Episode 320 -  Keep an open mind and see what happens. Reach out to people, make sober friends, and you are going to find your way.  Just let go.

 

Cassie took her last drink on August 29, 2019. She is from Colorado and is 30 years old.  This is her story of being Alcohol-Free (AF).

 

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Finding Your Better You – Odette's weekly message

 

Odette has been speaking with many people who got sober and stayed sober during the pandemic.  She is amazed and impressed with these folks making major life choices to ditch the booze during a global crisis.

 

Odette wants to remind you …. you can do hard things.

 

As Covid begins to recede, Odette can't help but wonder what post-Covid sobriety will look like?  As we return to normal or the new normal, how do we prepare for what's next?  Odette likened this to her rehab experience and working with her rehab team to develop a treatment plan when she left rehab.  Many people fear leaving rehab because you are going back into the real world without the safety of a controlled, safe space.  

 

What does your treatment plan or sobriety toolbox look like for the "new normal" after COVID restrictions have subsided?  What boundaries and guidelines do you need to set up for yourself?

 

Proper preparation prevents poor performance – thank you, Odette's Dad, Carlos.

 

Develop a plan to protect your sobriety.

 

[07:53] Odette introduces Cassie

 

Cassie's last drink was August 29, 2019.  She is celebrating18 months and switching up some of her tools to maintain sobriety.  Cassie leads Café RE's "young people" chat.

 

Odette was recently contacted by a 19-year-old trying to find his place in sobriety.  Cassie said it's incredible for someone so young to start a recovery journey.  She encouraged all young listeners to keep an open mind, reach out, find sober friends, let go, and you will find your people and your way!

 

[11:12] Tell us a bit of your background.

 

Cassie is 29 years old, living in Denver, and is a receptionist for a urology clinic while pursuing her Bachelor's in nursing.  She is doing pre-requisites now.  She lives with her boyfriend, recently bought a house, and has two dogs.  She loves snowboarding during the winter, paddle boarding, hiking, and rock climbing during the summer and hopes to explore dirt biking soon.

 

[13:14] Tell us about your history with drinking.

 

Cassie had her first drink at thirteen.  One of her first memories is stealing peppermint schnapps with a neighbor at her parent's house.  She got alcohol poisoning, and her mom sent her to middle school the following day with a hangover.  She had to clean up her mess after school.

 

By freshman year of high school, she continued to drink with friends and consumed on the school bus on the way to school. She was suspended for drinking.   

 

Before eighteen, she was in legal trouble for drinking and quickly building a party girl's reputation.  She was all-in with alcohol; she never drank one or two drinks.  She drank to fit in and did not fit in with the nerds or the popular crowd.  She would hang out with the skaters, smoke pot, and throw parties at friend's parents' houses when they were out of town.

 

She got into the music scene, particularly raves, and traveled across the US to music festivals to catch different artists.  She doesn't remember many of the concerts because she was wasted.

 

[16:28] Were you aware that your drinking was becoming a problem?

 

Cassie said she was not self-aware.  She knew she was a troublemaker, but her friends drank like she did.  During her formative years, she didn't go to class much.  She dropped out of college