S8E12 Some Pillars of Practice for Better Mental Health

S8E12 Some Pillars of Practice for Better Mental Health

How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This short episode of Red Roof Recovery offers a calm, honest look at one woman’s way of doing just that. Host and mindfulness mentor Tanya Mcintyre shares how alcohol and other substances shaped her life from childhood, when a secret shot from the liquor cabinet felt like an escape from family chaos, through decades of escalating use.

She talks about functioning on the surface – career, car, house, husband – while secretly “swimming in the river of denial” and drinking herself unconscious after a move to Spain. After repeated lapses, rehab, and 12-step meetings, she turns towards a secular, evidence-based approach through SMART Recovery, rooted in cognitive therapies. From there, she builds what she calls her “AAA formula for freedom” – three daily practices that help her stay free from addictions and quiet her inner critic.

First comes **Awareness**: noticing the “automatic negative thoughts – the ANTs” and using cognitive tools to “catch it, check it, and change it.” Then **Attention**: choosing to focus on what’s actually within her control, so she can soften the harsh internal story and replace it with thoughts that feel more comforting and motivating. Finally, **Acceptance**: a daily practice that inspired her to create a tool for unconditional acceptance of self, others, and life.

Tanya speaks directly to anyone dealing with anxiety, depression, or addiction, offering simple, repeatable practices rather than quick fixes. With a gentle dose of humour – “may your coffee, your heart, and your patience be strong” – and a sci‑fi wink, she wraps up with a reminder: “you are the force.” If you’re looking for small, practical mental health habits that fit into a busy day, this calm reflection might give you a new AAA to lean on.