Season 3 - Episode 18: My Chat with Sam Phillips

Sam Phillips is just days away from celebrating five years sober, but his journey to get here was anything but straightforward. Sam started drinking at just 13, discovering very quickly that alcohol could quiet the health anxiety and intrusive thoughts he’d been struggling with for years. What began as weekend drinking eventually progressed to daily alcohol use, cocaine and a cycle of addiction, sobriety and relapses that lasted for years. In this episode, Sam shares incredibly openly about his final relapse, the moment he realised he was giving up on his life, and the friend who quite literally waited for him outside a shop and asked: “Do you want some help now?” We also talk about the slightly bonkers challenge that became Dare to Dip - getting into the North Sea every single day for a year to raise awareness for mental health - and how cold water, honesty and connection became a huge part of Sam’s recovery. Nearly five years on, we talk about what long-term sobriety actually looks like: dealing with life without numbing it, finding healthier ways to cope, becoming a present dad, and learning that there is no single “right” way to recover. This is a conversation about addiction, mental health, relapse, connection and second chances, and what can happen when you decide to get back up one more time. Get in touch: Sam Instagram @dare\_to\_dip Abi 30 Days to Freedom - A Gentle Reset Available here - www.levelupsobrietycoaching.com/30-days-to-freedom-reset/ Instagram @levelup.withabi Email hello@levelupsobrietycoaching.co.nz Affiliate links:  Terps & Co. www.drinkterps.co.nz - enter code ABI20 for 20% off storewide I use Riverside.fm for my podcast editing software. Click the link below to find out more! https://www.riverside.fm/?utm\_campaign=campaign\_5&utm\_medium=affiliate&utm\_source=rewardful&via=abi My podcast episodes are hosted and distributed by Buzzsprout. Click the link below for a $20 Refer a Friend voucher (T&Cs apply) https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer\_id=2404910 Music from #Uppbeat https://uppbeat.io/t/tatami/in-motion License code: N5GLWPT8QQSRU7D2