Sobriety, Substances, and Choosing to Live Awake

Sobriety, Substances, and Choosing to Live Awake

I was listening to two friends on a podcast talk about their journey with substances (drugs and alcohol), and then when I came home to have an editorial planning meeting with Mike about our podcast (which looks like me saying, “What do you want to talk about?” to him while we clean the kitchen) he said:

Why don’t we talk about alcohol and sobriety?

Part of the reason our marriage works is because we have these glorious moments of being totally synced up (and then the other part of it is because we work at making it work).

I’ll be honest: I knew this conversation was a long time coming. I knew it would be powerful because Mike and I have somewhat unusual relationships with substances.

What I did not expect is that it would be hard to hear about Mike’s past.

I assumed that because we’ve talked about his past with drugs and alcohol A LOT, I wouldn’t have a hard time hearing him talk about it on this episode.

I was wrong.

Today’s episode is pretty different than a lot of our other ones, but it’s really important.

You’ll hear:

  • Why I wasn’t alarmed when I first learned of Mike’s history with making money in illegal ways (and why I actually thought it might bode well for our future).
  • What my parents taught me about alcohol and why it kept me from wanting to rebel by using it.
  • Mike’s unconventional approach to getting clean that didn’t involve ever setting foot in an AA meeting.
  • A few unsettling stories that, even though I’d heard them before, made my stomach turn.

If you’ve ever struggled with substances, if any of your loved ones has or is, or if you’re triggered at all by the idea of examining your relationship with alcohol or drugs, this is a must-listen episode.

Click here to listen in.

Know this: No matter where you are in your journey around substances, we are not judging you. Let this episode be a loving invitation.

Where are you on your journey with substances? Are you sober-curious? What was your biggest takeaway from the episode?

We would love to hear from you on this important topic so leave us a comment.

As always, thanks for being here.

Love,
Kate

P.S. Know someone else who’s in the inquiry phase around their relationship with drugs or alcohol? Forward this episode to them.

2 comments

  • Just heard your interview on Marie Forleo, Kate and your new book really speaks to me! Then I came to your site and LOVE that you’re talking openly about alcohol and substance use. I was an obsessive dieter for 10 years. Over that period it turned into an eating disorder… There are so many parallels between anything people are working on overcoming. I didn’t speak to anyone who had a similar experience to me, for almost 20 years after I got healthy… which is 20 years too long. So I want to THANK YOU so much for putting this topic out there for people to read about, listen to, discuss and not feel so alone. Thank you :)

    • Kate Northrup

      Welcome to our community! I’m so glad you found me through Marie (love her) and that what we’re talking about resonates. We keep it real around here so you’re in good company if that resonates with you. I’m so glad to hear that you went on your own healing journey and that eventually you started talking to people about it. It may have been 20 years too late, but at least you did it!

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