Rise Above with Kevin Lanning

Andrew’s story is a raw, unfiltered look at what severe alcoholism actually looks like behind the scenes. From growing up with crippling anxiety and a heart condition, to discovering alcohol at 18 and immediately losing control, Andrew spiraled into years of relapse, hospitalizations, psych wards, self-harm, legal consequences, and 13 rehab attempts — all before the age of 27. He drank every morning, worked remote jobs while intoxicated, ran from police during a wellness check involving helicopters and K-9 units, and endured life-threatening alcohol withdrawals that landed him in ambulances and ERs multiple times in a single night. In this episode, Andrew breaks down: Why willpower and discipline never worked for him How anxiety, fear, and control fueled his addiction What alcohol withdrawal really feels like Why alcohol and benzos are among the most dangerous withdrawals How understanding addiction as a disease changed everything The exact moment he surrendered and finally stayed sober Today, Andrew is over 2.5 years sober, living with purpose, helping others, and proving that even when everything looks lost, recovery is still possible. This episode is for: Anyone struggling with alcohol or addiction Loved ones trying to understand the disease People who keep relapsing and feel hopeless Anyone who believes they’ve “tried everything” If this story helps even one person, it’s worth telling. #Alcoholism #AddictionRecovery #SobrietyJourney #RecoveryIsPossible #MentalHealthAwareness #AlcoholRecovery #LifeInRecovery #RelapseRecovery #PsychWardSurvivor #AddictionIsADisease #NearDeathExperience #SobrietyStories #TraumaHealing #AnxietyRecovery #SubstanceAbuseRecovery #RecoveryPodcast #RiseAbovePodcast #SoberLife #SoberCommunity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neva Coleman shares her raw and deeply honest journey through high-functioning alcoholism, trauma, perfectionism, and getting sober at a young age — long before her life “looked” like it was falling apart. In this episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Neva opens up about growing up in New Jersey, losing her father in the 9/11 attacks, excelling academically and socially, and how alcohol slowly became her coping mechanism. What started as “normal college drinking” at Tulane University escalated into blackouts, extreme anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and a terrifying 3-day Mardi Gras bender that led her to call the suicide hotline. Despite near-death moments, being roofied, severe withdrawals, and repeated attempts to moderate, Neva continued drinking — a reality many people in active addiction know all too well. This conversation dives into the truth about alcohol use disorder, why “high-functioning” doesn’t mean healthy, and how denial can keep someone stuck for years. Neva also talks candidly about: Getting sober in her early 20s Why she didn’t identify as an alcoholic at first Trying moderation and why it failed Anxiety, perfectionism, and people-pleasing The loneliness of early sobriety Finding community through AA and therapy Healing her relationship with her mother Using social media to break stigma and help others This episode is for anyone who: Thinks their drinking isn’t “bad enough” Is successful on the outside but struggling inside Is afraid sobriety means life will be boring Is sober-curious, newly sober, or struggling in silence If this conversation resonates with you, you are not alone — and help is available. Neva's Tiktok & IG: soberpartygirlll 🎧 New episodes of Rise Above every week. 📩 If this episode helped you, consider sharing it with someone who needs it. #RiseAbovePodcast #SobrietyJourney #HighFunctioningAlcoholic #AlcoholismRecovery #YoungSobriety #MentalHealthAwareness #AddictionRecovery #AARecovery #WomenInRecovery #SoberLife #SoberCommunity #RecoveryIsPossible #AlcoholUseDisorder #TraumaHealing #AnxietyRecovery #LifeAfterAlcohol #SoberCurious #BreakingTheStigma #HealingJourney #OneDayAtATime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this raw and deeply emotional episode of Rise Above with Kevin Lanning, Caylene shares the full truth of her battle with alcoholism — a battle that nearly cost her life. What began as “normal” wine drinking slowly escalated into daily dependence, hiding alcohol around her home, drinking before work, and waking up shaking until her first sip. During COVID, her addiction spiraled until her family staged an intervention that saved her life. Soon after, doctors diagnosed Caylene with end-stage liver disease and cirrhosis. She experienced severe alcohol withdrawal, hallucinations, massive fluid buildup that made her look pregnant for over a year, repeated hospitalizations, invasive medical procedures, and was placed on the liver transplant list. Over the course of two years sober, Caylene endured: Liver failure and cirrhosis Weekly and twice-weekly fluid drainage procedures Withdrawal without rehab Life-threatening hospitalizations Emergency surgery removing part of her intestines A TIPS procedure that ultimately saved her life Today, Caylene is over two years sober, medically stable, and using her story to help others who feel trapped in addiction. This episode is a reminder that alcoholism doesn’t always look chaotic — until it suddenly is. And that it’s never too late to ask for help. If you or someone you love is struggling, this episode may save a life. #RiseAbove #AlcoholismRecovery #LiverFailure #CirrhosisRecovery #SobrietyJourney #AddictionRecovery #AlcoholAwareness #RecoveryIsPossible #EndStageLiverDisease #SoberLife #HealingStories #MentalHealthMatters #WomensRecovery #OneDayAtATime #HopeAfterAddiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony had everything on the outside — money, sales success, status, and opportunity — but inside he was spiraling fast. In this episode of Rise Above, Tony opens up about his descent into gambling addiction, Adderall abuse, cocaine use, and a terrifying 5-day stimulant binge that nearly cost him his life. What began as discipline and ambition turned into obsession, hallucinations, paranoia, and suicidal thoughts. Tony shares: How gambling became his first addiction at just 16 Making over $100,000 playing poker and losing it all How Adderall fueled sales success — then completely rewired his brain Snorting prescription stimulants just to feel normal A 5-day binge that led to hallucinations, psychosis, and thoughts of jumping Losing trust, money, relationships, and self-identity Why quitting Adderall was harder than quitting drugs How faith, discipline, and small daily wins rebuilt his life Finding peace, purpose, and sobriety after surrendering everything Today, Tony is over a year and a half sober, a present husband and father, financially stable, debt-free, grounded in faith, and finally at peace. This is a raw conversation about addiction that doesn’t get talked about enough — prescription drugs, performance addiction, and the dangerous lie of “success at any cost.” If you’re struggling, questioning your choices, or feeling trapped in a cycle you can’t escape — this episode is for you. #RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #AdderallAddiction #GamblingAddiction #PrescriptionDrugAbuse #RecoveryJourney #FaithAndRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #FromAddictionToRecovery #SoberLife #SpiritualAwakening #RedemptionStory #RecoveryIsPossible #ChristianTestimony #LifeAfterAddiction #BreakingAddiction #SalesBurnout #HighFunctioningAddict Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Millicent Huser is a conscious leadership practitioner, trauma-informed mentor, and recovery professional with over 22 years of sobriety and more than two decades working in mental health, addiction treatment, and organizational leadership. In this episode of Rise Above, Millicent explains why putting down alcohol was only the beginning of her journey. Years into sobriety, unresolved trauma, insecurity, and emotional patterns resurfaced — forcing her to confront the deeper inner work required to stay sober, grounded, and fulfilled long-term. Millicent shares how her work today focuses on emotional sobriety, trauma healing, habit transformation, and conscious leadership, helping individuals and organizations create environments where people can grow without burnout, shame, or control. Drawing from her experience working with treatment centers, executive teams, and leaders, she breaks down how workplace culture, identity, and unhealed wounds can quietly undermine recovery — even decades later. This conversation goes beyond addiction and speaks to anyone who has done “the right things” but still feels lost, disconnected, or unfulfilled. Millicent’s upcoming book, Answering the Call, offers a blueprint for conscious leadership and living with purpose — in recovery, work, and life. #RiseAbove #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #22YearsSober #RecoveryJourney #SecondAwakening #EmotionalSobriety #ConsciousLeadership #HealingTrauma #PurposeDrivenLife #MentalHealth #SpiritualGrowth #PersonalTransformation #RecoveryIsPossible #BreakingCycles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices