Sober Motivation: Sharing Sobriety Stories - Eric Drank Nearly Every Day for 23 Years | Now 4 Years Sober

Episode Date: April 2, 2026

Eric returns to share an update on his sobriety journey after nearly two decades of daily drinking.From 2008 to 2021, alcohol was part of his everyday life. What started as normal slowly turned into something much more serious—leading to severe withdrawal, hallucinations, and even seizures when he tried to stop.In this episode, Eric opens up about what it was really like living in that cycle, the denial that kept him stuck, and the moment everything changed.We talk about the dangers of alcohol withdrawal, why asking for help can save your life, and what it takes to rebuild after years of drinking.Now approaching 5 years sober, Eric shares what life looks like today, how he handles cravings, and why sobriety has given him something alcohol never could.If you’re questioning your drinking, stuck in the cycle, or wondering if change is possible—this conversation will hit home.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sobermotivationpodcastSober Motivation Community: https://sobermotivation.mn.co/Sober Motivation Website: https://www.sobermotivation.comSupport the Podcast: https://buymeacoffee.com/sobermotivationContact me anytime: [e-mail] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Great to have you for another episode. Brad here. Right before we get into it, two seconds of your time. I recently started adding video podcast episodes to YouTube and I'm 125 subscribers away from reaching a thousand. If you could take two seconds out of your day, go over there and subscribe to the channel. Tell a few of your friends. Thank you so much. Now let's get to the show. You wake up, you do the same thing every day and every night and you're drinking every day. and that was my normal life. Welcome back to another episode. I first connected with Eric in December of 2024,

connected with him a couple months ago for this update episode. I'm going to play a clip before we get into it of one of the things that really impacted me when having Eric on for the first time. And then we'll hear how things are going for him now. Every day, every day, am I going to sit here, Brad, and tell you that every day, I don't want to have a drink. because I do, but I look at him and I see what, what God gave me for taking my mom. He replaced with him when everything happens for a reason.

I'm a firm believer in that. And every day when I want to drink, because I had a hard day or just because I want that feeling again, I look at him and he's enough. I mean, there ain't nothing in the world that's going to make me drink. Welcome back to another update episode. Today we've got Eric joining us again. Eric, how are you? How's going, Brad?

I'm doing good. It's, yeah, man. Things are good, dude. I'm glad to, you know, reconnect and hear an update on your story. I mean, we were just talking there before we jumped on. I mean, you were drinking pretty much every day from 2008 to 2021. When you reflect back on that, man, what are your initial thoughts? Yeah.

I mean, how did I? normalized drinking every day for that many years. I mean, that was my normal life. And I never batted an eye. I never, till the very end, till the last couple of years,

I never thought he was even an issue. I mean, looking back now, I mean, it's ridiculous. It's horrible. It's a terrible issue. But,

I mean, yeah, that was my normal life. So I didn't think anything of it, you know, until the very end. And then it was like, yeah,

this is not a normal, a normal thing, you know. Yeah, well, especially towards the end, too, like recapping to your, little bit of your story kind of experience in the withdraws going through that, having seizures too, right? Yeah, I had, I had one, one bad seizure, and the symptoms of that seizure, what had happened before that, I was on the, I know I was on the brink of having another one. It just, it, for whatever reason,

it didn't happen, but I could tell, you know, I could feel that same feeling right before I had that other one. It was coming. So, yeah, seizures, horrible withdraws, hallucinations. It was just the worst of the experience of my life there. Yeah. And that was, I remember now thinking back, too, to the episode two, this was all kind of a surprise to you in one way or another, right?

Like, I don't know that anybody sort of gets into drinking and then figures when you quit drinking about how serious the withdrawal is, how it can be deadly, you have seizures, and all the stuff you talk about, right? I mean, you don't, like, I guess people do talk about it, but not enough, maybe? Like, what was that true? Like, you didn't really know that all of that was going to happen or that was possible? I'd heard, like, you can't just alcohol, like, one of the worst things that just quit cold turkey, you know, and, and I had heard that, and I'd quit drinking a couple times and thought, you know, nothing happened. Well, when I, there toward the end, when my body was, like, depending on it, I quit. And then all of a sudden, you know, I'm having

seizures and the hallucinations. And I didn't know none of that would happen. Like, I never talked to anybody, like, personally that had gone through that. I had no idea. So that was a shock to me that this type of, this magnitude of withdrawal. came from the alcohol. And I never, I never knew that. And how close is I to dying? I don't know, you know, because that stuff is pretty serious and especially the Cedars part. But it definitely opened my eyes. And I, you know, I hope that more people, they're drinking like I was, you know, have any kind of connection to doing what I was doing, that can happen. Yeah. And for people to get, like, the proper support, the proper help, because that was part of

your story too. At the end, you know, getting the right support to help you through that. It's not going to make everything go away, but to do it in a safe or the safest way possible is really important. So 23 years of drinking and not really looking up to say, okay, this is not good for me. Not to the last few. Yeah, which, I mean, you look at it now, right? Let me know your thoughts on this, but I'll share with you, because of mine, right? You look at it now and you see it for what it is, right? Like, okay, this was

too much, drinking all the time, 23 years, not really dealing with anything in life, maybe not moving forward in ways that I would like to, maybe not even knowing who I am. Looking back now where you're at, you probably

see it clear as day. But when you're in it, it's so difficult to realize that, that there's a different way to live, that there's a better way to live, a more peaceful way to live. Is that relatable at all? Like it kind of just rins and it feels like anyway, for me and what I hear a lot, you just can rinse and repeat day after day and time just seems to slip away. And then a decade later, it's like, oh man, I'm in the same spot I was.

Like, what are your thoughts? Oh, I agree with you 100%. Like, you just, you wake up, you do the same thing every day and every night. You're drinking every day. And like I said, when we opened, like, that was my normal life. So I hadn't lived anything different than that for so long. That's just what I did. So I didn't, you know, normal to me is, well, whatever, you know, that's my life.

That's what I'm doing. And it didn't bother me. And now looking back, it's like, dude, you were an idiot. Like, you wasted a lot. a lot of your life and a lot of the great things that could have happened, you don't have any recollection of because you were there, you know, in body, but mentally you have no idea of what happened. I went on a lot of, a lot of really awesome vacations and, you know, some cruises and went to destinations that probably won't ever go to again, and some of them I don't even

remember. And that, to me, sucks. And now that I have my little guy, Dexter, It's like I could not imagine even being present in his life. And I could not let him see me like that because, I mean, I couldn't do it. And now all the things that I'm a part of now, it's just like, I wish that it would have clicked earlier just so I could have those memories, you know. And I missed out a lot of good stuff because I was too focused on wanting to drink and, you know, and the drinking caught up with me, man. It just, it just, it got me. And it's so easy that you get wound up into that trap because that's just your normal.

And now my normal is 100 times better, 100 times. And when I get bored or when I get, you know, by myself or whatever, that's when I would sneaky drink. You know, I could drink by myself and no one would know. And, I mean, that stuff still, you know, that stuff still sneaks up. up on me and I got to get a reality check and like, hey man, you know you are still an alcoholic that's never going away. You can't just have one. So I try to plug in and I, when that happens, I get on the phone with my friends and I try to hit a meeting as quick as I can. Yeah, and play the tape forward too. I hear that a lot of people, you know, see that, right?

If you start romanticizing or start thinking about drinking and then you play the tape forward of like, okay, how does this look a week from now, six months from now, two years from now? The interesting thing about that is the brain remembers. So it will literally pick up right where you left off. I hear that so many times of like, people are like, I'm just going to have one drink, but then three days later or four days later, the first time they do end up sometimes having one drink. And then it's this mass confusion of like, oh, yeah, I can.

then the next time it just ticks up. And then within a week or two weeks or whatever, it's like they're right back. And that's a good thing to remind yourself with. Looking back at everything you shared there that you missed out on, missed out on or didn't get the full experience out of vacations, life, everything like that. How, because that's so real for people.

You know, like some people I know they're 62 and they're getting sober now or they're 59 and they're getting sober now. How do you come, like, be at peace with that? Because we can't go back and change what was. How do you move into like maybe that forgiveness or just living your life and maybe a way, a different way to like make the best out of this opportunity? Well, I mean, I know that I can't go back. And there's things that I wish I would have done.

And we all say that, you know, I wish I could have done this. I wish I would have done that, but it's like now without having those, you know, that's that story behind me and those experiences that I remember parts of and don't remember parts of, I'm able to let others know from hearing my story, no matter how bad it got, there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I mean, there is that light. And I think, you know, the life that I have now is much better. And I hate that I can't go back in some things. And there's, I mean, a lot of stuff I missed out.

And you just, you got to embrace it. It's, you wouldn't be where you are without, you know, what you went through. Yeah, where you've been. Like there, there's some strength you can draw maybe from, all of that experience there. And maybe that, maybe sort of the silver lining of all of it is that you have that opportunity

to share that struggle with others, but also show them that there's more to life or there can be. What was it for you, though? Like somebody's listening, right? And they're relating to what you're saying, right? They've been drinking for 20 years, every day or close to it.

Is there anything that could have been different to where you would have maybe got to this sooner. I know it's a weird question, but I'm just thinking if somebody is out there, like, how did they bust through maybe the denial that they could be in, that this is normal, this is fun, in the life on the other side is just going to be terrible. Yeah. Damn. Man, I would just, there's just reach out. Because had I known, like, I was in horrible denial and like shame was just so bad. I'd look myself in the mirror and, you know, tears rolling down my face and just say, I'd say, man, you got to quit.

You have to quit. And I'd say, I know we've all said this. Everybody listened, maybe has said, I'll quit tomorrow. I'll quit the next day. And that next day comes. And then by the time you realize that next day was a year ago and you've already drank a whole year. I think for me was just cracking down and I looked in that mirror and I said, you can't do it by yourself. You have an issue.

You don't have to get to your rock bottom, but just know that the help is out there and you don't have to be ashamed to ask for it. I wish I would have asked for help a long time ago. And I feel like I could have done it. I wanted to do it by myself so bad. and I know that we all want to do it by yourself. And, man, we don't want to ask for help. We don't want to go out and say, hey, I need help. Because we're the man, it's just not like us.

But I promise you, asking for that help is the best thing I ever did. Yeah. Starting somewhere. Starting somewhere, yeah, yeah, for sure. Yeah. I mean, what you share there is hits the nail on the head, right? people just aren't at a spot to ask for help. You know, the interesting part with that is what happens is if you don't ask for help is

kind of how it played out for you. Things get so bad that there's the opportunities or options start to shrink. And then eventually you kind of have only a couple left, right? You can keep going. You can ask for help or you can continue to try to bang your head against the wall of doing it alone, just keeping this thing quiet. And that's exhausting too, man. You know, that's so exhausting because it's heavy. It's really tough. You got to find other people that have been through it. I mean, we do it in so many other areas of our life. You know, if I need help carrying a big

couch, I'm like, hey, you know, can somebody help me carry this couch? Yeah. I've got no problem, but when it comes to something that we might be struggling with internally and we're worried about what are other people going to think and all of that stuff, human nature plays into it. I'm sure. we get worried. But I mean, I think you would agree, man. And my experience is what I thought would be really difficult and the hardest thing and I would get a certain response, I've never actually received it. I've never had anybody say, oh man, what's wrong with you? Why would you ever quit drinking? Why would you get sober? Why would you do that? I know that there are people out who have had that. I've never personally had that. But we have that fear kind of maybe built up in one way

or another of what's everybody going to think. I can't handle my booze or I'm weak. And none of that's true. You know, I mean, to reach out what you're sharing, how difficult it is. I mean, two decades, right, of not reaching out. And then you do, I mean, two decades, that's how hard it is. So it's not weak. It's extremely difficult, but it can help you move to the next level.

And so to what you said there, when I first got sober and I came back from rehab. My biggest thing was like, man, people are going to find out that I had to go to rehab. And I was not strong enough to kick it on my own, you know, and they're going to find out. I was so worried about what everybody else was going to think. And then I thought people are going to talk about my family as well, you know, oh, so-and-so son had to go to rehab or, you know, so-and-so my brother has said here, oh, your brother had to go to rehab. Well, guess what? Going to rehab saved my life. And I did not want to hear, oh, Eric, you had to go to rehab or this and that.

I was terrified of that. But now, like, looking back and knowing just what I'm able to do and, you know, what anybody with any sober days, weeks, months can do is you have the power to show other people it's possible. And that is, to me, is a better feeling than any feeling I felt. drinking is being able to share and possibly show someone else who knows right where you're at that it's possible. And if I can do it, you can do it. You know, Brad. And I feel like that's, that is a greater feeling than any day I ever had drinking. Yeah. I love that, man, just to be there

and hold space for somebody or sit with somebody, well, they're maybe going through it. Maybe things work out for them in that moment, maybe they don't, but just to be able to be there and have that story of, hey, this thing can turn around and change. It's tough at times, though, Eric. I don't know if you would agree, but when people are in that spot, oh, man, I mean, they are not seeing that this is going any better, you know? And it's like, man, just keep rocking like it does. If it didn't be going, I know, like if it didn't get any better, none of us would be doing this anymore. But it's almost like that you just have to find a way to keep going things, man. Give us the cliff notes version two of how things had been for you since.

I mean, since you make this change and you're doing a lot of giving back and plugging into the community and like having a purpose and raising your son and like so many good things I know about. But share some stuff with this. And most importantly, how do you feel about yourself too? Because you shared earlier, you know, you're waking up. You're emotional. You're crying in the mirror.

kind of deal and I want to quit. I want a different life and now you have it. So like give us the version there. Yeah, I feel really good actually like about myself. Since we talked last, I've been on a few different other podcasts and share my story at CR in person, which was one of the coolest things I've done was get up on stage and actually have to do it in front of people. That was that was pretty, pretty cool.

I just, I mean, I looked in the mirror. Did you get emotional during that? Oh, yeah. I mean. Good, man. Good, dude, good. Yeah, I know that what the shit that I went through was horrible for me. But I know there's other people out there that are going through it too, you know.

And I just want those people to know that it's possible. And I look in the mirror now and I think you're very lucky to be able to carry on. and what you have now and what you didn't have before. And it just took that one decision to break down and say, hey, I need help, you know, and I was able to with the help of, you know, my family and the support that I have and I look in that same mirror. I get a, once in a while, I get that flashback of,

you got to quit. And now the thing that I see is you got to keep going. You got to keep going. Because there's, I mean, I feel good now, and I appreciate you reaching back out to me and getting me back on here. And good, man. Yeah, dude. Well, you already know, man.

I'm so proud of you. You know, for your good set. It's everything you're doing, man. I mean, it's tough, dude. I mean, I don't want to overly paint a picture that, you know, a life of drinking to a life of not drinking, everything's going to be perfect because I don't think that that's the truth. I think that we learn and we continue to grow. It's kind of like levels in a video game.

I mean, the higher the levels you get, it might even get a little bit harder. But I think that's because we're growing and we're aspiring for more and we're living with purpose and we're living an authentic life. And that's kind of difficult. Wearing all the different masks

and everything, a lot of people talk about it. Like, that might be sort of the easier way. Less friction, less confrontational in that direction. But this way of life requires honesty, awareness, clarity. You're always, you know, that's sort of like the double-edged sort of it, right? It's because you can't escape it like we used to, right? When things got hard or we didn't like how we were feeling,

it's like, okay, let's pour a little bit of gasoline on it. Now you have to learn to sit with it. You have to learn to work through it. You have to learn to be accountable and that awareness and clarity. Yeah, that is, that is. But I think it's also the beautiful part too. Because it's like if I zoom out a little bit and I'm like, what's the purpose of being human?

and I think feeling things without the escape, I always kind of come back to that. Like that is one of the most beautiful things, I think, of all of it is to kind of feel, to feel all of it because one without the other, even though the hard things really suck to go through, how would you know the good without sort of the difficult? It's like the sun and the rain, you know?

Yeah. Like it's a weird thing. If it was all just good, it would be a lot different. And, any thought? No, that's a good point because, you know, being sober and not having something to go to go mask your feelings is, that's crazy because it's hard. Because shit is hard. I mean, normal everyday life, like, it's hard. And then when you overcome something and you think to yourself, all right, I just did that.

And I think that I have those moments where I'm like, good job, man. Like, that would have been very difficult, and you would have went to drinking right there. And, like, I have those moments, and I think, good job. I even tell myself, that was hard, but you did it, and you faced it head on. And unless you're sober, you just don't get that raw emotion. And things feel different. They sound different. And you hit different.

And the hard things are the best things. Like you said, you know, you got to have the sign and the rain. And it's really a good thing. I get to those points where I got to come back and connect. And I realize if you want to have a drink, you're not going to have a drink, you've got to deal with everything straight on and head on. And like you said, the sun and the rain, that's good. You got to take the good with the bad, to feel to know you got the good out of the bad, you know. Yeah.

It feels good. It feels good to know you can do something hard. without having to mask it and go through it. Yeah, 100% man. I mean, that is sort of, yeah, definitely one of the gifts of this whole thing. But, you know, I mean, it can be tough at times, but that's part of it. We learn, we grow. And yeah, thank you so much, Eric, dude.

Coming up on five years in September, which is, you know, incredible, man. I can't believe it. Actually, it's been five years. It just seems like yesterday. Yeah, it seems like it goes quick, I know. Yeah. Yeah, good, man. Well, thanks again for hanging out, dude.

It's great to see you. Yep, I appreciate it and everything, man. Thank you. Such a beautiful episode. Thank you for watching it to the end. Eric, I'll drop in the description down below to my original interview with Eric if you have about an hour of time. Check it out.

Eric is just down to earth genuine, not an actor. shared a real and raw story, a very true story, a very relatable story, I think, to so many people that are wrapped up in this. You start drinking, things are pretty good, and then the snowball picks up speed, goes down the hill, and you got to make a decision. Like, are you going to keep it going or asking yourself, what are you waiting for? Like, is there a set up circumstances? Are you waiting for the stars to align for all of this to make sense? Are you sort of developing that final night that's just going to check all the box? that rarely ever comes. So many people on the podcast and people I've met along this journey that never comes.

It never does. People just decide and they start to take action, become willing, get honest with themselves, really get a good look at the role alcohols playing in their life. Thank you as always for listening to the show. Subscribe on YouTube if you haven't yet and I'll see you on the next one.