Early sobriety can feel like a rush of relief and excitement – the infamous “pink cloud” we hear about. But what happens when that high fades and you find yourself feeling flat, restless, or stuck in sobriety? In this honest and powerful conversation, Julie, Steve, Rachael, and Chad dig into the reality of plateaus in recovery, how to recognize them, and what it takes to move through – so you don’t end up finding yourself slipping backward instead.
In This Episode
- The pink cloud effect – why it feels so good at first, and why it eventually fades
- How we confuse boredom with peace after living in chaos for so long
- Chad’s raw story of breakup, therapy, and rediscovering his spark
- The addictive side of “doing the work” and why action matters more than knowledge
- How objective truth-tellers (friends, therapists, coaches) help us see what we can’t
- Choosing responsibility over victim mode, even when life feels unfair
- Practical tools to move from stagnation into growth
“If I feel bored or flat, I take responsibility – it’s my life, and if I’m bored, I’m not doing enough with it.”
If you have found your recovery flat-lining, make sure to check out these episodes, too:
Stuck In a Rut? Let’s Rev Up Your Recovery!
Hitting a Growth Plateau in Alcohol Recovery
Rachael Shephard has a lengthy background in law enforcement. She spent many years encountering people with addiction issues while simultaneously hiding the same problems herself. Now, Rachael is a sober coach for mums who want to stop drinking, and regularly speaks at events on the subject of addiction. Her days are filled with a mix of mumming, working and writing, and in her spare time she can be found trying not to murder her two children while playing guitar and binge-watching Netflix. Sober Mama is Rachael’s debut book.
My debut book ‘Sober Mama’ is available for purchase in paperback from most UK book stores and online below in the UK and US on Kindle.
Website:- www.sobermama.co.uk
Blog:- https://whymummygaveupdrinking.co.uk
Instagram:- https://www.instagram.com/sobermamaltd/ Facebook:-https://www.facebook.com/whymummygaveupdrinking
Check out all the resources Through the Glass Recovery offers:
- Full podcast episode library
- Free Zoom virtual support group
- Affordable one-on-one support services
- The No Alcohol Needed blog by Julie Miller
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