Addiction Unlimited Angela Pugh

Being High-Functioning Doesn’t Mean You Don’t Have a Drinking Problem



I understand why you feel that way and how easy it is to separate from the pack when your habits and struggles look different.



It does create a sense of being different and not fitting in to traditional methods and programs.



And it’s hard to call yourself an alcoholic when your picture of what an alcoholic is, is not good.



But let me ask you this – if you are high-functioning, does that mean your problem is different? Or your lifestyle is different?



And if you continue to view your problem as different, which is probably what you’ve been doing, then you could continue to stay stuck in yo-yo sobriety, wasting your time and energy for months or years.



So what do high-functioning problem drinkers do to be successful at sobriety?



Well, we start with facing the real problem, instead of being distracted by the lifestyle and labels.



Think about it – there are tens of millions of people with drinking problems across the globe. There is no way all of our details are going to be the same.



How we live, education, houses, jobs, cars, money, how much we drink, how often we drink, trauma… all of these details will vary to some degree.



But our misuse of alcohol is the same.



If you’re like most of my clients, you use alcohol as a way to numb feelings and discomfort. You use it as a way to connect with your friends, to make laundry and kids and chores feel more doable, to escape the stresses of reality and adulting.



So, isn’t it more important to focus on the causes and conditions so you can get away from alcohol, get control of your life back, and be present with your family?



 



Links mentioned in this episode: 



30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery: addictionunlimited.com/fasttrack



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

The uncomfortable topic no one is talking about. Or, not too many people are talking about because it can be awkward and weird like everything else in life.



But it’s so important for women to understand.



And, there are some great recovery revelations in this episode that have nothing to do with life stages or being a man or a woman – but have everything to do with getting sober and living the life you really want.



You may know today’s guest from the To 50 & Beyond podcast.



When she quit drinking at forty-five, she felt like she had been run over by a truck for years.



She was doing the back and forth, back and forth thing, and she finally decided to quit drinking after thirty years of a close relationship with alcohol – finally tired of settling for that life.



Lori Massicot loves to talk about the disadvantage of just a small amount of alcohol.



From sleepless nights, waking up in the morning fuzzy and hungover, to ending the day with another drink even when you promised yourself you weren’t going to drink today.



She found herself in mid-life, stressed out, she didn’t like her work, had no confidence, and knew her life had to change.



And if you aren’t a 12-step person, you’re definitely going to love the inspiration and motivation that comes with Lori’s story because she had a different path, is respectful of the program, and has amazing and fulfilling sobriety.



 



Links mentioned in this episode: 



Insights Into Addiction and 12-Step Programs Today with Angela Pugh:  https://www.lorimassicot.com/to-50-and-beyond-podcast/283



Lori Massicot:  lorimassicot.com



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Many of us love to get annoyed with the AA one-liners and all the recovery phrases out there, but the truth is, they work.



And if you get them, they can change your whole trajectory.



When you understand what they mean, the few simple words take on a whole new meaning and it becomes its own shorthand language where you hear these few words, and you know exactly what to do.



It’s a game changer.



Especially if you are caught up in future-tripping, thinking about a bunch of possibilities, what if this happens... what if they do this or say this... what will I do if this…



Did you know that studies show 85% of the things you worry about, never happen?



85%!!



That’s a lot of wasted time and energy.



I’m going to go through 6 of my favorite, life-changing phrases, what they mean to me, and how to use them.



And, if you’re signed up for the 30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery series, you’re going to have access to six more, with a little surprise bonus I’m putting together for you.



Links mentioned in this episode: 



30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery: addictionunlimited.com/fasttrack



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

 







 



What does an addictive personality actually look like?



People always tell me, “I have a very addictive personality”.



Well, I’m right there with you, my friend - if you struggle with substances, it just makes sense we will struggle with behavior addictions, too.



Today we’re talking about having an addictive personality and the behavior addictions we can pick up along the way.



If I do something and I like it, I want more of it.



Food, people, work, exercise, self-improvement and recovery, television, ice cream – it could literally be anything.



If I get some gratification from it, I want to do it again, as soon as possible.



One common factor underlying nearly every addiction is the feeling of reward.



Your brain registers all pleasures in the same way, whether it’s a cold beer after work, a shopping spree, morning sex, or a delicious meal.



When you experience that feeling of reward, the brain is flooded with the neurotransmitter dopamine.



It’s the feel-good neurotransmitter and it is the thing we are chasing for most of the time.



So let’s get into some of the traits of an addictive personality, what they look like in everyday life, and how they manifest in some of the most common behavior addictions.



 



Links mentioned in this episode: 



30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery: addictionunlimited.com/fasttrack



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Whether you’re in the early stages of sobriety or have been in recovery for a while, understanding post-acute withdrawal can help you navigate the ups and downs of addiction recovery more effectively.



PAWS can be a challenging phase in the addiction recovery journey, and knowing the symptoms and signs can help you create processes and gather tools to get through it without relapse.



What is it

What are the symptoms

What to do



If you're feeling a little crazy and need a name for it, this may be it.



Don't worry about taking notes with this episode because I've created a whole guide for you as a part of the 30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery series.



Links mentioned in this episode: 



30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery: addictionunlimited.com/fasttrack



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



Quitting Drinking & Post Acute Withdrawal (PAWS):  addictionunlimited.com/73



The Science of Sobriety and How to Feel Better Faster: addictionunlimited.com/200



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

Recovery fears are the absolute worst, because let's be real: all you want to do is get your life together and be present with your family, but you can’t stop thinking about all the ways your life will change and wondering if you can handle it.



This can also come in the form of not wanting to engage so much with friends because you are feeling torn between two lives and totally uncertain about what your future is going to look like. And I get it – I know that life, sober or not, isn’t always rainbows and kittens, but you shouldn’t be stuck in fear and letting it hold you back.



You may know Charlie LeVoir from the Way Out Podcast where he talks about powerful sobriety topics and recovery stories to inspire your recovery journey.



He was struggling with a drinking problem, but convinced his wife he could quit whenever he wanted to. In his attempt to moderate his drinking he almost lost a hand while carving the Thanksgiving turkey and that’s when it all came crashing down.



No more denial, no more convincing the wife, straight to treatment he went.



Through working steps and doing trauma therapy Charlie shares how he had to straighten out all the relationships in his life that were confused and not right, including the relationship he had with himself.



* The major truths he had to face

* The counselor that set him straight

* And the realization that got him into recovery full-time



 



Links mentioned in this episode: 



30 Days to Fast Track Your Recovery: addictionunlimited.com/fasttrack



Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited



Want to work with Angela? Book A Call Here : addictionunlimited.com/call



Way Out Podcast: wayoutcast.com



 



Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts



“I love Angela & Addiction Unlimited Podcast.” – If that sounds like you, please consider rating and reviewing my show! This helps me support more people — just like you — to keep moving forward to the recovery lifestyle they want.  Click here, scroll to the bottom, tap to rate with five stars, and select “Write a Review.” Then be sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!