Dropping the "A" Word - Moving From Contemplation to Action

We get a lot of emails from people saying they are still drinking but are concerned they may have a problem, or are trying not to drink and listen to this show as one of their tools. We are so grateful that the show helps people on their journey towards, or in, sobriety.  One pattern we see is that the arc of contemplating “am I or aren’t I an alcoholic?” looks very similar for most people.  This is especially true of people who are earlier on in this process and who have yet to experience many outward ramifications from their drinking.

We can spend a lot of time thinking about whether or not we are truly an alcoholic, and this is an obstacle to taking action about your drinking.

On this show we talk about what this contemplative arc looks like, for many people, and provide a few resources that can be helpful in finding community that can help (because, as we talk about all the time on this show, community is the key to getting sober).

We mention the following online communities in this show, and we encourage you to check them out! If you want more information on the Booze Free Brigade ("BFB") and how to join this private FB community, please email us at thebubblehour@gmail.com and we can tell you how.

The other resources we mention on the show are as follows: 

www.soberrecovery.com

www.intherooms.org

www.womenforsobriety.org 

www.hazeldensocial.org 

You can listen to the show below, or go to the tab above to subscribe to our podcast! 

Re-Broadcast: Am I or Aren't I an Alcoholic?

Am I an alcoholic?  Or not?

This is one of the most frequent questions we're asked from people who are wondering about their drinking.

The only person who can answer this question, though, is the person asking it. 

Alcoholism is a disease that relies on the patient to diagnose his/herself.

Even though our factual experiences/stories are different, we find out in recovery that we share some common experiences and emotions (commonly known as "signposts") as we progress down the road of addiction.

The hardest signs to recognize are the sneaky, subtle ones that happen earlier on in the 'drinking arc'.  As the disease progresses, the signs become more obvious, but many of us normalize it somehow, or are simply in straight out denial that our drinking is becoming a problem.

This most recent show features special guest Michele, who shares some of her own signposts, and Lisa and I contribute some of ours as well. 

If you can identify with anything you hear tonight, please click on the tab above that offers some sober resources with information and community you may find helpful.

There is no one way to define "alcoholic".  In fact, that label keeps many people stuck and alone.  In this show we want to focus on the common feelings and experiences - things we wish we'd known along our own path were warning signs. 

It's not how much or how often you drink, it's what it does to you that matters. 

That's what this episode is all about; our similarities, and the fact that you're NOT alone. 

Here's the episode, but you can also listen to it on our sidebar.  Click on the tab above to learn how to subscribe to our podcast as well:

Online Lifestyle Radio at Blog Talk Radio with The Bubble Hour on BlogTalkRadio

Episode 9 - Special Guest Sarah Allen Benton, Author of "Understanding the High Functioning Alcoholic"

Episode 9:  Special Guest Sarah Allen Benton, Author of "Understanding the High Functioning Alcoholic"

Sarah Allen Benton

Sarah Allen Benton is author of the book, 'Understanding the High Functioning Alcoholic' , and is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and therapist at McLean Hospital in MA.

She has been featured in a NY Times article by Jane Brody, has appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show, CBS Early Show, NPR, is a blogger for PsychologyToday.com and more.

Sarah is a recovering alcoholic and has been sober since February of 2004. She gives lectures and trainings on the topic of high-functioning alcoholics at colleges, boarding schools, and at professional conferences including Harvard’s Treating the Addictions.

Please visit her website The High Functioning Alcoholic for more information about Sarah, her book and additional resources.

In this episode Sarah tells a bit of her own story of alcoholism and recovery, and answers questions about High Functioning Alcoholism, including how to define it, what common personality traits and drinking patters are found with high functioning alcoholics, and steps people who fit this description can find ways to get help.

A very informative episode, and we thank Sarah for her time, and for being such a valuable resource in helping educate us all about this aspect of what is a confounding disease for so many.

Listen to this episode here (or click on the picture in our sidebar to subscribe to our iTunes Podcast):

Listen to internet radio with The Bubble Hour on Blog Talk Radio

Am I Or Aren't I?

Am I an alcoholic?  Or not?

This is one of the most frequent questions we're asked from people who are wondering about their drinking.

The only person who can answer this question, though, is the person asking it.

Alcoholism is a disease that relies on the patient to diagnose his/herself.

Even though our factual experiences/stories are different, we find out in recovery that we share some common experiences and emotions (commonly known as "signposts") as we progress down the road of addiction.

The hardest signs to recognize are the sneaky, subtle ones that happen earlier on in the 'drinking arc'.  As the disease progresses, the signs become more obvious, but many of us normalize it somehow, or are simply in straight out denial that our drinking is becoming a problem.

This most recent show features special guest Michele, who shares some of her own signposts, and Lisa and I contribute some of ours as well.

If you can identify with anything you hear tonight, please click on the tab above that offers some sober resources with information and community you may find helpful.

There is no one way to define "alcoholic".  In fact, that label keeps many people stuck and alone.  In this show we want to focus on the common feelings and experiences - things we wish we'd known along our own path were warning signs.

It's not how much or how often you drink, it's what it does to you that matters.

That's what this episode is all about; our similarities, and the fact that you're NOT alone.

Here's the episode, but you can also listen to it on our sidebar.  Click on the tab above to learn how to subscribe to our podcast as well:

Listen to internet radio with The Bubble Hour on Blog Talk Radio