331: There's Always Stuff to Deal With

In this episode of the Soberful podcast, hosts Veronica Valli and Chip discuss the significance of sobriety milestones, particularly Chip's 41 years of sobriety. They explore the ongoing journey of recovery, emphasizing the importance of emotional growth, personal development, and maintaining connections with others. The conversation highlights the necessity of support systems and frameworks for living a fulfilling life post-addiction, as well as the continuous opportunities for growth that life presents. The hosts stress that sobriety is not just about abstaining from substances but involves learning essential life skills and managing emotions effectively. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In Veronica and Chip's traditional end-of-year episode, they discuss all the things that changed their lives this year. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chip and Veronica discuss how anger manifests in sobriety. What lies beneath anger? Is it purely fear? How do you manage your own anger and that of others? To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Veronica and Chip respond to a listener's question and talk about how to manage all the new feelings you experience in sobriety. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

At 32 years of age, Kate Lewis was grappling with alcohol withdrawal, and she had a severe alcohol fit. This led to her being placed in a medical coma for six days. Surprisingly, this didn't halt her drinking. It was the subsequent events that finally put an end to her alcoholism. Kate, now a published author, joins the podcast to share her story and discuss the two books she wrote. These books, a testament to her journey, offer hope and guidance to women struggling with alcoholism, inspiring them to embark on their own path to recovery. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

When Suzanne went into blacked out drunk with a 3-month-old baby, she knew her drinking had passed the point of no return. She had spent years trying to moderate and manage her drinking to no avail. Now, her mission is to spread the word about how fun and freeing sobriety can be. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mary Alice Stephens loved alcohol; she drank every day and made sure her social life was full of opportunities to drink. Coming from a large Irish Catholic family, drinking was normalised and celebrated. She joins Veronica to discuss what happens after you put the drink down. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Veronica discusses the universal challenge of dealing with difficult people in our lives. She emphasizes that understanding the emotional unwellness of others can foster empathy, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining boundaries and managing expectations. Veronica provides insights into how to respond to difficult individuals from a place of emotional regulation, rather than reacting as a wounded child. The conversation culminates in practical strategies for transforming relationships through clear communication and self-awareness, ultimately leading to personal growth and improved interactions. To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Chip joins Veronica to discuss how to regain trust when you get sober. They discuss regaining the trust of your children and partner. Trust is something sacred and when broken it takes time and patience to earn it back.   To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Veronica and Chip discuss what it feels like when you first stop drinking. At the beginning, it feels like a void with loads of time to fill. Over time, sobriety creates purpose and meaning, and you wonder that you ever had time to drink.   To learn more, visit the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.