211. Hospice Nurse Julie On Sobriety After 20 Years Of Drinking and Using211. Hospice Nurse Julie On Sobriety After 20 Years Of Drinking and Using
The Courage to Change: A Recovery Podcast
Hospice Nurse Julie McFadden grew up in a normal 80s childhood, but obsessive thoughts plagued her from a young age. The people around her constantly asked “why can’t you relax?” And she immediately internalized the idea that there was something wrong with her. At 13, she found alcohol and the thoughts would go away. It became her first tool to manage her obsessive compulsive anxiety. Now she knew how to keep things together, but she needed alcohol.
1:00:54•21 Nov 2023
From Darkness to Light: A Nurse's Battle with Addiction and Her Path to Sobriety
Episode Overview
- Julie's struggle with obsessive thoughts and anxiety led her to alcohol as a coping mechanism.
- Despite excelling in her nursing career, Julie's addiction to alcohol and drugs persisted.
- Her journey through recovery, marked by relapses, underscores the complexities of addiction.
- Julie's work in hospice care and her successful TikTok channel embody the transformative power of sobriety.
- Her story serves as a beacon of hope, resilience, and the courage to change.
“I walked into meetings wound up and feeling like I wanted to drink and I would leave there like I could breathe again.”
Julie McFadden's story is one of resilience, hope, and transformation. Growing up in the 80s, Julie's childhood seemed normal on the surface, but she was constantly battling obsessive thoughts and anxiety. These internal struggles led to a search for relief, which she found at 13 in alcohol. This became her go-to tool to manage her anxiety, setting her on a path of dependence that would follow her into adulthood.
College saw her juggling daily heroin use with her studies, all while maintaining an outward appearance of control. Despite kicking heroin, Julie's problems didn't vanish; they simply shifted to alcohol and other drugs as she pursued a career in nursing. The facade of 'keeping it together' began to crack as her substance use escalated, leading her to California in search of a fresh start. Julie's journey through recovery was far from linear.
It was marked by relapses, moments of desperation, and the eventual realization that she couldn't continue living this way. Her turning point came with the support of a 12-step program, which helped her navigate the complexities of addiction and find a path to sobriety. Today, Julie is not just a hospice nurse but also a successful TikTok creator, using her platform to educate others about death and dying while sharing her story of recovery.
Her journey underscores the power of seeking help and the possibility of finding light even in the darkest times.
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