In this episode, Jessie, the opening speaker at the North Oakland AA meeting, shares her heartfelt struggles with childhood trauma and alcohol's impact on her life. Ruby follows up with her own powerful journey through addiction, reflecting on the loneliness and chaos she faced growing up. Both speakers emphasize the importance of community and mentorship in recovery, revealing how their experiences with Alcoholics Anonymous have transformed their lives. Their candid stories inspire hope and highlight the often tumultuous path to sobriety.
The speaker's journey highlights the transformation from denial of addiction to embracing recovery through the supportive community of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Their profound personal growth included recognizing the difference between guilt and shame, ultimately leading to a fulfilling life centered on service.
Deep dives
Navigating Early Experiences with Alcohol
Growing up in a household with an alcoholic mother, the speaker faced significant challenges related to substance use from a young age. At 13, curiosity led to a troubling experience with vodka that set a pattern for their future drinking habits. Rather than acknowledge the issue, they masked their addiction by blending in with louder drinkers, which allowed them to avoid confronting their own problems. This denial and manipulation seemed to flourish as they became more adept at hiding their drinking behind a facade of control and creativity.
The Realization of Addiction
The speaker's journey toward sobriety was marked by a series of chaotic and dangerous moments, leading to a pivotal violent encounter with their spouse. This triggered a reflection on their childhood trauma and violent upbringing, prompting a stark recognition of their addiction. They described how they felt as if their 'drinking tickets' had run out and highlighted an awakening to the permanent consequences of their actions. This moment served as a catalyst for their determination to pursue recovery, despite initial resistance to joining Alcoholics Anonymous.
The Recovery Process
The speaker initially viewed Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) as a place of mourning but evolved to appreciate the hope offered by the community. Although hesitant to engage, they later embraced the steps of recovery, recognizing the significance of moving from denial to acceptance. Engaging deeply with the fourth and fifth steps allowed them to differentiate between guilt and shame, leading to necessary personal growth. The supportive role of their sponsor became invaluable, fostering an environment where they could candidly address past traumas and begin to amend relationships.
Life After Alcoholism
With newfound clarity, the speaker emphasized how recovery transformed their life in profound ways, allowing them to engage with their community meaningfully. They shared their joy in helping others find housing and building a life grounded in service rather than chaos. Their marriage to another recovering alcoholic emerged as a rewarding connection that epitomized the success of their recovery journey. Ultimately, they expressed immense gratitude for the supportive community and the personal growth that emerged from their commitment to sobriety.
Jessie is the opening 10 min speaker at this meeting from the North Oakland AA Open speaker meeting, after Jessie we have Ruby Telling her story for the balance of the time. This was recorded in July of 2018.
5 new events added to the event list, including the 28th Annual Thailand AA Roundup. Its not until March 2025 so you have plenty of time to plan a trip, registration opens in a few weeks. Details: https://scast.us/thairu
Coming up fairly soon is the Northwest Fellowship of the Spirit Event in Stanwood Wa on Aug 22. Details: https://scast.us/nwfots
If you have any AA or Al-Anon event coming up let me know I am happy to help get the word out. https://scast.us/event
Roundup, retreat, convention or workshop coming up? List the event on the Sober Cast website. Visit the link above and look for "Submit Your Event" in the blue box.
Sober Cast has 2600+ episodes available, visit SoberCast.com to access all the episodes where you can easily find topics or specific speakers using tags or search. https://sobercast.com
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode