Am I an Alcoholic? Habit vs. Addiction, Denial, and the Questions That Matter

Am I an Alcoholic? Habit vs. Addiction, Denial, and the Questions That Matter

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369243/fan_mail/new] Host Peg McDermott and co-host Heather Hagaman discuss the question “Are you an alcoholic?” prompted by a listener who doesn’t identify as having an addiction but wonders if the podcast applies to them.  They explore how “habit” and “addiction” differ, how stereotypes and denial can hide problem drinking, and share personal timelines of escalating consequences, cravings, blackouts, DUIs, and minimizing behavior. They describe addiction as a chronic brain disease marked by psychological and physical compulsion, continued use despite negative consequences, and “alcohol noise,” and note that labels must be self-identified.  They offer self-check questions about control, failed attempts to cut back, time and money spent, impacts on relationships and responsibilities, and emphasize that recovery involves addressing underlying emotional pain, boundaries, and broader life challenges beyond drinking. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:22 Am I an Alcoholic 02:40 Peg’s Drinking Wake Up Call 05:00 Heather’s Realization Story 08:50 Alcoholic Stereotypes and Family 11:58 Habits vs Addiction Explained 13:52 DUI and Legal Consequences 17:28 Denial Rules and Cravings 21:37 Addiction as Nervous System Strategy 22:34 Self Check Questions and Alcohol Noise 29:08 Beyond Substances Whole Enchilada Recovery 31:46 Closing and Subscribe

Experiencing Death in Sobriety: Grief, Relapse Risk, and Staying Connected

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369243/fan_mail/new] Hosts Peg McDermott and Heather Hagaman discuss experiencing death in sobriety, contrasting sudden losses with expected deaths and how both can dysregulate the body and trigger fear.  Heather shares the shock of a close friend dying soon after retirement and how she leaned on support, service, and self-care even when attending a celebration of life at a bar.  Peg recounts losing her mother early in sobriety, restarting smoking but not drinking, and relying on sober community, therapy, and a parent-loss grief group; she also describes being present and making clear decisions during funerals and end-of-life care for both parents.  They address relapse statistics, the fatal risks of relapse, suicide in recovery, and the need to reach out, watch isolation, plan for milestones, feel feelings, and seek professional help when needed, emphasizing that no one has to grieve alone.   00:00 Welcome and Topic 02:15 Sudden Loss Story 05:12 Peg on Losing Mom 09:07 Support and Closure 13:01 Relapse and Suicide Risk 16:44 Grief and Nervous System 21:17 Hidden Trauma Unpacked 25:14 Milestones and Planning 29:56 Relationship Grief Too 31:00 Final Takeaways and Goodbye

Vacationing Sober: Enjoying Vacations Without Alcohol

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369243/fan_mail/new] In this episode of Recovery: The Whole Enchilada, hosts Peg McDermott and Heather Hagaman discuss how to navigate vacations in sobriety, including planning ahead like you would for a party.  They share strategies such as traveling with sober people, gathering phone numbers and meeting locations, setting boundaries with drinkers, choosing accommodations and activities that support wellness, and having an exit plan when environments feel triggering.  Peg describes her first sober beach trip where she redirected cravings into finding sharks’ teeth, while Heather reflects on early vacations that centered on drinking and how sobriety helped her enjoy and remember trips. Heather recounts a recent Ireland trip where she avoided romanticizing alcohol, found steadiness and ease through prayer, and unexpectedly met another person in recovery.  They also cover cruise and retreat considerations, minibar risks, safe signature drinks, and small tools like removing wine glasses at restaurants. 00:00 Welcome and Topic Setup 00:48 First Sober Vacation Triggers 01:27 Sharks Teeth New Obsession 03:56 Safety Nets and Meetings 08:26 Planning and Boundaries 09:44 Ireland Trip Guinness Temptations 11:27 Steadiness Ease and Serendipity 16:41 Cruises and Danger Zones 22:52 Sober Retreats Buyer Beware 25:50 Signature Drinks and Exit Plans 30:54 Practical Tips Drinks and Glasses 31:54 Closing and Takeaways

Medication and Recovery: Bridging the Gap

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369243/fan_mail/new] Hosts Peg McDermott and Heather Hagaman discuss dual recovery as living with both substance use disorder and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and ADHD, and emphasize that treating both together is more effective than treating one alone.  Peg shares her experience of post-sobriety anxiety, insomnia, complex PTSD, and the difficult process of finding and safely tapering off sleep and anxiety medications under psychiatric care, alongside therapy, yoga, breathwork, and meetings.  Heather describes chronic depression and how antidepressants helped stabilize her without getting her “high,” supporting long-term sobriety. They address stigma in recovery communities around prescribed medications, pain management after surgery, and evolving issues like medical marijuana and “California sobriety,” including examples of cannabis use leading back to drinking.  They stress doctor-supervised, as-prescribed use, motivation to heal rather than numb, and compassionate nonjudgment, including discussion of professionally facilitated ketamine and psilocybin treatments.   00:00 Welcome and Topic 01:10 Medication in Recovery 04:30 Peg’s Anxiety and PTSD 07:43 Finding the Right Meds 09:27 Heather on Depression 12:34 Stigma and Room Debates 15:43 California Sober Talk 18:35 Meds as Healing Tools 23:55 Psychedelics and Judgment 27:48 Whole Person Recovery 31:02 Closing and Takeaways

The Recovery Renaissance: Art, Play, and New Perspectives

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2369243/fan_mail/new] On the podcast “Recovery, the whole enchilada,” host Peg McDermott and co-host Heather Hageman discuss springtime “new beginnings” in sobriety and how recovery widens a life that became small during drinking.  Heather shares rediscovering childhood joys like pressing wild violets, making herbs, salves, lavender eye pillows, and rebuilding creativity after alcohol.  Peg reflects on sports and outdoor play, how softball became strongly tied to drinking, and how sobriety required finding identity, leisure, and safe hobbies that reduce anxiety and support self-esteem.  They emphasize replacing drinking-centered downtime with sober fun—intuitive painting, golf, pickleball, bowling, dance classes, music, audiobooks, volunteering, gardening, and travel—without pressure to master skills. They encourage patience, saying yes more, using recovery tools, and enjoying life’s pace, with bucket-list plans like a Rhine River Christmas cruise, concerts, Ireland, and Europe. 00:00 Welcome to the Podcast 00:28 Springtime New Beginnings 01:22 Rediscovering Childhood Magic 03:44 Sports Identity and Drinking 07:44 Finding Fun in Recovery 10:35 Sober Creativity Returns 13:48 Bucket List Joy and Play 15:00 Relearning Fun Without Alcohol 20:55 Try New Things Gently 23:31 Dream Trips and Saying Yes 27:28 Slow Living and Ireland Plans 29:26 Closing Thoughts and Farewell