In this episode, host Ray Donovan sits down with former college basketball player and coach Anne Skriba to discuss her journey through addiction, recovery, and the healing power of therapy. Anne opens up about how the pressures of being an athlete led her to use alcohol as a coping mechanism and how the pandemic pushed her deeper into isolation. She shares the pivotal moments that led her to sobriety, including the impact of her therapist's powerful words and how she applied the 'Mamba mentality' to her recovery. Together, Ray and Anne dive into the unspoken struggles athletes face, the silence around substance abuse in sports, and the importance of mental health in personal growth.
Anne’s Toolkit:
Understand your trauma to address it
Therapy is a crucial tool
Break the silence
Recognize coping mechanisms
New tools for healing
Advocate for mental health
Surround yourself with a support system
Understanding Sobriety: Anne’s Journey and the Athletic Influence
Anne Skriba’s approach to sobriety was profoundly shaped by her background as an athlete. Her journey into recovery was not marked by rigid discipline but rather by a mindset of curiosity and self-improvement. This perspective stemmed from her athletic discipline or “Mamba Mentality,” where the focus is on continuous growth and learning.
Anne reflects on this approach: “I realized that the way I approached basketball—constantly striving for improvement, understanding my weaknesses, and learning from them—could be applied to my recovery. Instead of viewing sobriety as just a set of rules to follow, I saw it as an opportunity for self-discovery and growth.”
This mindset allowed her to view her recovery through a lens of exploration and self-betterment. Rather than imposing strict, punitive measures on herself, she embraced a more compassionate and inquisitive approach, questioning whether her behaviors, including alcohol use, truly served her well-being.
Anne's details
Instagram:@skriba05
Connect with the show
Website: https://www.stackndays.com/
Apply to be a guest: https://www.stackndays.com/rsvp-1
Instagram and Tiktok: @stackndays
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC-IqvFJ2SlufC6KuyiztjQ
Resources
https://www.joinreframeapp.com/
