Steven R Emotional Sobriety 04-14-26

Steven R Emotional Sobriety 04-14-26

Curious about how others manage their sobriety journey? This UK Cocaine Anonymous meeting features Stephen Rood from Austin, Texas, sharing 18 years of experience with what he calls "emotional sobriety" and why cocaine was never his problem, only his solution.

Stephen speaks straight from the AA Big Book, especially page 52, to examine what he calls his "current unmanageability." Instead of treating addiction as just a substance issue, he talks about a "spiritual malady" and how self-will, ego, and untreated alcoholism keep sneaking back into daily life. You’ll hear him ask blunt questions of himself: am I currently having trouble with personal relationships? Am I controlling my emotional nature?

Am I slipping into misery and depression because self-will has failed… again? He breaks emotional sobriety down into very practical checks: how he relates to work, whether he remembers who he really works for, how quickly he falls into victim mode, or starts fault-finding and gossiping.

There’s plenty here for anyone who likes structured recovery: Stephen walks through step 10 and step 11 in detail, talking about watching thoughts for selfishness, resentment, dishonesty and fear, and using short, simple prayers to hand that over to a higher power. He also keeps things honest and a bit funny, describing himself as a "buffoon" at times and stressing that self can’t fix self.

The emphasis is less on perfection and more on daily practice, regular inventory, and staying close to others who won’t co-sign the stories that keep you stuck. If you’re sober, newly clean, or still wrestling with the idea of a higher power, this talk offers a grounded, Big Book–based look at how emotional sobriety can mean neutrality, freedom from fear, and a life centred around helping others. What might your own “current level of unmanageability” be saying to you today?