Ann & Michael Chat

Jim grew up in New York in a family that looked perfect from the outside but which was fractured inside by alcoholism and self-medicated mental illness. Each person played their role and Jim became finely attuned to his mother's moods. Describing himself as a parentified child, skilled in many ways but out of touch with his own feelings, Jim forged ahead professionally, married and brought up a child, but took into his new family a perfectionism that made life difficult for himself and others. Eventually he found Al-Anon which helped him to change his perspective, improving all of his relationships. Later he joined AA when his drinking became a problem. If you think that Al-Anon  could help you cope with someone else’s problem drinking then you can phone 1300 252 666 or go to their website al-anon.org.auIf you would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, they can be contacted on 1300 222 222 or go online at aa.org.auThe Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.

John & Aaron joined Bill & Michael in the studio to discuss the amends process from Steps 8 & 9 in a 12 Step Fellowship.Some of the issues raised include:What harms are created in the lives of the alcoholic and in their families?Why do the harms and mistakes from the past need to be cleaned up?How do members of 12 Step groups go about doing that?What are the outcomes of making amends and what does life look like after making the effort to clean up the mistakes from the past?

Zahra has lived experience of trauma, substance abuse and addiction to high performance. The child of an authoritarian father, Zahra’s family journeyed from Kuwait to Australia via Iran, a complex experience of displacement and disruption which affected her feelings of safety, identity and belonging. In her adult life she turned to drugs, alcohol and work in her search of a level of comfort, but also to the study of psychology. With a deep understanding of others facing similar challenges, Zahra is a now a psychologist specialising in trauma, addiction and mental health rehabilitation, working with clients at the levels of mind, body and spirit.https://zahraciardi.com/The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.

Rose and Michael discuss the idea/concept that can frighten people away from a 12 Step Fellowship. A Higher Power and the need for one.Is it religious? Are they a cult? What do they mean by Higher Power? Why use the word God?Driven by the need for a power in their lives that could keep them sober, Rose and Michael discuss their reaction to the word God when they arrived in AA. How has their concept of that power changed over time. Can your Higher Power really be Dolly Parton or the Number 96 tram?If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website aa.org.au.The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening

The show's invited guest could not make it in to the studio so Ann unexpectedly joined Michael to talk about their experiences in recovery with the help of Al Anon & Alcoholics Anonymous.The discussion included finding a place where their thinking is considered normal, after years of feeling unique, and being introduced to a new way of living that has them feeling more connected to those they care about and being useful in the world.

Ann reads from a pamphlet that tells the story of an alcoholic's progress through their illness in the form of a three-act play. The play includes a cast of characters who surround the alcoholic, deeply involved in their addiction and its consequences.Act I: The drinker acts out the obsession and the immediate crisis or heavy drinking episode, while family and friends react with shock, anger, or cover-ups. Act II: The enablers, family members, or coworkers take over, stepping in to fix the mess, absorb the consequences, and manage the fallout to keep life functioning. Act III: The alcoholic returns to drinking or the cycle resets as everyone adjusts back to the familiar dysfunction, allowing the loop to start all over again. The "A Merry-Go-Round Named Denial" address originally formed part of a workshop in 1968; today the important concepts remain true for most people in an alcoholic situation.This episode is a repeat.If you think that Al-Anon  could help you cope with someone else’s problem drinking then you can phone 1300 252 666 or go to their website al-anon.org.au#Alcoholism #Al-Anon #RecoveryIf you would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, they can be contacted on 1300 222 222 or go online at aa.org.au The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.

Co-hosts Michael and Ann chat about what alcoholism does to those who are addicted to alcohol and to those who are in close relationships with them.The conversation starts with an Open Letter to my Family I am an alcoholic. I need help.Don’t allow me to lie to you and accept it for the truth, for in so doing, you encourage me to lie. The truth may be painful but get at it.Don’t let me outsmart you. This only teaches me to avoid responsibility and to lose respect for you at the same time.Don’t let me exploit you or take advantage of you. In so doing, you become an accomplice to my evasion of responsibility...https://www.aacle.org/an-open-letter-to-my-family/ If you think that Al-Anon  could help you cope with someone else’s problem drinking then you can phone 1300 252 666 or go to their website al-anon.org.au#Alcoholism #Al-Anon #RecoveryIf you would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, they can be contacted on 1300 222 222 or go online at aa.org.au The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.

Daniel joined Michael in the studio to describe his life living with and in early recovery from alcoholism. Born in Canada and always feeling a little on the outside, Daniel discovered the freedom that music and alcohol provided in his teen years. Moving to Melbourne with his Australian partner, the work drinking culture was alluring and eventually his downfall. Unable to keep his commitments to his family and friends he sought help through various means, multiple rehabs and eventually fell through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. He found a welcoming bunch of people and has settled in to a new life being sober & happy.If you would like to find out a bit more about alcoholism for yourself or a friend, then you can give Alcoholics Anonymous a call on 1300 222 222 or check out their website aa.org.au.

Rose joined Michael in the studio to discuss their own experiences of what life looked life at the end of their drinking and then going to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting for the first time.What were the other people there like? Did they feel judged? Did the world end? Did they find some HOPE. What was on offer at Alcoholics Anonymous that hadn't presented itself in their varying attempts to control &/or enjoy their drinking?Here is a link to the last time Rose was a guest on the program and shared her story: https://audio.3cr.org.au/3cr/living-free/2026/05/14/1300/202605141300_living-free_64.mp3If you enjoyed listening to this episode, please feel free to give us some feedback at [email protected] If you think you may have a drinking problem, or know someone who does, you can contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 1300 222 222 or go to their website at aa.org.au

David grew up in a middle-class family in Sydney. His mother had a problem with alcoholism and David and his siblings were often in the care of a nanny while his mother was away from home seeking treatment for her condition. A quiet child who had learned to be what he calls 'a people pleaser', David found himself a victim of bullying in a private boys school. He did not confide this to anyone who could intervene, but does remember a teacher who was open about his own recovery in AA and who would talk to the class about Al-Anon. By this stage David's mother was in AA but it wasn't until later in life that David sought recovery for himself in Al-Anon.  If you think that Al-Anon  could help you cope with someone else’s problem drinking then you can phone 1300 252 666 or go to their website al-anon.org.au #Alcoholism #Al-Anon #RecoveryIf you would like more information about Alcoholics Anonymous, they can be contacted on 1300 222 222 or go online at aa.org.au The Living Free show may involve discussion of topics such as suicide, mental illness, self-harm and family violence. Please practise self-care and care of others when listening.