EP 151: Steps to Sobriety With Dr. Stephan Neff

Are there actual steps to sobriety and recovery for good? How do you overcome addictions to substances like drugs and, in our today’s topic, alcoholism?

While many physicians recommend consuming a few milligrams of alcohol for our health, developing alcoholism is a growing problem.

According to statistics, people in the United States alone who are at the age range of 12 years old and older were reported to consume alcohol even with the strict laws that the country has implemented.  

Over time, this alcohol experiment among young adults can develop into severe alcoholism and significant health problems, which are harder to overcome.

Along with this, the growth rates of juvenile crimes committed by teenagers are also on the rise. It is why we must understand how a person develops alcoholism so we can also take the necessary steps needed to help them. 

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Stephan Neff, anesthetist and author of the book My Steps to Sobriety.

Dr. Neff is also an alcoholic in recovery. Besides talking about his work, we will also discuss his involvement with alcohol and the state of the healthcare system from a healthcare provider’s point of view.

In addition to that, he also shares his experience dealing with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and alcoholism – both from a patient’s and doctor’s perspective and the lessons he has learned the hard way. 

The questions below are some that we tackled with Stephan:

1. Can you give us a background about yourself and your experience?
2. What can you tell us about the field of Anesthesia?
3. When in your life did you notice your drinking is becoming a problem?
4. Talk to us about the 12-step program
5. How do you deal with urges? 
6. Why do you take consistent steps every day for yourself? 
7. How do you become the best version of yourself?
8. What is your current obsession with Krav Maga?

To learn all about alcoholism, and how to recover from it, click here for the full episode 👇

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Introduction
1:00 Cup of Nurses Introduction
2:17 Guest Introduction
2:37 Meet Dr. Stephan Neff
4:04 How Private Anesthetist Differs From Public Anesthetist
7:05 Healthcare System in Smaller Countries
10:27 Travel Nursing or Agency Nursing in Other Countries
14:21 The United States Response to the Pandemic
17:53 Trauma Experience Working in the Healthcare System
22:31 The Positive Aspect of Alcoholism
30:32 Exchanging Alcoholism to a New Lifestyle
33:10 What are the symptoms of PTSD?
35:18 Recognizing & Dealing with PTSD
39:35 Stephan’s Recovery Experience
44:17 The Journey After Rehabilitation
49:23 Steps to Sobriety By Stephan Neff