160: Kenneth 2.0 - The Frequent Flyer Who Finally Landed

Kenneth’s 476 Days Sober: Trauma, Rock Bottom, and Rebuilding a Life in Recovery | Rock Bottom with RyanIn this episode of Rock Bottom with Ryan, Ryan reunites with Kenneth, now 476 days sober, to revisit his long history of addiction beginning in early teens amid severe childhood trauma and sexual abuse, and major adult traumas including miscarriages, his wife’s HELLP syndrome and years of surgeries, raising a son with cerebral palsy and autism, divorcing after 24 years, and his father’s death from alcoholism. Kenneth describes decades of heavy alcohol and drug use, including cocaine, and reaching a suicidal low point after his partner ended their relationship, leaving him homeless and drinking every morning, even going to work intoxicated. After calling 988 and entering 90 days inpatient rehab plus nine months sober living/IOP, he embraced recovery work, therapy, meetings, and service, is preparing to sponsor, wrote a science-informed recovery handbook-style book, shares his sobriety publicly on Instagram, pursues speaking/TED goals, and plans to become an AOD counselor while focusing on presence, simplicity, and self-kindness.00:00 Marriage Breaking Point01:01 Love Without Liking01:13 Show Intro And Sponsor03:01 Kenneth Returns Update04:21 Early Addiction And Aces05:20 Abuse Masks And Survival07:14 Pregnancy Loss And Hellp09:09 Deck Tears Divorce Wait10:01 Father Alcoholic Death11:54 Trauma Intimacy Hypervigilance15:13 Perfectionism And Work Validation18:09 Functioning Alcoholic Routine20:05 Doc And Drug Use21:25 Seventh Time Rock Bottom23:05 Crisis Call And Rehab Choice24:40 Student Of Recovery Mantras26:14 Sponsorship Fear And Service28:01 Writing A Recovery Handbook31:16 Instagram Sobriety Journey33:40 Learning To Slow Down34:30 God Pause Simplicity35:39 Recovery Promises Realized36:12 Money Credit Patience38:14 New Job New Normal38:52 Counseling Full Circle40:11 Overthinking To Peace41:27 Solitude And Anxiety44:58 Neurodivergence Discovery50:31 Family Healing Fatherhood54:17 Book TED Gratitude58:41 Be Present Daily Practice01:00:34 Closing Thanks Signoff