CBR ArtLab

Carlsbad Beach Recovery

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Self-Improvement

Rob and Bobby explore anything and everything related to addiction and recovery

20h ago

What Is It Actually Like To Recover From An Addiction?

Let's talk about what it actually looks like to recover from addiction. https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com In this episode of the CBR ArtLab Podcast, Bobby, Nima, and Rob discuss one of the most misunderstood parts of addiction recovery: learning how to live after the substances are gone. Nima shares what it was like to enter recovery at 23 and feel like a ghost in his old life. He could no longer be the person he had been, but he didn’t yet know who he was supposed to become. Rebuilding meant finding new friendships, trying unfamiliar experiences, learning how to have fun sober, and allowing other people to show him a different way to live. The conversation also explores why milestones like 90 days, six months, and one year can create unexpected pressure. When chaos and rock bottom are familiar, stability can feel uncomfortable—and having something to lose can awaken the urge to self-sabotage. Bobby and Nima explain why recovery isn’t defined solely by the amount of time someone has been sober. It’s defined by what they’ve experienced, practiced, and learned to handle during that time. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, mental health, gambling, gaming, or social media addiction, Carlsbad Beach Recovery is here to help. Subscribe for more honest conversations about addiction, treatment, mental health, and life in recovery. This podcast is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical or mental-health care.
Sep 13

The Part Of Getting Sober That Nobody Warns You About

Why can recovery become more difficult after your life starts getting better? https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com In this episode of the CBR ArtLab Podcast, Bobby, Nima, and Rob discuss one of the most misunderstood parts of addiction recovery: learning how to live after the substances are gone. Nima shares what it was like to enter recovery at 23 and feel like a ghost in his old life. He could no longer be the person he had been, but he didn’t yet know who he was supposed to become. Rebuilding meant finding new friendships, trying unfamiliar experiences, learning how to have fun sober, and allowing other people to show him a different way to live. The conversation also explores why milestones like 90 days, six months, and one year can create unexpected pressure. When chaos and rock bottom are familiar, stability can feel uncomfortable—and having something to lose can awaken the urge to self-sabotage. Bobby and Nima explain why recovery isn’t defined solely by the amount of time someone has been sober. It’s defined by what they’ve experienced, practiced, and learned to handle during that time. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, mental health, gambling, gaming, or social media addiction, Carlsbad Beach Recovery is here to help. Subscribe for more honest conversations about addiction, treatment, mental health, and life in recovery. This podcast is for educational purposes and does not replace professional medical or mental-health care. 00:00 Losing your identity in early recovery 01:20 Getting sober on the first attempt 02:30 Were Nima’s friendships built around using? 03:18 Letting other people challenge your thinking 04:18 Learning how to have fun while sober 05:14 The mindset that can lead to relapse 06:08 Finding where you belong 07:50 What to do with your new life 08:18 When does the fog begin to clear? 09:20 Why six months became more difficult 10:48 Turning healthy habits into new extremes 12:00 Why recovery milestones can be dangerous 13:34 Why success can trigger self-sabotage 15:17 The belief that you can always come back 16:18 Being truly ready for treatment 16:44 Nima asks his parents for help 17:39 Do you have to want recovery? 18:14 Forgetting how bad addiction became 19:14 Why you can’t predict who will succeed 20:03 The connection between recovery and jiu-jitsu 21:15 Does time sober really matter? 22:27 Facing recovery one day at a time 24:04 What someone learns in outpatient treatment 25:10 Coming next in Part Two
Aug 31

He Survived an Overdose, Then Tried to Get High Again

Bobby survived an overdose—but as soon as he reached the hospital, he wanted to leave and get high again. In Episode 7 of the CBR ArtLab Podcast, Bobby and Rob have an honest conversation about relapse, rock bottom, and the difference between entering treatment and genuinely becoming willing to change. Bobby explains why his earlier treatment attempts were often meant to satisfy his family, relationships, or the court—and why even devastating consequences weren’t enough to make him want sobriety. His real turning point wasn’t his overdose. It was reaching an emotional bottom where he could no longer tolerate the problems his addiction created. Rob shares how similar patterns appeared in his gambling addiction: family bailouts, repeated promises to stop, chasing a win that could supposedly fix everything, and using self-pity to manufacture an excuse to gamble again. Together, they discuss how relapse can expose weaknesses in a recovery plan, why shame often makes the cycle worse, and how accountability, honesty, structure, and a meaningful life beyond abstinence can help someone move forward. This episode also explores: Why treatment may not work until someone becomes willing to change The emotional rationalizations that happen before relapse Why rock bottom isn’t always the most dramatic consequence How addiction turns its own damage into an excuse to continue The similarities between gambling and substance-use disorders Why removing instant access can create time to survive an urge How painful experiences can eventually be used to help others If you or someone you care about is struggling, reaching out for support can be the first step toward changing what happens next. Subscribe for more honest conversations about addiction, mental health, treatment, and long-term recovery from Carlsbad Beach Recovery.
Aug 22

Why Quitting One Addiction Can Lead to Another

What happens when someone quits drugs, alcohol, or gambling—but the underlying addictive behavior finds somewhere else to go? Rob sits down with Bobby and Nima to discuss cross-addiction, the growing overlap between gambling and substance use, and why stopping one destructive behavior doesn’t always mean the addiction itself has been addressed. Rob shares how his gambling addiction appeared through sports betting, casino games, slots, poker, day trading, and cryptocurrency—and how he began drinking more after he stopped gambling. Bobby and Nima explain how people in early recovery can transfer the same compulsive patterns into gambling, relationships, exercise, shopping, or other high-risk behaviors. They also discuss why gambling addiction often goes undetected in traditional treatment, the warning signs loved ones should watch for, and how Carlsbad Beach Recovery’s gambling-specific programming can be incorporated into an individualized treatment plan. The episode concludes with real stories of former clients building meaningful lives in recovery and helping others find treatment themselves. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, mental health challenges or a behavioral addiction, Carlsbad Beach Recovery is here to help. Call or text: 442-500-1179 Learn more: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/ Admissions: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/admissions/ If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988. This podcast is intended for education and awareness. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. Subscribe for future conversations about addiction, mental health, treatment, and long-term recovery.
Aug 15

He Thought His Addiction Wasn’t That Bad... Until He Saw What Came Next

Nima entered treatment at 23 years old without the dramatic rock-bottom story people often associate with addiction. He came from a supportive family, understood the risks of substance use, and was considered one of the more responsible people in his friend group. But addiction had still taken hold of his life. In Episode 5 of the CBR Art Lab Podcast, Nima shares how one experience in treatment changed the direction of his life. He explains how attending a Hatebreed concert during early recovery led him to meet Bobby, the person who would become his best friend, mentor, business partner, and fellow leader at Carlsbad Beach Recovery. Nima opens up about recognizing where his addiction could have taken him, even though his story had not yet reached the devastating lows he saw in others. His recovery became less about comparing consequences and more about deciding that he did not want to add another painful chapter to his story. The conversation explores why people do not need to lose everything before asking for help, how addiction continually moves the definition of rock bottom, and why surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about you can change the course of your life. Nima and Bobby also discuss the powerful connection between recovery and Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Both require humility, community, consistency, and the willingness to keep showing up when progress feels impossible. Whether it is earning a recovery milestone or finally succeeding on the mats, confidence is built one day and one decision at a time. This episode is ultimately about creating a life beyond addiction. Nima shares how recovery allowed him to rediscover concerts, compete in jiu-jitsu, try hot yoga, build a meaningful relationship, return to school, and help create a treatment program based on everything he and Bobby believe recovery should be. Getting sober was not the end of Nima’s story. It gave him the opportunity to finally start living it. If this conversation connects with you, share it with someone who may believe their addiction is not bad enough to deserve help. Subscribe to the CBR Art Lab Podcast for more honest conversations about addiction, treatment, mental health, community, and life in recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, mental health challenges or a behavioral addiction, Carlsbad Beach Recovery is here to help. Call or text: 442-500-1179 Learn more: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/ Admissions: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/admissions/ If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988. This podcast is intended for education and awareness. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. #AddictionRecovery #CarlsbadBeachRecovery
Aug 9

Why He Needed Rehab 30 Times To Get Clean From Drugs

After nearly 30 attempts at treatment, Bobby reached a moment when he finally knew something had to change. In this episode of the CBR ArtLab Podcast, he shares how addiction progressed from trying to fit in as a teenager to becoming physically dependent on heroin and meth—and how caring for his dog helped give him a reason to choose recovery. Bobby opens up about being sent away during high school, repeatedly entering treatment without truly wanting to stop, experiencing severe withdrawal, and reaching a point where his entire life revolved around getting drugs, avoiding sickness and surviving another day. The turning point came when Bobby realized he no longer wanted the people, isolation or chaos that surrounded him. He called his mother, entered treatment again and decided that this time he would do everything differently. Today, his life is built around faith, family, community, jiu-jitsu and helping other people find treatment. His story demonstrates that recovery is more than removing drugs or alcohol. It is about rebuilding purpose, developing meaningful relationships and creating a life you no longer need to escape. In this conversation: • Why drugs initially made Bobby feel accepted • How experimentation progressed into heroin and meth dependence • Why his earlier treatment experiences did not lead to lasting change • The dog that gave him something outside himself to care about • What finally made him choose recovery • The reality of prolonged withdrawal and early sobriety • How meetings, mentorship and community kept him accountable • The role of jiu-jitsu, faith and service in rebuilding his life • Why the right treatment environment can make a difference If you or someone you love is struggling with substance use, mental health challenges or a behavioral addiction, Carlsbad Beach Recovery is here to help. Call or text: 442-500-1179 Learn more: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/ Admissions: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/admissions/ If you are in immediate danger, call 911. If you are experiencing a mental health or substance-use crisis, call or text 988. This podcast is intended for education and awareness. It is not a substitute for individualized medical or mental health care. #AddictionRecovery #CarlsbadBeachRecovery
Aug 1

The Gambling Addiction Crisis No One Is Prepared For

Gambling has changed dramatically. What once required a trip to a casino or a call to a bookie is now available on your phone 24 hours a day—and people are developing devastating problems faster than ever. In this episode of the CBR Podcast, Bobby and Rob sit down with gambling addiction experts Marc Lefkowitz and Deborah Buhaj to discuss the rapid rise of sports betting, the targeting of young adults, gambling-related suicide risk, and why so many people don’t recognize their behavior as an addiction until they’re already in crisis. Learn more about SBS here: https://stopbettingsports.com/ Marc brings nearly 30 years of experience as a gambling counselor and 43 years of personal recovery. Deborah is a gambling addiction therapist and the founder of Stop Betting Sports, a national prevention and education initiative. They discuss: Why sports betting can become addictive so quickly How gambling affects the brain like substance use Physical and emotional gambling withdrawal symptoms The connection between gambling, trauma, and mental health Why chasing losses keeps people trapped How advertising and influencers normalize dangerous behavior The role families can play in recovery What effective gambling addiction treatment actually looks like Gambling addiction is treatable. If gambling is affecting your finances, relationships, mental health, or ability to stop, you don’t have to face it alone. Learn more about Carlsbad Beach Recovery: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/ This episode discusses suicide, self-harm, and addiction. If you’re in immediate danger or experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
Jul 25

From Heroin Addiction and Jail to 15 Years Sober | Doug’s Recovery Story

At 29 years old, Doug’s opioid addiction had progressed from prescription painkillers to heroin, drug dealing, jail, and a moment when he no longer cared whether he lived or died. Now, after 15 years sober, Doug shares how he rebuilt his life, became a leader in the addiction treatment field, and helped others—including Bobby—find lasting recovery. He also explains why getting through treatment is only the beginning, how spirituality shaped his recovery, and why learning to handle everyday life is essential to staying sober. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, reaching out for help could be the first step toward a completely different life.
Jul 18

I Gambled for 6 Years Until This Happened | Rob's Gambling Addiction Story

Rob shares how sports betting, online casinos, slots and day trading developed into a six-year gambling addiction that repeatedly left him in debt. He opens up about the 12-hour casino binge that became his final day gambling, the practical barriers that helped him stop and how helping others gave his recovery a new purpose. Rob and Bobby also discuss why gambling addiction is about more than money, how chasing losses takes over a person’s life and what specialized treatment can offer. Carlsbad Beach Recovery provides individualized outpatient treatment for gambling addiction with experienced therapists, case managers and recovery professionals. If gambling has become the center of your life—or you’re concerned about someone you love—help is available. Learn more about treatment at Carlsbad Beach Recovery: https://carlsbadbeachrecovery.com/

9 Episodes

Rob and Bobby explore anything and everything related to addiction and recovery

Creator

Carlsbad Beach Recovery
Years Active

2026
Episodes

9
Rating

Explicit
Show Website

CBR ArtLab