Welcome to al the new listeners! I'm so glad you're here. This is my story in a 20 minute episode, I hope you get something out of it. Relapse doesn’t start with drugs — it starts with secrets. In this raw episode, I explain how addiction convinces you you’re fine, productive, and “different this time,” even when your life looks good on the outside.
I break down how steroids, ADHD meds, and stimulant abuse reopened the door to full relapse after years sober — and what I learned coming back.
Today's guest is Logan from New Generation Sobriety. Logan Battled alcoholism and gambling addiction until he went to his first rehab at 17 years old. After getting sober and celebrating some time under his belt, he relapsed on slot machines until he lost it all.
Gambling addiction is one of the most dangerous and misunderstood addictions because it’s invisible. Unlike drugs or alcohol, there are no obvious physical signs — until the financial, emotional, and relational damage is already done.
In this powerful recovery conversation, we break down why gambling addiction is often called a silent killer, how it hides in plain sight, and why so many people don’t realize there’s a problem until it’s too late.
This clip is for anyone struggling with gambling, supporting someone in addiction recovery, or trying to understand why behavioral addictions can be just as destructive as substance use.
Topics covered:
Gambling addiction warning signs
Why gambling is harder to detect than drugs or alcohol
Financial secrecy and addiction
Recovery, awareness, and early intervention
If this resonates, you’re not alone — and help is available.
Today Allen Kharlip, Clinical Supervisor at Addiction Rehab Toronto and good friend, returns to recovering out loud as we open up about current events. In this raw conversation, we unpack how social media becomes a new addiction for people in recovery — triggering comparison, inadequacy, obsessive thinking, and emotional relapse.
If you’ve ever scrolled Instagram and felt worse afterward, you’re not alone. We talk about why inspiration online quickly turns into self-judgment, why comparison is the thief of joy, and how recovery tools like spirituality, connection, discipline, and CBT help us break the cycle.
This episode covers:
– Why scrolling never makes you feel better
– How comparison fuels insecurity + relapse thinking
– The “addict brain” hijacking social media
– What actually restores peace: connection, meetings, service, spirituality
– Setting boundaries around tech in early recovery
– How to stop chasing validation and start living again
Find Allens full story on episode
In this episode, I break down what spirituality actually is — especially for people in recovery who don’t believe in God, grew up religious, or feel triggered by the word “spiritual.”
Spirituality in recovery isn’t dogma — it’s connection, grounding, meaning, and a power greater than your impulsive brain. Today I share practical spiritual tools, how I rebuilt my relationship with a higher power after relapse, and how spirituality became the anchor that keeps me sober.
We cover:
• Spirituality vs religion (what’s the difference?)
• Why willpower alone isn’t enough in addiction recovery
• The spiritual void caused by addiction
• Practical tools: stillness, gratitude, service, meaning-making, surrender
• How ego blocks your recovery
• How to build a spiritual practice even if you’re brand new
If you’re struggling, open to change, or tired of white-knuckling sobriety—this one’s for you.
Follow on IG: @RecoveringOutLoudPod
Subscribe for weekly recovery content.
In today’s episode of Recovering Out Loud, Anthony breaks down one of the biggest challenges in sobriety: the fear of the future. If you struggle with overthinking, catastrophizing, anxiety about relapse, financial insecurity, or the pressure of rebuilding your life — this episode will ground you.
You’ll learn:
• The psychology and neurology behind fear in recovery
• Why uncertainty feels dangerous when you stop drinking or using
• The lies fear tells, and how to counter them with evidence
• How fear shapes behaviour, avoidance, self-sabotage & toxic cycles
• Tools for emotional sobriety: reframing, action steps, CBT, surrender
• How to build a healthy relationship with the future
• Reflection questions you can use today
If this episode resonates, hit Subscribe, leave a rating, and share it with someone who needs it. Recovery makes the future possible — not dangerous.
Keywords:
recovery podcast, fear of the future, sobriety anxiety, emotional sobriety, addiction recovery motivation, relapse prevention, overthinking in recovery, fear in sobriety, CBT for anxiety, early recovery support, how to stay sober, Anthony Recovering Out Loud
In this community-driven episode, Anthony dives into the real questions you submitted — from alternative paths to sobriety to emotional boundaries, routines, family support, and how recovery skills apply to everyday life. No sugarcoating. No one-size-fits-all solutions. Just practical guidance from lived experience and professional training.
We cover:
• Why 12-step programs aren’t the only option
• What detox vs. rehab REALLY means
• How to help others without losing your own sobriety
• The difference between supporting and enabling
• How professionals protect their emotional boundaries
• Why structure and routine save lives
• How families can support a loved one coming home from treatment
• Recovery tools that make everyone’s life better — not just people with addiction
If this episode helps you, please follow, like, or subscribe — it’s the best way to support the show so this free content can reach more people who need it.
Instagram: @RecoveringOutLoudPod
You are not alone.
(I appreciate you. I love you.)
Resources:
USA
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 for mental-health or substance-use crises
SAMHSA National Helpline (24/7):
https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline
Treatment Locator (Detox/Rehab Directory):
https://findtreatment.gov
NAMI HelpLine:
https://nami.org/help
Partnership to End Addiction (Parents/Families):
https://drugfree.org
Shatterproof Addiction Resources:
https://www.shatterproof.org/find-help
AA (Alcoholics Anonymous):
https://www.aa.org
NA (Narcotics Anonymous):
https://www.na.org
SMART Recovery (CBT-based):
https://www.smartrecovery.org
LifeRing Secular Recovery:
https://www.lifering.org
Refuge Recovery (Buddhist-based):
https://www.refugerecovery.org
Canada
911 — Overdose or immediate danger
988 Suicide & Crisis Helpline — Call or text 988 (nationwide)
Wellness Together Canada:
https://www.wellnesstogether.ca
ConnexOntario (Ontario mental health & addiction directory):
https://www.connexontario.ca
211 Canada (local services search):
https://211.ca
Health Canada Substance Use Resources:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use
BC: Here to Help:
https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca
Alberta Health Services Addiction Help:
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/am/page16759.aspx
Saskatchewan Health Authority Addictions:
https://www.saskhealthauthority.ca/your-health/conditions-diseases-services/addictions
Manitoba Addictions Foundation:
https://afm.mb.ca
Québec: Trouver de l’aide:
https://www.quebec.ca/sante/trouver-aide
Nova Scotia Mental Health & Addictions:
https://mha.nshealth.ca
New Brunswick Addiction Services:
https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/health/AddictionsandMentalHealth.html
PEI Addiction Services:
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/information/health-pei/addiction-services
Newfoundland & Labrador:
https://mha.easternhealth.ca/addictions
NA Canada:
https://www.canaacna.org
SMART Recovery Canada:
https://smartrecovery.org/local/ca
Al-Anon / Nar-Anon (family support):
https://al-anon.org & https://naranon.org
Most people think relapse is a single moment — but it’s not.
In this video, I break down the three phases of relapse (emotional → mental → physical) and explain why relapse actually starts weeks or months before the first drink or drug. Using my own experience — eight years sober before relapsing, multiple rehabs, and now working in addiction counseling — plus the science behind cravings and dopamine, this video gives you a clear roadmap for understanding relapse and preventing it before it begins.
You’ll learn:
✅ The early emotional warning signs most people ignore
✅ How stress, boredom, overconfidence, and isolation create relapse conditions
✅ Why cravings feel so powerful and why your brain seeks the “quick fix”
✅ How to identify your patterns, triggers, and red flags
✅ Simple but powerful tools to interrupt cravings in real time
✅ How to build a relapse prevention plan that actually works
✅ Why relapse is not failure — and how to turn it into growth
Whether you're new to recovery, coming back, or supporting someone you love, this is one of the clearest explanations of relapse you’ll find. No shame. No judgment. Just honesty, science, and practical tools.
0:00 How relapse actually works
Emotional relapse signs (poor sleep, irritability, isolation)
Mental relapse & “addict brain” bargaining
Why dopamine memories trigger cravings
Physical relapse: the result, not the beginning
My story: relapsing after 8 years sober
Science of cravings & stress response
Tools to interrupt urges instantly
Pattern recognition & relapse journaling
Why connection is the antidote to addiction
The dangers of overconfidence in recovery
Shame, avoidance, and emotional overload
Building a simple relapse prevention plan
relapse prevention
stages of relapse
emotional relapse signs
addiction recovery tools
how relapse happens
mental relapse warning signs
sobriety motivation
staying sober during holidays
relapse triggers
addiction psychology
relapse after long-term sobriety
If this video helps you, please subscribe, rate, and share the podcast — it supports the channel, the message, and the people who need these tools the most. You’re not alone. You’re worth recovery.
“We almost died… so we have to talk about it.”
This line says everything.
This episode is a deep, unfiltered look into addiction, relapse, shame, near-death moments, and why telling the truth becomes a responsibility once you survive something you shouldn’t have.
Today I sat down with the ladies from Girl, Undrunk - a podcast about addiction and sobriety.
We talk openly about:
Relapse triggered by body dysmorphia and Ozempic misuse
Secrets, lying by omission, and why they keep you sick
The fear of asking for help
Family dynamics, walking on eggshells, and holiday triggers
Why sobriety feels awkward at first
The myth of “being fun when you drink”
What REAL sober fun looks like
Building friendships that protect your recovery
Why podcasting became a safe place to tell the truth
If you’ve ever felt alone, ashamed, or afraid to talk about your past — this episode shows you that healing begins when you finally say it out loud.
👉 Follow for conversations that can actually save lives.
Going out sober is one of the hardest early-recovery milestones — but it DOES get easier.
In this episode, I share the exact tools, mindset shifts, and sober strategies that helped me get through clubs, parties, concerts, holidays, and social events without drinking or using.
You’ll learn:
• Why going out sober feels so awkward at first
• How to survive the “10–30 minute anxiety spike”
• The sober ritual that keeps you grounded
• What to say when someone asks “Why aren’t you drinking?”
• How to handle triggers, pressure, and old using environments
• When to leave — and why leaving early is a superpower
• How to actually have FUN again without alcohol
Whether you’re in early recovery or years in, you’ll find practical tips that work in real-world situations.
You’re not broken. You’re just learning a new way to live — and you don’t have to do it alone.
If this episode helped you, subscribe for more sober tools, real recovery talk, and weekly episodes.
✨ Recovery is simple… not easy.
✨ Don’t pick up the first one.
AA? SMART? Refuge? Therapy? Coaching?
If you’ve ever tried to get sober and felt overwhelmed by all the recovery options out there, this video breaks everything down in a simple, honest, and non-judgmental way. Whether you're sober-curious, in early recovery, or coming back after relapse — this guide will help you understand what’s out there and how to choose the right recovery modality for you.
In this 15 -minute breakdown, I cover:
✔ 12-Step programs (AA, NA, CA) — what they’re actually like
✔ SMART Recovery & secular options
✔ Refuge Recovery, Recovery Dharma & mindfulness-based modalities
✔ Therapy for addiction (CBT, DBT, EMDR, MI)
✔ Online recovery communities & sober coaching
✔ Harm reduction & medication support
✔ How to actually choose a path that fits your life, personality, and needs
Recovery isn’t “one size fits all.” It’s a toolbox.
You get to build the version that keeps you alive, sober, and growing.
If this helped, drop a comment about your experience with different recovery paths — it might help someone else watching.
DISCLAIMER:
I DO NOT REPRESENT ANY OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS OR GROUPS THIS IS MY EXPERIENCE AND OPINON
🔔 Follow for more content on sobriety, relapse prevention, addiction psychology, emotional healing, and building a life you don’t need alcohol to escape from.
Is sobriety supposed to feel boring?
Short answer: yeah… sometimes it does. But there’s nothing wrong with you — your brain is literally recalibrating after years of artificial dopamine spikes from alcohol, cocaine, or whatever your drug of choice was.
In today’s video, I break down why boredom happens in early recovery, how long the flat / plateau phase lasts, and what actually helps you rebuild motivation, joy, excitement, and real dopamine again.
You’ll learn:
✔ Why your dopamine system drops during early sobriety
✔ Why boredom is NOT failure
✔ How boredom can trigger relapse (my story)
✔ How addiction hijacks “fun”
✔ How to build REAL dopamine (not the quick highs)
✔ How to create a life that’s exciting again without substances
✔ The difference between boredom vs loneliness
✔ How long the “flat” recovery phase lasts
✔ Practical steps to feel better today
If you’re sober-curious, newly sober, or coming back after relapse — this video will make you feel seen, validated, and supported.
👇 Subscribe for more recovery content
IG: @RecoveringOutLoudPod
Podcast: Recovering Out Loud Podcast
TikTok / YouTube Shorts: @recoveringoutloudpod
Recovery is simple, not easy. One day at a time.
Your first 30 days of sobriety can feel confusing, overwhelming, and honestly… scary.
In this video, I break down exactly what to expect in early recovery — week by week — so you don’t have to go through it alone.
We’ll talk about withdrawal, cravings, sleep, anxiety, emotional ups & downs, what’s normal, and how to make it through the first month alcohol-free.
This video is for you if:
• You’re on Day 1 or restarting
• You want a simple plan to stay sober
• You’ve relapsed before and want this time to be different
• You need support, reassurance, and practical tools that actually work
What you’ll learn:
• How to survive the first 7 days without alcohol
• Why cravings feel so intense & how to handle them
• The emotional rollercoaster of Days 8–14
• How your body and brain start healing
• What to do each day to make sobriety easier
• Common traps that lead to relapse
• A simple daily routine for your first 30 days alcohol-free
If you’re in early recovery, you are NOT alone. Drop where you’re at (Day 1, Day 5, Day 30!) and I’ll cheer you on. You can do this — one day at a time.
From the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous Page 86-88
on awakening Follow Us:JOIN ME ON MY SOCIALS - FREE RECOVERY GUIDE AND RECOVERY COACHING https://linktr.ee/Recoveringoutloudpod🌐 Website: recoveringoutloud.ca📱 Socials: @RecoveringOutLoudPod (Instagram, X, TikTok & more)🔗 All Links: linktr.ee/Recoveringoutloudpod💡 Helpful Resources for Addiction & Recovery🇨🇦 National (Canada-Wide) ResourcesCanadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)Research, policy, and resources on substance use and addiction.Health Canada – Substance Use and AddictionsGovernment info on prevention, treatment, and harm reduction.Canada’s Drug and Alcohol Treatment DirectoryLocate treatment centers across Canada.National Overdose Response Service (NORS)Peer-run hotline for safer drug use support.📞 Call: 1-888-688-6677🏠 Ontario-Specific ResourcesConnexOntario – Mental Health & Addiction HelplineFree, confidential support for addiction and mental health.📞 Call: 1-866-531-2600Ontario Addiction Treatment Centres (OATC)Opioid addiction treatment (methadone, Suboxone).Ontario Harm Reduction NetworkSafer drug use, naloxone, and harm reduction programs.CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)Leading hospital for addiction and mental health care.📞 Call: 1-800-463-6273Withdrawal Management (Detox) Services in OntarioFind detox and treatment programs.Ontario 211 – Addiction & Mental Health ServicesConnect to local support services.📞 Dial: 211🚨 Crisis & Immediate HelpOverdose Prevention Hotline: 1-888-853-8542Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566 | Text: 45645Good2Talk (For Students): 1-866-925-5454💬 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts in the comments, and let’s recover out loud together.👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the bell for new episodes every week!#AddictionRecovery #MentalHealth #RecoveringOutLoud #recovery #addiction #podcast #sober #sobriety
This episode explores opioid addiction, methadone and Suboxone treatment, fentanyl risks, withdrawal, and the emotional toll of relapse. Kate from CATC breaks down how opioid agonist therapy works, why shame keeps people stuck, and what treatment centers can do better. Anthony shares raw stories from relapse, detox, and how connection, honesty, and support saved his life. If you want real insight into recovery, harm reduction, and long-term sobriety—this is the episode to hear.
In this episode of Recovering Out Loud, we dive into a raw and honest conversation about relapse, body language, hidden pain, and the transformation that happens when recovery is paired with purpose.
We unpack the moment a friend could see a relapse coming before the person struggling could even admit it. We talk about the shame, denial, and the sixth-sense intuition people in recovery often develop.
From 48-hour blackouts to becoming a coach who helps people rebuild their relationship with movement, she shares how fitness became a powerful anchor in sobriety — but also how it can become obsessive, toxic, and another addiction if we’re not careful.
We explore:
• How childhood pressure + performance can shape addiction
• Why your body language reveals everything you try to hide
• How community workouts mimic recovery meetings
• The rise of steroids, Ozempic, and “fitness as numbing” in sobriety
• Workaholism, burnout, money stress, and staying spiritually grounded
• How to move from extrinsic validation to intrinsic values
• Why recovery is “six garbage cans with five lids”
If you’re navigating sobriety, struggling with body image, stuck in obsessive fitness cycles, or looking for community — this episode is for you.
Listen, share, and join the recovery conversation.
#sober #recovery #addictionrecovery #mentalhealth #fitnessjourney #healing
In this episode of Recovering Out Loud, Anthony sits down with Alexandra Perry, Director of Business Development for Inpatient and Virtual Programs, and former Executive Director at Trafalgar Addiction Treatment Centres. With over a decade of experience across nonprofit shelters, addiction treatment, and higher education, Alexandra brings a powerful mix of lived experience, leadership insight, and compassion to the conversation.
Together, we unpack:
The real link between workplace stress, burnout, and substance use
Why “recovery is a privilege” for some — and how that must change
The truth about hitting rock bottom and why prevention matters more than ever
How trauma, shame, and silence keep people sick
What organizations can do to create trauma-informed, supportive spaces for employees
This is a raw, human conversation about systemic change, courage, and connection — reminding us all that recovery starts with empathy and asking for help.
In this emotional and deeply relatable episode of Recovering Out Loud, host Anthony sits down with Eryl McCaffrey, a psychotherapist and woman in long-term recovery, to explore the toxic link between body image, perfectionism, and addiction.
Eryl opens up about growing up in an alcoholic home, chasing perfection to escape pain, and how her obsession with control over her body and success masked deeper wounds.
They dive into what it means to truly let go — to stop chasing validation and start building connection, spirituality, and self-acceptance.
You’ll learn:
Why perfectionism and body image struggles often lead to addiction
How trauma disconnects us from our bodies and our emotions
What “relief” really means in early recovery
Why spiritual connection is the antidote to self-destruction
Daily recovery practices that rebuild peace, gratitude, and purpose
This conversation is for anyone stuck in the loop of not enoughness — and ready to find peace in their own skin.
If you’ve ever struggled with addiction, relapse, or finding long-term sobriety, this conversation will inspire you.
Host Anthony speaks with Allison, an intake counselor at Addiction Rehab Toronto, about her journey from active addiction to seven years of recovery. They unpack what really causes relapse, the importance of spirituality, practical tools like journaling and gratitude lists, and why sober support systems matter long after treatment ends.
You’ll hear personal experiences about triggers at social events, navigating shame, rebuilding trust with family, and how traveling and living sober can be joyful. Whether you’re new to recovery, supporting a loved one, or looking to deepen your sobriety, this episode offers hope and actionable advice.
Subscribe for more real recovery stories and tools for staying sober.
Today i sat down with Melanie Matthews, BSW, MSW, RSW Director of Clinical Programs at Canadian Addiction Treatment Centres
Melanie Matthews is a registered social worker with BSW and MSW degrees. She takes a collaborative approach to therapy and uses a person-centered approach while maintaining empathy and a non-judgemental stance.
Melanie has worked in social services and mental health since 2010 in several different areas of practice including residential treatment programs, educational settings, and not-for-profit organizations.
She uses primarily Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) in her work. She often works with youth and adult clients experiencing a range of issues, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.
Melanie co-authored a paper titled “A Review of Mental Health Services Offered by Canada’s English Language Universities“, which investigated the availability of mental health services offered to postsecondary students on campus compared to known prevalence rates of mental health issues.
She has also written a number of reports regarding best practices for youth serving programming offered by not-for-profit organizations across Ontario. She continues to engage in research and knowledge dissemination as a vehicle for advocacy and social justice.
Are you or a loved one struggling to find the right path to recovery? This episode dives deep into the world of addiction treatment and long-term sobriety.
Host Anthony speaks with Melanie, an addiction professional with personal recovery experience, about navigating the complex choices between virtual programs, outpatient care, and inpatient rehab. They discuss why some people relapse, what daily essentials help sustain long-term recovery, and how to choose the right treatment center.
This conversation also unpacks the difference between supporting and enabling a loved one, the role of families in recovery, and what to look for in public vs private treatment centers. Melanie also shares insights on medication-assisted recovery (like naltrexone and other emerging therapies), and how to stay connected to community and self-care.
Find her here
https://canatc.ca/biographies/melanie-matthews/
Subscribe for honest, practical advice and real recovery stories to inspire hope and healing.
After decades of drinking, failed restarts, and hitting countless rock bottoms, Tom found himself on the edge — alone in a Toronto condo, terrified and ready to end it all. But one small moment — looking into his dog’s eyes — changed everything.
In this raw and honest conversation, we talk about:
Surviving suicidal thoughts and choosing life one day at a time
Why “never too late” really matters in addiction recovery
The unexpected kindness of a first AA Zoom meeting
Practical tools to fight overwhelm: “next right thing,” morning check-ins, and self-compassion
If you’re struggling with addiction, self-worth, or feeling like change is impossible — this story will give you hope, practical recovery insights, and proof you’re not alone.