Season 2, Episode 9
Host(s): Dr. Larry Force, Andrew O’Grady, Elisa Gwilliam
Guest(s): Judy: Alcoholics Anonymous leader based in the Hudson Valley, New York
The INTERSECTIONS Exchange team is joined by Judy, who has dealt with personal mental illness and addiction experiences as well as lead an Alcoholics Anonymous group for more than thirty years. On the podcast, Judy shares her inspirational life story and pathway to the recovery field and discusses the complicated interactions of mental health and addiction.
Topics Discussed
- Judy’s alcoholism and recovery journey
- Power of community in AA
- Intersections between depression and alcoholism
- Self-destructive behaviors during addiction
- “Double recovery” from mental health disorders and addiction
Resources
- If I drink a lot, does that make me an alcoholic?
- My children don’t trust me anymore because of my drinking or using
- I don’t know how to be around my friends/family/ drinking people sober
- I feel alone and want to use or drink
Key Quote(s)
- “The idea of being mentally stuck with me even when I didn’t drink…at A.A. I was impressed by their ability to stay sober and to have a joyous outlook.” – Judy
- “Alcoholism and drug addictions can cause mental health problems and many times people drink to medicate themselves because it’s the one thing that helps them escape the depression or anxiety they’re feeling.” – Andrew O’Grady
- “Even in the confines of being online, the treatment modality has changed and become more specialized and more specific and more successful. We know much more today about addictive behaviors and biochemistry even within the span of our own lives.” – Dr. Larry Force
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