“At Rock I’m getting to talk to people and come to an understanding of what each of the twelve steps means.” -Darell
Today, Ben and I are chatting with Darell, who served 13 years in the United States Air Force as an EOD. We talk about his challenges post-service in the military and his progression of alcoholism through childhood, the military, and how he found solutions to his addiction when he returned to civilian life.
Darell’s History with Alcohol
Growing up in New York, Darell can’t remember when alcohol wasn’t in his home. His first memory of his grandfather around the age of three was giving him tobacco to chew. So Darell spits it out, and his grandfather gave him a beer to wash it down.
Growing up on a farm, he always had early morning farm chores with his siblings. His older sister would drink beer with his dad after chores in the morning. In addition to the morning alcohol at age five, he also remembers large parties at his farm where his parents would truck in kegs of liquor.
Addicted to Alcohol as a Teen
At 14, Darell was an addict, inviting friends over for drinking parties. “Once I started my goal was to get blackout drunk.” He refused to stop drinking, and as his disease progressed through his teen years, he came to a point where he would drink an entire bottle in one night.
Joining the Air Force as an Alcoholic
Darell says, “I wanted to get away from where I was because everyone was on their second or third DUI.” He realized that this was where he was headed if he didn’t change his environment. Since many of his family members had positive experiences in the military, Darell thought this would be an excellent way to sober up and reclaim his life.
“For me it was a no-brainer just do what you’re told and you’ll get through this,” he says of his first days in the military. His job was to dispose of explosives and other weapons in his unit. He spent three tours abroad, disarming bombs in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Listen in and find out how Darell was able to get alcohol while on tour, why being in the military didn’t stop him from drinking, and why he decided to quit drinking.
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Show Notes:
[01:40] Growing up with alcohol on a farm in New York.
[04:30] Starting his alcohol addiction at age 12.
[10:00] Addiction norms depending on your culture and location.
[15:26] Ben’s inability to stop drinking while addicted.
[18:35] How different people get into alcoholism.
[20:11] Why Darell decided to join the Air Force.
[25:57] His job and the responsibilities that came along with ammunition disposal.
[27:52] How Darell was able to acquire alcohol while on tour in Afghanistan.
[33:37] His exit from the military and circumstances leading to his medical discharge.
[37:09] The diagnosis of PTSD and how that led him to medical treatment.
[45:01] Transitioning from military to civilian life.
[49:00] Changes that happened when he exited the military.
[53:30] What’s different for Darell now that he has his second round of sobriety.
Episode Links and Resources
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Find out more about Al-Anon and how this resource can support your family
Ideas for a show? Email us tom@realrecoverytalk.com and ben@realrecoverytalk.com
Podcast editing and show notes by Pro Podcast Solutions
154 - Vince has been to 10+ treatment centers - What will be different this time?
153 - Nick's first time in treatment - What happened and what he hopes for in the future
152 - What we have to look forward to when getting SOBER!
151 - We have to be able to make decisions for ourselves!
150 - Measuring Progress While In Addiction Treatment
149 - What we have seen with Covid-19 up to this point
148 - Tony shares his experience with addiction- His first time in treatment and where he wants to go in the future
147 - 3 statements that we HATE hearing from people in early recovery
146 - Patricia shares what can happen if you take ALL of the suggestions given to you while in treatment - 7 months of QUALITY SOBRIETY!
145 - Mitchell talks about the biggest downfalls he has faced getting sober - Where he has failed and how he has recovered
144 - Importance of sponsorship and why you might want to do the work the first time - with John S.
143 - 3 Biggest Challenges in Early Sobriety
142 - How to know if I am going to a good Treatment Center or not?
141 - Sean Shares Some Experience, Strength and HOPE!!!
140 - SET SOME FRIGGIN BOUNDARIES! PLEASE!
139 - Maggie from Pittsburgh talks sobriety, and what she had to go through to get to where she is today!
138 - The importance of sober networks and community - Chris and Dakota share their sobriety wins!
137 - Aftercare and Post Treatment Success for Sobriety
136 - I need to go back to treatment but I feel too much shame
135 - COVID-19 and how it has affected us in recovery
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