Childhood Trauma Leads to Multiple DUIs...Stopping Drinking Leaves Her Sober but Suicidal Until Working the Steps Finally Changes Her Life

Elisa Saunders looked like she had it all figured out. A successful teacher, put together, dependable. Nobody saw the drinking that started long before she ever stepped into a classroom, rooted in childhood trauma that set the stage for what came next.

For years she functioned. She showed up, she performed, she kept the mask on. Until two DUIs threatened the career she'd built her identity around, and the gap between who she appeared to be and who she actually was became impossible to ignore.

Getting sober wasn't the fix she thought it would be. She quit drinking but didn't work a program, and ended up suicidal while dry, proof that just removing the alcohol isn't the same as recovery. It wasn't until she started working the steps that things actually changed.

In this episode, Elisa talks about that turning point, and the deeper work that came after: learning to reparent herself and give herself the love she never got as a kid. She now works in treatment, helping others find their way through the same wreckage she climbed out of.

This is a conversation about the distance between appearing fine and actually being fine, and what it takes to close that gap for good.

Today's episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seasons ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠in Malibu. For over 18 years, Seasons has been a sanctuary for individuals seeking to reclaim their lives from addiction and mental health challenges. Our story began with a simple but profound vision: To create a luxurious sanctuary for individuals struggling with addiction or mental health issues, where they can receive the finest, evidence-based treatment in the world.

Built on Compassion, Driven by Excellence

What started as a small number of compassionate professionals has grown into one of the nation’s most respected luxury treatment centers. But growth has never meant losing sight of what matters most—the individual engaging with our therapists, one-on-one, taking the courageous first step toward healing.From the beginning, we understood that truly transformative treatment requires more than clinical protocols. It demands a personalized approach, led by the most qualified professionals, in an environment that nurtures the whole person. That’s why we’ve assembled a team where every primary therapist holds a Doctorate in Psychology - a distinction virtually unmatched in our field.Check out ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Seasons Malibu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ online or call 1-866-314-5160 for more information.

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See you next week!