One on One With Coach Blu: Finding ConfidenceOne on One With Coach Blu: Finding Confidence
Addict II Athlete Podcast
Coach Blu and Marissa respond to community questions about confidence, work, "California sober", and parenting in recovery, while Donnell shares a moving update from treatment about EMDR, CBT and accepting that healing is ongoing. The conversation blends humour, realism and practical tools for people rebuilding their lives after addiction.
53:56•2 Apr 2021
Finding Confidence After Addiction: Jobs, "California Sober" and Donnell’s Fresh Start
Episode Overview
- Confidence after addiction grows through practice, preparation and allowing yourself to feel "rusty" without labelling yourself a failure.
- Self-honesty is crucial: using substances to get high while calling it sober can create confusion and undermine recovery goals.
- EMDR and cognitive behavioural therapy can help process trauma, shift thinking patterns and reduce the emotional weight driving relapse.
- Recovery does not end at discharge; you are not suddenly "healed" when treatment finishes, so ongoing coping skills and support are essential.
- Parents rebuilding trust with children can use simple outdoor activities, flexibility and meaningful conversation to show consistent commitment.
“I don’t have to be, well, not only do I not have to be, but I’m not going to be healed when I leave treatment.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This Q&A sit-down with Coach Blu and Marissa brings that question to life with practical advice, honest stories, and a good dose of humour. The conversation kicks off with the Addict II Athlete community itself – races, cycling teams, and Patreon supporters who literally show up in their champion gear. It quickly shifts into real-life recovery questions, starting with someone panicking about a job interview after addiction.
Coach Blu and Marissa talk through that familiar feeling of being "rusty", using Marissa’s own return-to-work story to show how confidence comes back with practice, preparation, and a bit of “fake it till you become it”. They also tackle the controversial idea of being "California sober". Rather than shaming anyone, they stress self-honesty: if substances are still being used to get high, calling it sober can be misleading.
Blu shares why that approach simply wouldn’t work for him, especially as a parent who doesn’t want to miss his children’s lives through another haze. The emotional heart of the conversation comes when long-time team member Donnell calls in from a treatment centre in Idaho.
She talks about choosing a place that offers EMDR and cognitive behavioural therapy, meeting her inner child, and learning that, "I don’t have to be – and I’m not going to be – healed when I leave treatment." Instead, she’s focusing on new coping skills, accepting her emotions instead of fighting them, and working with a diagnosis of dependent personality disorder.
To round things off, Marissa shares simple recreational therapy ideas for parents in early recovery: spring break hikes, trust games like "hug a tree", and conversation starters that help rebuild trust with kids through consistent follow-through. If you’re rebuilding your life, wondering how to regain confidence, or questioning what recovery actually looks like day to day, there’s plenty here to chew on – what part of your own story are you ready to rewrite?
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