Ep 45: Overcoming Shame in Recovery

Overcoming shame in recovery is an important step in staying sober. This is particularly true for mothers and for professionals. Michelle was both. She had four children and a career as a full-time nurse. But alongside these responsibilities, she was addicted to pain pills. She spent her days rushing from one crisis to the next. Finally, she didn’t want to be sick anymore. While in treatment, she learned she never sat still long enough to feel her feelings. And when she did, she couldn’t even identify what feelings she had. She began accepting the help that the counselors and her community members extended to her. Through this process, she also accepted that she was not a “bad person” like her shame had been telling her. She was just someone who needed some help. Overcoming shame in recovery became possible through the power of connection and community. 0:01 Intro 0:52 What brought Michelle into MARR 4:40 Major consequences related to addiction beginning 8:00 Why she agreed to go to detox 9:58 Learning how to take care of herself 13:40 Thinking her career as a nurse was over 17:48 Starting to recognize her own feelings 22:22 Family counseling in early recovery 25:47 Receiving encouragement early on to stay 29:28 Sponsoring others now 30:23 What Michelle would pass on to people listening