I Was a Blackout Alcoholic at 16 — Near Liver Failure | How I Recovered From Alcoholism

Kristen had what looked like a perfect childhood — loving parents, athletics, stability. But at 16, alcohol flipped a switch she didn’t know existed. From blackouts every single time she drank, to toxic relationships, infidelity, sudden death, hospitalizations, and a terrifying medical wake-up call that nearly cost her life — Kristen’s alcoholism spiraled fast and quietly. She drank alone. She drank to numb. She drank to survive. Until alcohol turned on her body — landing her in the hospital with abnormal scans, organ damage warnings, and thoughts she never thought she’d have. This is a brutally honest conversation about: Blackout drinking from the very first drink Alcoholism hiding behind “normal life” Betrayal, trauma, and repeated loss Near liver failure and hospital intervention Being forced into treatment — and why it finally worked Finding purpose, accountability, and real recovery Today, Kristen is 4.5+ years sober, married, trusted again by her family, and living proof that even when recovery starts for someone else — it can still save your life. If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode may be the wake-up call you didn’t know you needed. #AlcoholismRecovery #BlackoutDrinking #SobrietyJourney #AddictionRecovery #RiseAbovePodcast #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholFreeLife #WomenInRecovery #SoberLiving #TraumaAndHealing #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryStories #RockBottom #SoberCommunity #OneDayAtATime #AddictionAwareness Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support recovery in style with SBR Cartel — 10% of every purchase helps struggling addicts and alcoholics find hope. Get 15% off with code RISEABOVE at sbrcartel.com Meet Jackie, a mother of four who survived childhood sexual abuse, chaotic parenting, violent relationships, addiction, and ultimately prison — where she endured an officer’s misconduct that later resulted in a $3.3 million settlement.But her story isn’t about money.It’s about resilience.In this episode, Jackie walks us through:• Growing up with abuse, neglect, and unsafe environments• Losing her son during active addiction• Developing a brutal opioid addiction• Snorting heroin instead of shooting it to “feel in control”• The hotel arrest that led to prison• The abuse she endured behind bars• Fighting a six-year legal battle• Getting clean, rebuilding her life, and becoming a mother again• Winning a $3.3M settlement — and not letting it destroy her• What relapse taught her after years sober• How she stays clean todayHer transformation is unbelievable — from losing her children, her freedom, and her identity… to creating a new life rooted in honesty, boundaries, faith, and recovery.If you’ve survived trauma, struggled with addiction, or felt like you couldn’t come back from a mistake — Jacqui’s story will move you deeply.🙏 Rise Above Recovery Meeting — Every MondayEmail [email protected] for the Zoom link.🔥 Join the Rise Above Sober CommunityConnect with people who truly get it inside the OpenRecovery app. #trauma #addictionrecovery #prisonstories #survivor #riseabove #opioidepidemic #addictionawareness #childhoodtrauma #recoveryjourney #healingjourney #overdoseawareness #soberlife #sobriety #abusesurvivor #mentalhealthmatters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support recovery in style with SBR Cartel — 10% of every purchase helps struggling addicts and alcoholics find hope. Get 15% off with code RISEABOVE at sbrcartel.com Ronnie’s story is one of the most powerful recovery journeys you will ever hear. In this episode of Rise Above, Ronnie opens up about his unbelievable transformation — from being a professional soccer star drafted #1 in the country, battling alcohol addiction, Valium dependence, cocaine, compulsive gambling, and lying, to becoming a man with 35 years sober and 31 years free from gambling. Ronnie shares: How a Valium prescription at 14 years old led to 20 years of addiction What it was like gambling while playing professional soccer Losing everything — including trust, money, family, and self-respect The $25,000 he stole from his own brother The brutal reality of detox, rehab, and psych wards How the 12 Steps, God, and service saved his life Making amends to the man who raised his children after addiction Building a successful business after recovery Teaching young people how to truly work the steps What it really takes to stay sober one day at a time This episode is for anyone struggling with addiction, gambling, anxiety, lies, ego, shame, or relapse — and for anyone who needs proof that it’s never too late to change your life. #35YearsSober #GamblingAddiction #RecoveryPodcast #AddictionRecovery #RiseAbove #SobrietyJourney #FromAddictionToRecovery #12StepProgram #ValiumAddiction #CocaineAddiction #CompulsiveGambling #Alcoholism #MentalHealthAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible #SoberLife #GamblersAnonymous #AARecovery #FaithInRecovery #OneDayAtATime #LifeAfterAddiction #RedemptionStory #KevinLanning #RiseAbovePodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support recovery in style with SBR Cartel — 10% of every purchase helps struggling addicts and alcoholics find hope. Get 15% off with code RISEABOVE at sbrcartel.com Annie shares one of the most powerful family-side addiction stories ever told on Rise Above. From growing up in a home filled with alcoholism, violence, and silence… to becoming a young mother… to watching her son become addicted to opioids after a football injury — this is the side of addiction rarely spoken about. Annie opens up about: Growing up in a chaotic alcoholic household Her son being prescribed opioids at 17 after a broken jaw Years of chasing, enabling, fear, and emotional collapse Her son’s journey to treatment and now over 10 years sober Hitting her own emotional rock bottom Recovery for family members through meetings, boundaries, and self-work Learning how to stop living in fear and start living in peace Today, Annie works in peer support, helps families in crisis, and is the author of Unhooked and Unbroken, two powerful books about family recovery and surviving addiction. This episode is for: Parents of addicted children Spouses and family members in chaos Anyone affected by addiction who thinks the only problem is the addict Because recovery isn’t just for the person using — it’s for everyone. #AddictionRecovery #OpioidCrisis #ParentsOfAddicts #FamilyRecovery #Codependency #OxyContin #RecoveryIsPossible #RiseAbovePodcast #Alcoholism #DrugAddiction #SoberCommunity #HealingJourney #TraumaHealing #MentalHealthPodcast #RecoverySupport #Intervention #Boundaries #12Steps #EmotionalRecovery #HopeAfterAddiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support recovery in style with SBR Cartel — 10% of every purchase helps struggling addicts and alcoholics find hope. Get 15% off with code RISEABOVE at sbrcartel.com In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Dr. Jason Rudolph — a psychologist with 28 years of sobriety — opens up about his daily cocaine addiction, massive consequences, failed attempts at school, gambling, lying, shame, and the moment he finally surrendered. Jason shares how he went from doing cocaine every day for two years, destroying relationships, losing opportunities, and spiraling into secrecy — to becoming a respected psychologist who has helped thousands of addicts recover. We walk through: ✔️ His childhood and early signs of addiction ✔️ Daily cocaine use, escalating to talk of smoking crack ✔️ Consequences he could no longer outrun ✔️ The God moment in a bar that changed everything ✔️ His surrender and journey through Hazelden, sober living, and rebuilding ✔️ Becoming Dr. Jason Rudolph — and helping others find the voice he once ignored ✔️ Mentorship, humility, boundaries, and why consequences save lives Whether you’re new to recovery, long-term sober, or trying to help a loved one, this conversation will hit home. Jason’s humility, clarity, and brutal honesty make this one of the most powerful episodes of Rise Above. Follow Dr. Jason Rudolph: IG: @drjasonrudolph Website: DrJasonRudolph.com If this episode helps you — please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with someone who needs hope today. You never have to recover alone. #addiction #recovery #sober #sobriety #cocaineaddiction #rehab #12step #mentalhealth #psychologist #inspiration #risenabove #kevinlanning #addictionrecovery #drugaddiction #soberlife #sobercommunity #overcomingaddiction #recoveryispossible #miracleofsobriety #intervention #hope Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Rise Above, Kevin sits down with Spencer Chamberlain, the legendary frontman of Underoath, for one of the rawest and most vulnerable interviews he’s ever done. Spencer opens up about: Joining Underoath at 23 The early days playing in front of 10 people Breaking away from the Christian-rock label His secret addiction to pills, cocaine, and the nightlife How fame, pressure, and identity spirals nearly destroyed him Navigating the collapse of the band in 2013 His journey to self-worth, therapy, recovery, and rebuilding his life Finding real love, becoming a father, and finally learning to love himself The moment he knew he had to completely change his life This episode is filled with redemption, honesty, and powerful insight into the world behind the music industry’s curtain. Whether you're a fan of Underoath, rock music, or stories of recovery—this interview will hit you hard. If this conversation helps you, please LIKE & SUBSCRIBE. To join Kevin’s Monday night Rise Above Recovery Meeting, email: [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deeply emotional episode, Heidi shares the story she’s never fully told—growing up in an ultra-strict宗 Lutheran community comparable to Amish rules, where makeup, music, and even friendships outside the church were forbidden. After being married at 18 and becoming a mother of six, her life spiraled into emotional abuse, fear, and eventually alcoholism. But nothing prepared her for the darkest chapter: watching her teenage daughter fall into heroin addiction, spiraling into the streets, jail, and repeated overdoses. At just 18 years old, Heidi’s daughter tragically passed away from fentanyl. Heidi opens up about: • Escaping a controlling church community • An abusive marriage and losing custody of her children • Her battle with alcohol and multiple rehab attempts • Becoming homeless before rebuilding her life • Her daughter’s addiction, juvenile incarceration, and fentanyl use • The devastating day she received the phone call no parent should ever get • How she found sobriety, purpose, and healing after unthinkable loss If you are a parent of a child struggling with addiction, or you’re battling addiction yourself, this episode is for you. Heidi’s story shows that even through the darkest pain, there is still hope. 🙏 If this episode impacts you, please subscribe and share to help someone who needs it. 📧 For my Monday night Rise Above Recovery Meeting link, email: [email protected] #AddictionStory #FentanylCrisis #Motherhood #RecoveryJourney #RiseAbovePodcast #Sobriety #OverdoseAwareness #TraumaHealing #AddictionRecovery #SurvivorStory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Russell’s story is one of the darkest descents ever shared on Rise Above — and one of the most inspiring comebacks.After years trapped in chronic pain, opiate prescriptions, crippling anxiety, and undiagnosed Bipolar II, Russell’s world fell apart:• his marriage crumbled• his career collapsed• his father was dying• he couldn’t sleep for months• he spiraled into heavy drinking + painkillers• and eventually… he planned his own suicideWhat followed is shocking:Russell was admitted twice to a psychiatric hospital, diagnosed bipolar, and eventually underwent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) — the same “shock therapy” most people fear.But instead of ending his life…He rebuilt it from scratch.Today Russell is sober, mentally stable, and runs a successful pressure-washing business with his two sons — the very people he almost left behind.This interview is raw, emotional, and brutally honest. If you’re struggling with addiction, depression, anxiety, or feel like you’re at the end… Russell’s story will show you that there is ALWAYS a way out.🙏 If you need recovery support:Email me to join our weekly Rise Above Recovery Meeting📧 [email protected]👇 Drop a comment if Russell’s honesty helped you today.#RiseAbove#AddictionRecovery#MentalHealthMatters#BipolarDisorder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this powerful episode of Rise Above, Ryan shares one of the most shocking alcoholism survival stories we’ve ever heard on this show. From growing up depressed and anxious in Seattle… to binge drinking through college frat life… to running a business while hiding a cocaine addiction… Ryan’s battle with alcoholism escalated until he was drinking 12–20 drinks a day, suffering seizures, and hitting a 0.40 BAC during a police wellness check. But the moment that nearly killed him — and ultimately saved him — was when he collapsed down a flight of concrete stairs, woke up with his teeth knocked out, his face unrecognizable, and a corneal infection so severe doctors considered removing his eye. On top of this, Ryan opens up about the devastating loss of his sister to a fentanyl overdose, the trauma he carried since childhood, and the lies he told himself for years. Today, Ryan is over a year sober, rebuilding his life, helping others, and sharing the tools that finally kept him sober after countless attempts. This is one of the most raw, honest, and emotionally powerful episodes yet. If this story helps you, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and COMMENT below. Your support pushes this message of hope further. #alcoholism #soberstory #addictionrecovery #riseabovepodcast #rockbottom #soberlife #fentanylepidemic #traumahealing #alcoholaddiction #sobrietyjourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Allen Lund’s story is one of the wildest and most heartbreaking transformation journeys ever shared on Rise Above. Born into chaos in Broward County, Allen grew up around addiction, violence, poverty, and dysfunction. By middle school he was on Xanax, smoking weed just to face the day, and eventually spiraled into a full-blown opioid and crack addiction that led to living two years under a bridge, watching people die around him, and surviving multiple fentanyl overdoses — including one where he woke up 6 hours later and should’ve been dead. After jail time, relapses, homelessness, and countless failed attempts to detox, Allen clawed his way into recovery. Today he’s coming up on one year sober, a devoted father, a partner, and a man with purpose. This episode is raw, graphic, emotional, and brutally honest — but it proves one thing: No matter how far you fall… you can rise again. #AddictionRecovery #FentanylCrisis #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryStory #DrugAddiction #HomelessToHope #OverdoseSurvivor #RehabStories #SoberLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices