In episode five of Breaking Chains: From Surviving to Thriving, host Darece interviews her sponsor Erica, recording raw and unscripted from a car in Nevada heat. Erica contrasts chaotic, sick mornings in active alcoholism with her current peaceful routine of breathwork, prayer, readings, caring for dogs, and fresh juice, explaining her Kin Chi Do breathwork certification. She describes life at the height of addiction—daily blackouts, hiding liquor, drinking before and during work, isolation, damaging relationships, and eventually losing a kidney—while identifying herself as the common denominator rather than a victim. Erica shares how relapse during quarantine led her back to meetings through a sign from her higher power, how 90 meetings in 90 days, small-capacity groups, commitments, sponsorship, and community built purpose, and how sobriety brought integrity, freedom, and tools like meetings, the gym, and spirituality,

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In the relaunched first/fourth episode of “Breaking Chains: From Surviving to Thriving,” host Darece interviews Kelsey Jay, a pregnant newlywed in recovery, about sobriety and life after heroin addiction. Kelsey describes her morning routine of gratitude, prayer, and connecting with her sponsor and sponsees, and explains tools like meetings, meditation, inventory, and “power in the pause.” She discusses amplified emotions during pregnancy, recent custody stress involving her stepdaughter’s birth mother, and a court order granting her husband sole legal and physical custody. Kelsey recounts a decade-long relapse after early sobriety, heavy heroin and benzo use during COVID, detox that led to psychosis and hospitalization, treatment and IOP, and rebuilding through 12-step work. Now she works as a legal assistant, sponsors women, is pursuing a sociology degree aiming for law school, and emphasizes hope, connection, and freedom from addiction.

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Episode 3 is especially special to me because my guest is a woman of great strength and desire to live life on life's terms while living her best life within the recovery community.  Niky G. is the type of woman whom you'd want your child to be mentored by.  Her story is extremely compelling and raw.  She has overcome a lot of obstacles and doesn't deny that life still hands her lemons sometimes.  What is different now is how she deals with life on life's terms...with dignity, reaching out, being of service, using her tool-belt and telling her story of pain, sex, drugs, and alcohol.

Please feel free to email me at breaking_chains@icloud.com with any questions that you may have for Niky G.

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Join in on the conversation as I chat with funny-girl and beautiful friend, Kristin, as she lets us in on her journey before, during and after accepting recovery. Kristin is a great roll model for the LGBT community as well as anyone who wants what she has...SOBRIETY! Please feel free to email me at breaking_chains@icloud.com with any questions for Kristin or suggestions or questions for this podcast.

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This is episode one of Breaking Chains: From Surviving to Thriving, the Real Stories. My first guest is not only in recovery but is also a therapist and an all around great guy. Chris was born and raised in California and currently resides in Hermosa Beach. Chris' story is a compelling story and not unlike so many other stories. Please listen to his story and don't forget to leave feedback, email me at breaking_chains@icloud.com, subscribe and share the podcast with family and friends. Editing was done my freelancer Neil Jackson.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/breaking-chains-from-surviving-to-thriving/donations