Fireside Chats, Episode 80: Battling Addiction
Added 2019-03-13 16:01:00 +0000 UTCAround the world, millions upon millions of people suffer from addiction. It can be an addiction to pills, or heroin, or even sex. But this week's guest -- Kris Hall -- suffers from one of the most common, timeless addictions there is: Alcohol. Today, Kris tells his story, a story that begins normally enough, and then takes some fascinating (and harrowing) turns as he ultimately (and thankfully) finds his way to sobriety. But it was an arduous, uphill battle for him. Indeed, it's an arduous, uphill battle for almost everyone who finds him or herself in Kris' position. So, this is his story, one that will hopefully act as a cautionary tale to many of you, while providing insight into the help that's out there if you, too, are suffering in silence, hurting yourself, and injuring those around you.
Comments
It's my pleasure. I'm all about the everyman. =)
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-20 00:22:25 +0000 UTCGlad to hear it!
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-20 00:21:53 +0000 UTCThanks for listening. =)
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-20 00:21:41 +0000 UTCAmazing Kris. This, I think, is the epitome of what the internet and Fireside Chats are for. This maximizes the potential for good uniquely available in this format. I really believe the only way to address and have any real chance at tackling hard problems is to hear from people living inside those problems (whether they've fully overcome them or not) and share an uncensored, self aware account. So much props for talking about this... I think addiction is still (in general) a step further removed than even a lot of mental illness as far as people really understanding it and stigmatizing it. And one piece of my understanding is that there is usually some degree of mental illness - or maybe heightened mental distress - which fuels addiction. There was a great podcast Joe Rogan did recently where the guest had done a lot of global research on drugs and addiction and one of the things he discovered was that frequently loneliness is a big factor for a lot of people with addiction. Anyways - nice work. Your honest telling and hopeful message I think could be a very real balm for aching hearts as well as educational for those ignorant to the experience. And Colin (since I'm fully rambling at this point) I have to again throw a mountain of praise your way for using your position, your platform, to give regular people a voice on larger scale than they might otherwise not find. I'm not aware of anyone else doing anything like it.
2019-03-19 16:43:13 +0000 UTCCan confirm this resonated. Thank you!
Koray Savas
2019-03-19 03:40:09 +0000 UTCReally interesting episode. It was great on showing how difficult to process is, and how gradual both to and away from the problem.
Peter Campbell
2019-03-18 11:19:36 +0000 UTCCongratulations on staying clean for so long!
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-16 23:17:25 +0000 UTC<3
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-16 23:17:16 +0000 UTCYou're more than welcome to tell your own story on Fireside Chats.
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-16 23:17:09 +0000 UTCI'm wishing you and your family the very best!
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-16 23:16:51 +0000 UTCThanks for telling your story, Kris.
Colin Moriarty
2019-03-16 23:15:11 +0000 UTCFantastic Episode as a recovering heroin addict clean for 8 years now it's a hard road to travel
Kc Wright
2019-03-16 22:40:27 +0000 UTCThank you, Kris, for your straight forward honesty in speaking with Colin and for allowing all of us to listen. I wish you only the best as you continue to move forward in your sobriety. Well done.
BettyAnn Moriarty
2019-03-15 00:13:27 +0000 UTCThank you Robert!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-14 20:57:31 +0000 UTCThank you for listening James!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-14 20:57:13 +0000 UTCThank you for listening Marcus!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-14 20:56:49 +0000 UTCThank you Michael for listening! Good luck!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-14 20:56:17 +0000 UTCGreat episode Colin & Kris. As an alcoholic myself I know I need to keep myself in check and try to control this so it doesn't impact my personal life. I'm not even considering letting alcohol go completely but definitely cutting down as I go as I just hate being useleaa. Thank you for sharing your experience Kris
tejotl
2019-03-14 16:40:24 +0000 UTCGreat Podcast. Kris, congrats on your sobriety my dude.
2019-03-14 14:25:38 +0000 UTCGood lord I have so much to say about this podcast as a members of “a 12 step program”. The reference to higher power and what that means to me, the Rat Park study, the transference of addiction to getting to meetings. I kind of want to listen again and take notes and do a write up on how our experience and that of some of those around me differs. All of that being said, thanks for the great podcast and the opportunity to hear how other strategies can work in recovery. I’m a week away from 15 months clean and sober and it’s always great for me to hear stories not so different from my own.
Kyle
2019-03-14 14:22:03 +0000 UTCThanks Kris for talking about this. It's a difficult topic to talk about and it shows a lot of bravery to come onto a public platform like this to talk about it Kris. It's a personal topic for myself also as I have a parent who has battled with severe alcohol addiction since before I was born and still struggles with it today. It's not something we've talked about together due to the problems it has caused in the family so it's good to hear about this topic from the point of view of someone that has struggled with this addiction also. Also, congratulations on your 1 year of sobriety!
Conor O'Neill
2019-03-14 13:23:23 +0000 UTCTakes a lot of guts to come onto a podcast and talk so plainly about something so personal. Really inspirational. Thanks Kris.
Robert Graham
2019-03-14 04:07:02 +0000 UTCI really enjoyed the episode. Also congratulations to Chris and his 1 year of sobriety and props for telling his story and possibly motivating someone with similar issues.
Marcus Brown
2019-03-14 02:23:36 +0000 UTCHi thanks to Colin and Kris for this conversation. It really rang some bells for me as someone who was on a similar path (solo drinker, good job, family man, have a 'reason' to drink) but jumped off sooner before rehab after a realisation that all negativity came back to the drinking. 70-odd days sober but not going back, enjoy weekend mornings with the family too much! Thanks for sharing Michael
Michael Cook
2019-03-13 22:50:40 +0000 UTCHi Kyle! Thanks for sharing. My wife and I actually read Cope Moyer’s book, “Broken”. I know he worked (or still works) at Hazelden. It’s a great read. Good luck to you!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-13 22:03:11 +0000 UTCThis is a tough topic to talk about that is often pushes to the shadows. Glad to see it brought to light and hope it helps people who are struggling.
James Galos
2019-03-13 20:05:57 +0000 UTCThis was a great chat Colin and Kris. Having been in residential treatment for alcohol myself (hazelden here in mn for me), in recovery now just over a year, this resonated greatly with me. The family aspect especially (being a married father of three) hit home. Your story is a lot like mine Kris (as a lot of us learn in recovery that we are all alike in a lot of ways), thanks for telling your story. It important to destigmatize and lessen the shame surrounding addiction. I will definitely check out your blog. Thank you Colin for shining a light on this and asking questions as a normie to try to better understand. The more we talk the better we understand. Thanks for reading my long winded response.
Kyle Day
2019-03-13 19:08:47 +0000 UTCThank you Colin for the opportunity to speak about this. I hope the audience finds it informative. If anyone has any questions, comments, disagrees or wants clarification about something I said, please feel free to reply. Have a great day fellow Patreons!
Kristofer Hall
2019-03-13 18:35:28 +0000 UTC
