Episode 43 | It’s Ok To Not Be Ok | The Recovery First Podcast with Mike ToddEpisode 43 | It’s Ok To Not Be Ok | The Recovery First Podcast with Mike Todd
The Recovery First Addiction Recovery Podcast by Freedom Recovery Services of Greenville
Mike Todd shares a candid look at feeling overwhelmed in recovery, emphasising that it’s okay to not be okay and to lean on faith and community. He discusses family stress, local recovery support, and the importance of honest connection, rest, and one-day-at-a-time living.
15:23•13 Oct 2021
It’s Ok To Not Be Ok: Mike Todd on Overwhelm, Faith, and Recovery Support
Episode Overview
- It’s okay to admit you’re struggling and to say, out loud, that you’re not okay.
- Sticking to simple principles like one day at a time, rest, and trusting a higher power can steady overwhelming days.
- Leaning on recovery networks, meetings, phone calls, and Zoom groups helps prevent isolation during tough times.
- Local recovery community organisations and peer support specialists can help people build recovery without leaving their home communities.
- Ethical recovery housing, backed by training and naloxone access, is vital for supporting people with substance use disorder safely.
“It’s okay to not be okay, right? I think that’s the name of the podcast.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This episode of The Recovery First Podcast sits with that question in a raw, honest way as host Mike Todd shares what it’s like when life feels like “everything is just coming at you all at once”. Rather than polished success stories, you’ll hear a candid check-in from Mike on a day when things simply aren’t okay.
His wife Renee is recovering from surgery on both hands, their rescue dogs need care, the men in their recovery programme need support, and his son is struggling with homelessness and mental illness in Los Angeles. Mike doesn’t pretend to have it all together; instead he leans into the simple truth: “It’s okay to not be okay, right?
Mike keeps it real with a mix of humour and honesty, joking about feeling like he’s “lost [his] behind somewhere out on I-95” and needing friends to help find it, while also grounding himself in core principles: one day at a time, 24 hours and rest, and the reminder that “God’s in control, and I ain’t God.” He also highlights the power of community – from home groups and Zoom meetings to peer support specialists and recovery community organisations – and pushes back on the idea that people must leave their hometowns for treatment, calling that “a bunch of bullcrap”.
I think that’s the name of the podcast.” The episode speaks directly to people in recovery who may be juggling family stress, health issues, finances, and anxiety, all while trying to stay sober. Later, he touches on the South Carolina Recovery Housing Association’s work getting naloxone into recovery housing and supporting ethical operators.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed in sobriety and wondered whether it’s okay to admit you’re struggling, this honest share might be the reminder you need to rest, reach out, and keep going. How could you give yourself permission today to say, “I’m not okay—and that’s okay”?
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