A high-functioning façade, quiet rock bottoms, and the courage to speak out.
In Episode 64 of the Real Recovery Podcast, Grant S. joins Julie and Peter to share a compelling and deeply reflective story of recovery. His journey defies the stereotypes: no DUIs, no arrests, and no lost jobs. But behind the image of success was a man battling alcohol dependency, anxiety, and emotional disconnection. With clarity, humility, and passion, Grant opens up about his upbringing in rural Oregon, the slow build of daily drinking, and the moment that forced him to face the truth.
Growing Up in Drinking Culture
Grant’s childhood on a cattle ranch in north-central Oregon exposed him early to a culture where alcohol use was normalized. He recalls the pressures of wanting to fit in, the influence of generational drinking habits, and how those early exposures laid the groundwork for problematic behaviors later in life. “In my family,” he shares, “it wasn’t modeled as something to be careful with—it was expected.”
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High-Functioning but Hollow
Throughout college and into his professional life, Grant maintained the appearance of success. But behind the scenes, alcohol had become a daily ritual—used to treat anxiety, mask emotional discomfort, and escape from overwhelming stress. “I drank alcoholically from the beginning,” he says. By 2017–2018, it had escalated to morning drinking and blackouts, all while convincing himself he was still in control.
A Moment of Reckoning
Everything changed after a political fundraiser where Grant drank excessively and publicly embarrassed himself. “I was humiliated,” he recalls. “That was my rock bottom.” Shortly after, a therapist gave him the information he needed to fully understand alcohol’s impact on the brain. This marked a turning point and led him to seek recovery through Alcoholics Anonymous. “It takes a year for your brain to heal—and sometimes five years to pull your head out of your ass.”
Relapse and Recommitment
Though Grant found relief in AA, he admits to a brief relapse involving a few glasses of wine. The slip was enough to remind him of what he risked. “It set me back emotionally,” he explains, “but I kept my sobriety date.” That date—June 15, 2019—remains a powerful milestone in his story.
Healing Through Connection and Service
Grant credits much of his growth to the fellowship he found in AA, especially through online meetings during the pandemic. He now balances a demanding job with continued service work in the recovery community. Whether he’s traveling for work and attending meetings across cities or being openly vocal in advocacy spaces, Grant lives his recovery out loud.
The Bigger Picture
Grant wants people to understand that alcoholism can be subtle, especially when masked by achievement and functionality. “It takes a year for your brain to heal—and sometimes five years to pull your head out of your ass,” he says with raw honesty. His mission now includes speaking about the underreported dangers of alcohol and advocating for increased support in recovery communities across Oregon.
Links to Websites Discussed
Listen to Grant’s full story and explore more inspiring episodes at the links below:
Listen: https://mdcr1.com/64 Blog: https://mdcr1.com/64b
#RealRecoveryPodcast #AlcoholRecovery #AAWorks #MentalHealthAwareness #HighBottomRecovery #RelapseAndRecovery #SobrietyJourney #HopeInSobriety #OregonRecovers
@OregonRecovers @portlandalanoclub
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Breaking cycles, reclaiming motherhood, and choosing a new path
In episode 63 of the Real Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Tiffany A., whose story begins in a place few can imagine—born inside a Mexican prison. Raised between two drastically different worlds and shaped by generational trauma, Tiffany’s life story reveals what it means to survive, to lose yourself, and to come back home to healing and purpose. This episode is a powerful reflection on responsibility, recovery, and rediscovering motherhood.
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Family Shattered by Deportation
When Tiffany was just seven years old, almost her entire extended family was arrested and deported. The experience shattered the sense of security she had built with her tight-knit family. Only her immediate household remained, marking a painful rupture that would foreshadow further instability. “The entirety of my family was arrested and deported…”
A Childhood of Duality and Early Responsibility
Split between a highly religious, controlling household and a more permissive one, Tiffany internalized mixed messages about identity and belonging. Her mother’s relapse when Tiffany was only 12 left her to assume the role of caregiver to her younger siblings. She began acting out and looking for relief wherever she could find it.
The Long Road to Recovery
Tiffany’s recovery journey, while not linear, is marked by moments of clarity and commitment. She began to rebuild her life by facing the roots of her trauma, reclaiming her role as a mother, and speaking openly about the reality of addiction and healing. “Sometimes our best just doesn’t cut it—we have to do better than our best.”
Tiffany’s story is one of grit, grace, and growth. From the chaos of generational trauma and addiction to the beauty of reconnection and self-forgiveness, her journey reminds us that recovery isn’t about perfection—it’s about the willingness to keep showing up. Her words and story will resonate with anyone who has ever questioned if healing is possible.
Listen: https://mdcr1.com/63
Blog: https://mdcr1.com/63b
#RealRecoveryPodcast #AddictionRecovery #BornBehindBars #HealingFromTrauma #MotherhoodInRecovery #TraumaToTransformation #RecoveryIsPossible @OxfordHouse
How surviving a childhood brain injury and living with a mood disorder shaped Scott’s passion for advocacy and systemic change.
In this week’s episode of the Real Recovery Podcast, we welcome Scott Spicer—a dynamic advocate whose recovery journey centers on mental health, dignity, and systems change. Scott shares candidly about surviving a childhood traumatic brain injury, being diagnosed with a mood disorder, and navigating a behavioral health system often unprepared to meet people where they are.
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Scott’s journey isn’t just about recovery—it’s about reclaiming identity, speaking truth to power, and showing up for others with compassion.
Reclaiming Life After Trauma
Scott describes how, for much of his early life, he didn’t have words for what he was feeling. What he now knows was a mood disorder went undiagnosed for years. A psychiatric crisis eventually led to hospitalization, where he began to reckon with how trauma and neurodivergence shaped his behavior, relationships, and self-worth. “I identify with mental health challenges, surviving a childhood traumatic brain injury and struggling with a mood disorder.”
This self-awareness marked a turning point in his path—not only toward healing but toward advocacy.
Working to Improve a Broken System
Scott’s story shines a light on the urgent need for equity in mental health services. His work with Central City Concern’s Flip the Script focuses on improving access and reducing barriers for individuals often left behind by traditional systems.
From helping bring COVID vaccines to behavioral health facilities with the Oregon Health Authority to collaborating with organizations like Another Chance Recovery, Fora Health, and Recovery Ways, Scott has dedicated himself to inclusive, community-based solutions.
Links to Websites Discussed:
Identity, Presence, and Purpose
One of the most powerful threads in Scott’s story is identity. As a gay man in recovery and a survivor of hidden disabilities, he speaks to the complexities of mental health stigma, especially when compounded by social marginalization.
Scott helped establish National Mental Health and Dignity Day and has been a vocal supporter of integrating trauma-informed care into programs like Measure 110, which funds detox and treatment options like Recovery Works NW and Hooper Detox.
“Our brain is an organ in our body, and we all deserve to be well.”
Scott Spicer’s story challenges the recovery community to look beyond binaries and diagnoses—to see the whole person, the lived experience, and the potential for change. By telling his truth, he’s helping others reclaim theirs.
This episode is a must-listen for anyone who believes that recovery includes mental health, dignity, and the right to be seen.
#MentalHealthRecovery #RealRecoveryPodcast #JusticeInvolvedRecovery #HiddenDisabilities #RecoveryJourney #PeerMentor #AddictionRecovery #HopeAndHealing
@CentralCityConcern @RealRecoveryPodcast |
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