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Ep17 – Sheri’s Story, Part 2: Recovering Our Marriage

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Alcoholic Destruction of Intimacy in Our Marriage

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Jason Polk and Matt Salis aren’t satisfied with the stigma associated with addiction, nor outdated approaches to traditional recovery. We have lots of questions and a deep interest in the recovery strategies that are working for our fellow recovery warriors. If you share our curiosity, check out the topics we’ve been exploring…

  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep16 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 6

God has an important place in my life. He always has. I am a very spiritual person, and I pray constantly both now and back when I was in active alcoholism. That's why I don't believe God wants us to let go and let God. For me, God has given direction to my life, but he expects me to do the work to get sober. I don't believe alcoholism is a spiritual problem. I believe it is a brain disease. My faith helps me, but it is not required for permanent sobriety. That's why we leave God mostly out of our SHOUT Sobriety program. We want you to feel welcomed regardless of you spirituality or beliefs. On this episode, we are talking about preparing to send a coming out letter to announce your alcoholism to the world. That's what I did a year into my sobriety, and the day I sent that email was the best day of my life. You don't need to send it today in week six of this program, but it is important to begin crafting the letter and prepare to announce your enlightenment to the world.
June 21, 2019
  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep15 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 5

Relationships are so important to our happiness and our success in early sobriety. Taking alcohol out of our relationships actually does not fix the problems that our years of drinking caused. Removing alcohol only makes the damage visible and allows us to work on our problems and try to fix our broken relationships. In this episode, we talk about relationships with family members as well as intimate relationships.
June 20, 2019
  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep14 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 4

The disease of alcoholism has many victims. The spouses and children of an alcoholic are victims. The parents and friends of an alcoholic are victims, too. The victim we forget is the alcoholic. If you are convinced alcoholism is a disease like I am, then the person afflicted with the disease is most definitely a victim. What other disease can you name where the victim is the target of blame and shame? That is no way to heal. Another important point we address in week four of the SHOUT Sobriety program is our emotional immaturity. When we have spent years, and even decades, drowning our emotions in booze, we are completely ill equiped to deal with emotions in sobriety. Our emotional maturity is frozen at the age when we started medicating with alcohol, and we have some serious maturing to do.
June 19, 2019
  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep13 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 3

In the third week of the SHOUT Sobriety program, we discuss two very important topics in early sobriety. We have to be patient with ourselves and our brains as we begin to recover from alcoholism. Not only does it take time for our brain chemistry to improve, but it takes time for our sobriety muscles to gain strength. Social events are dangerous for the first year of sobriety, and should be avoided when possible, and prepared for when they are required. What we eat can cure us. We are talking about a pro-recovery diet that will stimulate the generation of neurotransmitters and help us avoid cravings to drink alcohol. My good friend and nutrition expert, Kelly Miller, taught me everything I know about this subject, and it works (I am living proof)! Check out Kelly's website or find her on social media (facebook and Instagram) at The Addiction Nutritionist. To learn more about SHOUT Sobriety, or to enroll in the free program, please visit the SHOUT Sobriety website.
June 15, 2019
  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep12 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 2

In week 2 of SHOUT Sobriety, the topic could not be more important. This week we are focused on brain chemistry. We lean how our alcohol consumption hijacks our neurotransmitters and controls the reward pathways in our brains withholding pleasure from us unless we give our brains alcohol. We also learn about the power of the subconscious mind. It really doesn't matter that we have decided on a conscious level to quit drinking. Until we give our massively powerful subconscious time to learn new patterns, our brain will be screaming for us to give it alcohol. This truly is vitally important, life changing stuff, and I hope you enjoy and feel insightful relief from what you hear. To learn more about SHOUT Sobriety, or to enroll in the program, check out our SHOUT Sobriety website.
June 14, 2019
  • SHOUT Sobriety

Ep11 – SHOUT Sobriety Week 1

Learn about our program to help people navigate the treacherous waters of early sobriety. It is called SHOUT Sobriety, and we offer this six week strategy for free for those concerned about their drinking, and for the families of those who abuse alcohol. To learn more, listen to this podcast episode or check out our SHOUT Sobriety website. Hear my story and what worked for me to achieve permanent sobriety. Editorial note - when I say, "strokes," I mean, "seizures."
June 7, 2019
  • Addiction

Ep10 – Sink or Swim with Author Michael Arnold

Michael Arnold is an alcoholic and drug addict in recovery, and she is loud and proud about it. Her rock bottom was when her heart stopped in an ambulance after suffering a seizure when she detoxed too fast. She almost died. That explains why she is so enthusiastic about her life in recovery. I am excited to have her on the podcast to talk about all of this, and her new book, Drowning in Addiction: Sink or Swim.
May 20, 2019
  • Addiction
  • Relationship

Ep9 – Sheri’s Story: Matt’s Wife on an Alcoholic Marriage

I've talked and written extensively about my relationship with my wife. Now it is her turn to talk. Hear about the damage done to our marriage as we suffered decades of alcoholism and emerged clinging to survival. This is the most emotional and raw episode we've ever recorded. Hear what an alcoholic marriage is all about.
May 6, 2019
  • Addiction
  • Relationship

Ep8 – When Love Survives Addiction

Jason and Matt have interviewed experts on addiction and relationships. Now it's time to hear the stories of the damage their addictions have caused in their own marriages. These are painful stories, but they are also the stories of survival and love.
April 22, 2019
  • Addiction

Ep7 – Drugs, Alcohol and Teenage Invincibility with Dave Friedentag

We asked Dave Friedentag why he works with troubled youth to help them move past their drug and alcohol abuse problems and find a better way forward. He explained that high school is when he started getting into trouble and began a journey that led to the death of his brother. When we experience trauma, we want to help others avoid the same life-altering pitfalls. And we are all glad Dave chose to have the impact he has on our kids.

March 27, 2019
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