In our episode today, Emily shares her personal journey to sobriety, including her struggles with alcohol and the various resources and support systems she has utilized and continues to utilize throughout her recovery. She discusses her experiences as a sober Foreign Service employee, addressing challenges with medical clearance, navigating social situations, and building a support network within the Foreign Service community. Emily emphasizes the importance of finding community and resources for recovery, treating sobriety as a fragile process, and encouraging open conversations about alcohol use while providing healthy coping mechanisms.
List of Resources:
SOBRIETY COMMUNITY SUPPORT
- Alcoholics Anonymous/12-step Meetings:
- Online and in-person meetings. Searching "AA English meetings in [country/place]" will often lead you to the local "intergroup" page with listings. Many areas also have online meetings.
- There is a Foreign-Service-specific online AA meeting open to USDHs, EFMs/MOHs, and contractors of any agency under COM. Email diplomatic.sobriety@gmail.com for details/questions.
- The Luckiest Club: https://www.theluckiestclub.com/ TLC is a non-12-step, online sobriety support community with meetings on Americas + European timezones.
USG-RELATED RESOURCES PODCASTS and BOOKS:
- There are a myriad of recovery-focused and sober-curious podcasts and books. Google "sobriety podcast" or "quit lit" for ideas.
RECOVERY COACHES: