Host Heather Venegas has a conversation with Chris about his recovery journey; he shares what he’s learned about what it takes to get and stay sober, the difference between sobriety and recovery, and why he doesn’t see relapse as a failure. In a touching exchange, Chris’s mom Maureen joins them to share her role in Chris’s recovery, alongside her own awareness and health. “It’s really up to me to be healthier, and it’s up to Chris to be his own healthy,” she says. “It’s not up to us to make the other person healthy.”
Heather also welcomes Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Family Programs Manager Jessica Garrison into the conversation. Chris and Maureen have benefitted from Hazelden’s family programs, which are free to anyone who wants and needs them. The skills Hazelden teaches apply to people in recovery but also have broad application to life in general – especially when it comes to healthy ways to communicate. This episode is a beautiful example that it takes a community to help people get into and stay in recovery. It also shows the value of the King County Recovery Coalition as a catalyst for convening people in the recovery community for good.
Resources from the episode:
1. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation Family Program provides free and virtual education, skills set workshops, grief support, and peer support groups for all ages (children, adolescents, and adults). Learn more at Hazelden Betty Ford | Drug and Alcohol Treatment Centers or email family@hazeldenbettyford.org.
2. Visit Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation’s Amazon store for book recommendations to help people recognize, understand, and overcome addiction: https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/50…
3. Join King County Recovery Coalition on Sunday, August 27, at T-Mobile Park for Recovery Day! The pregame rally starts at 10:30 am, followed by a march to the ballpark, game, and resource fair on the 306-310 concourse. Specially priced tickets include a limited-edition Mariners-themed Recovery Day T-shirt. $3 from every ticket sold will benefit the Washington Recovery Alliance: https://www.mlb.com/mariners/tickets/…
4. Celebrate National Recovery Month in September with King County Behavioral Health and Recovery Division’s Recovery Art Showcase (https://kingcounty.gov/depts/communit…. Join in person on September 8 and October 13 at the Belltown Art Walk, or virtually through the Recovery Art Showcase website site at any time. Submit your artwork or poetry for either showcase by August 11: Visit https://kingcounty.gov/depts/communit…
5. Connect with show host Heather Venegas on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-v…
6. Learn more about King County Recovery Coalition and the work they do here: https://kcrecovery.org/. Want to get involved with their efforts to promote recovery for everyone? Visit their website for more information on becoming a volunteer, a member, an advocate, or an event guest: https://kcrecovery.org/get-involved/
7. The King County Recovery Coalition is a regional coalition of the Washington Recovery Alliance (WRA). Learn more about the WRA and the work they do here: https://www.washingtonrecoveryallianc…. To become a member, volunteer, or donate – and change hearts and minds around mental health and substance use disorder in Washington state – visit https://www.washingtonrecoveryallianc….
8. If you are experiencing substance use disorder, problem gambling, and/or a mental health challenge, please visit the Washington Recovery Helpline for resources and a 24-hour helpline: https://www.warecoveryhelpline.org/
King County Recovery Conversations is a podcast on a mission to celebrate recovery and help break the stigma of addiction and mental health. In each episode, policy experts, program professionals, and those with lived experience join host Heather Venegas to share stories of hope, resilience, and healing in our community.
Together, we’ll learn about the various pathways to recovery – and the services and support systems available to anyone impacted by addiction and mental health. Whether you’re someone seeking recovery, in recovery, a family member or friend, or a healthcare professional, this podcast is for you. Connect with King County Recovery Coalition online https://kcrecovery.org/, on Facebook or on YouTube (@KingCountyRecoveryCoalition).
If you have feedback or show ideas, contact host Heather Venegas at heather@kcrecovery.org.
RECOVERY PODCASTLAND: There are so many solid, binge-worthy podcasts out there. But with new episodes coming out weekly, it’s impossible to keep up. The Sober Curator is here to help as we’re busy curating and creating original podcast content with recovery in mind.
Sober Curator Pro Tip: For a quick hit of recovery, listen to our recommended podcasts when you’re driving, walking your dogs, working out, cleaning the house, working on a craft project, getting ready in the morning, or making a meal.
SOBER IN SEATTLE: Sober living in the greater Seattle area doesn’t have to be boring; living free of substances opens the door to a world of new explorations and experiences. With our Sober in Seattle section, you have access to some of the hottest spots in the emerald city!
Do you have an event, product, restaurant, experience, or story that is based in the Pacific Northwest? We want to hear about it! Email us at thesobercurator@gmail.com or slide on into our DM’s on social media.
Looking for recovery resources in the greater Seattle area? Be sure to check out our ALCOHOL & SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCE GUIDE and scroll to the Seattle section.
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Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
