323: How do 12-step programs connect to healthy relationships? (ft. Mark Wilde)

"When I was at my worst, I didn’t know there was a way out."

Sometimes in life we get stuck. We don't know how to deal with big feelings, so we self-medicate -- with alcohol, or porn, or weed, or food.

But often the self-medication gets in the way of things we really want -- love; intimacy; healthy, connected sex; joy.

You may think of 12-step programs as solely for alcoholics, but they're far mroe comprehensive. There are programs for porn addiction, codependency in relationship, sex & love addiction, and for those who are loved ones of an addict (or adult children of parents who were addicts).*

Addiction and recovery profoundly affect your sex and love life, and here, speaker and 12-step mentor Mark Wilde delves into his own story, and how his journey has positively impacted his marriage.

In his words, as he grew and healed and learned to lead: "When I became more vulnerable and expressive, I had reciprocation and energy from her that I’d not experienced before ... our relationship began to ascend dramatically."

If you want to feel inspired and uplifted, listen on.

*These groups are: Codependents Anonymous (CODA), Porn Addicts Anonymous (PAA), Sex & Love Addicts Anonymous (SLAA), Al-Anon (for the loved ones of those who struggle with addiction).

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Evolutionary Men Retreat

Ready to do the work live? Join us in Northern California for an epic time connecting with nature, making friends, and healing your bodymind. This sold out last year and the year before. As of this episode dropping, we've got 1 slot left.

Labor Day weekend (last weekend of August), 2024.

• To sign up or learn more, go here.

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Memorable quotes from this episode:

• "My parents passed away, my marriage ended, and it got bad."
• "Alcohol became a solution to deep-seated issues that had carried on since childhood."
• “I still felt myself wearing lots of masks and building up lots of walls.”
• “How am I going to placate and keep the peace and make her happy?"
• “When I did work with my body, I felt the unlocking of everything.”

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Mentioned on this episode:

• What Happened to You?