EP 350: Nancy's Recovery Story
Host: Drifter
Guest: Nancy
Nancy was born in Houston, Texas, and was a Physical Therapist turned stay at home Mom who dabbled in her Catholic church Music Ministry for a time as she was raising her 3 children. When she returned to her job as a PT at the age of 46 after a 9-year hiatus, she began her long painful descent into the slow process of becoming addicted to alcohol. This descent included a resurgence of a food/exercise addiction that she had struggled with most of her life from the early teen years but was able to recover from when she found her way into the rooms of Overeaters Anonymous in her 30’s, her first exposure to a 12-step program.
This progressed in her 50’s to more regular drinking, and by the time she was in her late 50’s and early 60’s, a full-on addiction to a daily intake of alcohol which often included a full bottle of wine or 2 very strong frozen margaritas from the local Mexican food restaurant, and perhaps some additional topping off to get through the day.
She also relapsed into her binging/starving/over exercising addiction until she was 50+ pounds heavier and suffering from extreme depression, lack of motivation and the desire to socially isolate, inability to sleep and the need for increased anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medicines to cope.
There were multiple attempts to quit alcohol and food abuse, trying therapy and even walking through the doors of Alcoholics Anonymous. These attempts were in vain until one day she discovered The Naked Mind book by Annie Grace. On August 4, 2022, she began her journey into sobriety. On the Naked Mind website she found the information that led her to the Thursday am early doors Sobertown Zoom meetings. (Thank you, Fluffy All Heart!!!) Getting out of isolation and reconnecting to others in those sessions allowed her to find the strength and courage to take the necessary steps to get sober.
She now is 19 months sober and embarking on a new life after slowly beginning to implement the tools she found necessary to her sobriety. These tools include daily Yoga, meditation, inspirational music, reading, cardiovascular exercise, healthy eating, Sobertown Zoom meetings, and reestablishing or finding new ways to connect to others. These tools allow her to go through life more mindfully, cherishing the relationships between family and friends and understanding the real meaning and purpose for her life.
In November, after a return home from a trip to Spain, she was painfully aware of her longstanding tendency to set goals and reach them while not at all being mindful or enjoying the process. It became a real source of frustration for her and the main topic of discussion in a therapy session. There, her therapist of many years, introduced her to Kirtana and the Deathbed song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1khh5AHacgU
This one song began some new insights into how she would begin to make the necessary changes in the last quarter of her life so that she would not miss out on any of the “holy” moments that give life meaning for her: Connection to others, Courage to step out of her comfort zones, Calmness and moving more slowly through her day, and following through on all Commitments she makes to others. This has become a daily practice as she starts each day.
She hopes that her story of her journey will inspire others to hang in there through the process of becoming sober. Change can be slow, and it is so important to look at this process as an unfolding of possibilities that will continue to move in a forward direction, if you commit to staying on the path. It is worth every bit of grit and determination that is required.
Nancy is retired, and currently lives with her wonderful husband of 40 years in McKinney Texas.
Other Sober Resources:
No Sippy No Slippy. Not Another Drop No matter What.
Remember to Pour The Poison Down The Sink!!
Sobertownpodcast.com