As a little girl, Nichol was not protected the way a child should be. The abuse she suffered left emotional wounds that she kept hidden from the world. Through her teens and adult years, she leaned on alcohol to cope and, despite a strong work ethic and deep love for her daughters, dependency unfolded. Her pattern was unpredictable and she suffered frightening blackouts frequently.

Then came an experience that changed everything. Nichol woke up one morning caked in blood and did not recognize the disfigured face in the mirror. A drunken fall the night before nearly ended her life, but she summoned her strength to use the experience as a catalyst for change.

Nichol recently celebrate her 50th birthday and a 3 year milestone of sobriety. She shares her story in hopes of taking away some of the stigma and shame others might feel who have been through similar experiences.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Bubble Hour S9E2 Shelby John

January 11, 2021

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2021/01/11/shelby-john

Getting sober is just the beginning for recovery coach and therapist Shelby John, who believes that we can then go on to reach higher for a more joyful, fulfilling life than we ever imagined.

Now 18+ years sober, Shelby recognizes that she not only hit a bottom with her addiction but also then hit what she calls a “sober bottom”; a point at which she saw a need to live differently.

Learn more about Shelby at www.shelbyjohncoaching.com and check out her podcast https://confidentsoberwomen.buzzsprout.com. Shelby has created a Facebook group for women in recovery here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/confidentsoberwomen

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Bubble Hour S8E48 Darcy’s Story

December 28, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/12/29/darcys-story

Darcy noticed she was becoming increasingly reliant on alcohol to relax after her twin boys were born. Then came the double trauma of a miscarriage followed by a devastating decision to end another ill-fated pregnancy.

Darcy tried to push through her emotions, carrying on with her job and meeting the demands of parenting her young sons. She began using alcohol to cope, and the progression took off. She began to question her own value and when she wondered if her family might be better off without her, she knew it was time to ask for help.

After some time of being alcohol-free, as well as a joyfully successful pregnancy, Darcy contemplated moderation and found that her drinking returned to previous patterns. It was alarming and quick.

Soon she was back in care and determined to do whatever it might take to be free of the hold that alcohol had over her.

The Bubble Hour S8 E47 Kathy L

December 21, 2020December 21, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/12/21/kathy-l

Kathy’s busy, active life was disrupted abruptly when her husband was diagnosed with a dibilitating and ultimately fatal disease at a young age. The stress of being a caregiver led her to lean on alcohol and the pattern continued into her second marriage, which also ended in tragic loss. Grief and lonliness fuelled Kathy’s reliance on alcohol even more, until the day she decided to take her power back.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

https://www.sobergrid.com

www.calm.com

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The Bubble Hour S8 E46 Danielle’s Story

December 15, 2020Leave a comment

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/12/15/danielles-story

Danielle is a multiple suicide attempt survivor, a kidney cancer survivor, and a stroke survivor.

She started writing about her sobriety publicly in 2018 after she suffered a massive stroke four months into her sobriety journey. That stroke took away her ability to speak, read, and write. Her speech therapist suggested that she write to stimulate her brain function to regain these abilities.

She began writing in the early morning, each and every day. She wrote authentically about her struggles with sobriety, marriage, and motherhood. Writing quickly became therapeutic and played a crucial role during her first year of sobriety. During Danielle’s first year of sobriety, she overcame multiple struggles and obstacles. Sobriety did not come easily for Danielle, but she ’embraced the suck’ of sobriety, with faith and hope that she would experience the miracle and the promises.

She is an active member in the recovery community and currently works at a treatment center. She is a public speaker sharing her experience, strength, and hope any time she gets the opportunity to do so.

She wrote Stroke of Sobriety – The Essential Daily Guide – Embracing the suck of sobriety in hopes that she will inspire someone to not give up before the miracle. To learn more visit https://oneandonlydg.com

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Bubble Hour S8E44 Louise A

November 30, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/12/01/louise-a

“This was a T-intersection. This was not a crossroads. If I carried on drinking, I knew exactly where I was going to go.”

Louise A. shares her story of reluctant participation in the recovery process. It took some time for her to accept that she was like the other people in the meetings that she’d been attending.

“It was like waking up on a rollercoaster every single day,” she says. “Full speed. Strapped in. Tied down. Unable to do anything or think about anything until it stopped.”

Now Louise sees those meetings as “a place where we are able to practice being ourselves” and explore what it feels like to live more authentically.

Louise’s poetry page is on Instagram @mypoetryismytherapy

The Bubble Hour S8E42 Julie’s Story

November 17, 2020January 18, 2021

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/11/17/julies-story

Julie could feel the way that alcohol was creeping into her life in unwanted ways. She knew all too well what it’s like to worry about a parent’s drinking and didn’t want her own children to live with that burden. Julie pre-empted her relationship with alcohol before it could go any further and celebrates the freedom this choice has given her. Visit Julie’s website to learn more about her or to connect: www.juliedereshinsky.com

The Bubble Hour S8 E41 Dr Maureen Talks Alcohol and Health

November 9, 2020November 24, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/11/10/dr-maureen-talks-alcohol-and-health

Dr Maureen is a diagnostic radiologist whose work often includes the devastating effects of alcohol on the human body in the form of liver disease and cancer. She is also a woman in recovery, which allows her to have great compassion and understanding about the patient experience when having difficult conversations about the role of alcohol in her patient’s lives. In this episode, Dr. Maureen explains the many ways that alcohol impacts health and why we need to think differently about drinking as a normal activity.

The Bubble Hour S8E39 Jennifer’s Story

October 26, 2020November 24, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/10/26/jennifers-story

Jennifer had begun to question her relationship to alcohol when her body started to show some strange symptoms. Even though both Jennifer and her husband are medical professionals, it took a while to realize that alcohol was the root cause of her episodes of muscle weakness. Jennifer shares her story as a way to celebrate her one-year milestone and to give back to the podcast that helped her so much throughout the journey.

The Bubble Hour S8E38 Lotta Dann and The Wine O’Clock Myth

October 19, 2020November 24, 2020

https://www.blogtalkradio.com/bubblehour/2020/10/19/lotta-dann-and-the-wine-oclock-myth

Lotta Dann talks about her latest book “The Wine O’Clock Myth,” which takes a look at the way alcohol seeps into all aspects of life and why we need to take a strong stand against the persuasion of the alcohol industry. Lotta’s blog is Mrs. D is Going Without. She is the author of two other books as well, Mrs. D. is Going Without and Mrs. D is Going Within. Lotta runs an online recovery community called Living Sober

Host Jean McCarthy’s blog is UnPickled and you can find her books here.