Steve's future and what he is planning to do in the next five years. Episode Links and Resources Real Recovery Live Chat Real Recovery Talk on the Web Real Recovery Talk on YouTube Leave Real Recovery Talk a review on iTunes Rock Recovery Center Real Recovery Talk on Facebook Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions

Getting clean and sober can be stressful. We try to do everything possible to help people going through recovery deal with stress. It's scientifically proven that exercise will help reduce stress levels. This is why we can't emphasize the importance of exercise enough in the process of getting clean and sober. Today's episode is about exercise and why it is important to incorporate into your journey. Tom and Ben will be discussing this important topic along with the benefits of exercising throughout the recovery process and how exercise can affect your overall physical and mental well being. It can even have an effect on heart health and inflammatory issues. Show Notes [02:23] Stress reduction. Exercise is a natural stress reducer. It naturally correlates with the chemicals in your brain. It also gives you an opportunity to take your mind off of whatever you've been thinking about for the day. [03:42] Getting clean and sober can be stressful. There are a lot of things that you aren't used to doing that you now have to do while you're sober. [04:20] There is even research out there that shows stress can cause heart and inflammatory issues. [04:50] Exercise also incorporates into time management. Going to the gym right after work gives you an opportunity to step away from the stressors of the day. [05:46] If you exercise, you get better sleep. Most people in recovery are prescribed some type of sleep aid. It's hard to fall asleep when you first begin recovery. [06:52] It's extremely beneficial to wean off of the sleep meds, and exercise can help you do this. [09:57] Seroquel is an antipsychotic used for sleep. It makes you tired and makes you sleep. Tom became dependent on it. [11:29] Tom has to do something exercise-related during the day even if it's just going for some walks. It definitely helps him sleep. [12:15] In Ben's opinion, sleep medication helps maintain the addicts behavior and mentality. [13:11] While we're sleeping our bodies rejuvenate and repair themselves. [13:51] Improves mood. Exercising actually improves your mood. Exercise helps with the depression and anxiety that people in recovery frequently have. [15:45] We just built a gym and run our clients through a workout routine. We ask them to pay attention to their mood before and after the exercise. We frequently see people walk out of the exercise session with a smile on their face. [17:32] Opiates release endorphins. A runner's high is similar to the endorphins from opiates. It's the same chemicals on the brain. [19:48] Most people who get regular exercise aren't depressed. [20:10] CrossFit or something with a community workout gives people a sense of accomplishment. [21:15] We find exercises that we can modify for all of our clients. [22:06] Increase of energy. Energy capital. Even though exercising expends energy, by exercising you end up with more energy throughout the day. [24:05] Coffee and energy drinks are not the only way to energize. [25:26] If you work out you sleep better, if you sleep better you have more energy. It all comes full circle. [26:01] Exercise gives you a stronger immune system. It's important to have a strong immune system during recovery, because you don't want to get sick. [27:20] Exercise can help push out the last of the detox process. [28:49] Pot is fat soluble and can store in your fat cells. [30:07] Exercising as a whole will help with relapse prevention. [30:24] It's a challenge, it gives you purpose, it's something you enjoy, you sleep better and feel better. [30:59] Also add good nutrition and have a sense of community or a 12-step program, and you will be setting yourself up for success. [31:44] Tom just competed in a US powerlifting competition. [32:29] A big part of recovery is fellowship. [35:12] We have seen exercise work time and time again. It helps with mood and everything else. [35:47] This is why we incorporate exercise into our programs. We give people the tools they need and coach them through the workouts. Links and Resources: Ep. 27 – Is Steroid Use in Recovery Considered a Relapse?