More Than a Prayer: The Hard Work of Recovery
More Than a Prayer: The Hard Work of Recovery

The Gris Alves‘s Podcast Tales of Recovery

Gris Alves reflects on why recovery from addiction cannot be reduced to simple prayer, sharing stories from religious groups, family reactions and her own sobriety. She talks about the mix of therapy, somatic work, community and spiritual practice that supported her healing and ongoing commitment to a sober life.

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8:55•23 Apr 2026

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More Than a Prayer: Gris Alves on the Real Work of Recovery

Episode Overview

Addiction is linked to years of pain and often intergenerational trauma, so it cannot be resolved through prayer alone.
Effective recovery tends to involve multiple approaches, including therapy, somatic work, retreats, journalling and brain rewiring practices.
Community support is valuable, but it needs to be paired with personal commitment and a broader healing plan.
Family can either support sobriety or undermine it through minimising comments, pressure to drink, or mockery.
A deep spiritual practice, guided by others and sustained over time, can transform health, relationships and connection to life.

“"You can’t just say a prayer and stop this addiction… this is years and years of trauma, probably intergenerational trauma."”

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? In this candid episode of *Tales of Recovery*, Gris Alves talks honestly about why sobriety takes far more than a quick prayer or a couple of church meetings. Speaking from her own experience in faith-based recovery groups, Gris pushes back against the idea that addiction can be fixed overnight.

When someone asked if a woman in their group had “stopped doing drugs yet” after just two meetings, Gris fired back: “You can’t just say a prayer and stop this addiction… this is years and years of trauma, probably intergenerational trauma.” Across the episode, she lays out what recovery really looks like: therapy, somatic practices, retreats, journalling, community, and ongoing spiritual practice.

Prayer can be part of it, but as she puts it, “It’s very silly and naive to think that just say a prayer and all will be gone.” You’ll also hear her talk about family dynamics – both as powerful support and as a source of deep hurt. She shares how relatives tried to pressure her to drink, even joking at the dinner table about her sobriety.

Her boundary was crystal clear: “If you want me to burn your house down, go ahead and pour me that drink.” That blunt honesty shows just how serious she was about protecting her recovery. Gris describes sobriety as a “very deep spiritual process,” not a quick fix. Breathwork, mindfulness, spiritual retreats, and guidance from others all played a part in changing her relationship with herself, her body, and life itself.

The message is simple but strong: recovery is complex, human, and absolutely possible when you commit to the work and surround yourself with support. If you’ve ever been told to just “pray it away” or felt misunderstood by family, this conversation might help you feel less alone and more understood. What combination of support could your own healing deserve?

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