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Episode 33: Drink Like a Gentleman? Understanding Relapse and Emotional Sobriety

Relapse doesn’t always begin with a needle or a pill—it often starts with a lie.

In this raw and revealing episode, Jason Coombs shares the gripping story behind his most devastating relapse, just days after graduating drug court. What should have been a victory lap became the gateway to a nine-month spiral of cocaine, heroin, and despair. Based on Chapter 33 of his book Unhooked, this episode breaks down the deceptive nature of “milestones,” the dangerous idea of “drinking like a gentleman,” and why emotional sobriety matters just as much—if not more—than physical sobriety.

Whether you’re walking alongside an addicted loved one or navigating your own recovery, this episode offers deep insight into the relapse cycle, emotional ambivalence, and the hidden inner battles that can derail even the most determined individuals.

In this episode:

• Jason’s relapse after drug court graduation and why milestones can be misleading
• How rationalizations like “drugs were the problem, not alcohol” pave the road to relapse
• The concept of emotional sobriety—and why clean time isn’t the whole picture
• What families need to understand about the Stages of Change and relapse
• “Grace’s” Christmas Eve relapse and how it helped her commit to sobriety
• The Four C’s of family awareness and Seven Steps to Surrender
• How to love someone without losing yourself in their chaos
• And the moment of divine intervention that changed everything

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why did they relapse?” or felt paralyzed by fear, guilt, or confusion, this episode is for you.

Grab Jason’s book Unhooked on Amazon or Audible.

Learn more about Brick House Recovery at brickhouserecovery.com.

Register for Live UNHOOKED to reclaim your clarity, your strength, and your sanity starting today!

JOIN the next FREE Webclass at liveunhooked.com
For more information on treatment services, check out brickhouserecovery.com

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In this solo episode, Jason unpacks one of the most transformative frameworks for families who love someone struggling with addiction—and feel like nothing they’ve tried is working. If you’ve ever said “Why don’t they just stop?” or found yourself rescuing your loved one (again) despite your best intentions, this episode is for you.

Jason walks you through:

• What’s really happening in the addicted brain (and why logic doesn’t work)
• How to spot the Stages of Change—and why it matters
• Why “just one area of resistance” can derail the whole recovery process
• How to set boundaries without abandoning your heart
• The difference between enabling and empowering
• What it means to take your life back... even if your loved one isn’t ready

This episode is especially powerful for the family member who’s exhausted, discouraged, and wondering if hope is even still possible. It is.

📌 Highlights:

• [00:31] Reconsidering what you think you know about addiction
• [04:18] The "lightbulb moment" from Jason’s client and mentor story
• [07:03] The Stages of Change explained (in real language)
• [21:24] Why rescuing blocks internal motivation
• [25:35] Practicing “Vitamin N” (No) and emotional integrity
• [30:07] Jason’s 30-minute “vow of silence” challenge to reconnect with your larger story

🔑 Key Takeaway: Natural consequences aren’t punishment—they’re one of the only things strong enough to wake up a brain that’s been hijacked by addiction. When you stop rescuing and start aligning with reality, you not only create space for their transformation—you start experiencing your own.

💬 Listener Love:
“This episode helped me realize I’ve been stuck in my own stage of change around enabling. It gave me permission to let go, and a framework to do it with peace.” —Podcast listener

📘 Resources:

• Read Jason’s book Unhooked on Amazon
  or listen on Audible
• Explore the Live Unhooked experience at brickhouserecovery.com
  
  
• Join the Brick House Recovery community for ongoing support and tools

Register for Live UNHOOKED to reclaim your clarity, your strength, and your sanity starting today!

JOIN the next FREE Webclass at liveunhooked.com
For more information on treatment services, check out brickhouserecovery.com

Send us a text

In this raw and deeply personal episode, Jason Coombs shares the sacred moment that changed the trajectory of his life—from self-destruction in active addiction to becoming a man with purpose. Through the emotional lens of his son Nathan’s birth, Jason unpacks the concept of “the gift of volition”—that pivotal shift when internal motivation finally replaces external pressure.

Whether you’re someone struggling with addiction or a family member watching someone you love spiral, this episode will move you. You’ll hear the story of a man who relapsed on his way to a family trip, got a text that he was going to be a father, and spiraled deeper before finally choosing a new path. A path rooted not in fear, but in purpose.

You’ll learn why love alone isn’t enough to save someone—and why families can’t force change, but they can prepare the soil for it. Jason offers profound insight into the power of spiritual surrender, the role of purpose in healing shame, and how relapse isn’t failure—it’s part of the process for many.

This isn’t just a story about addiction. It’s a story about transformation. It’s for anyone clinging to the hope that something more is possible.

Episode Highlights:

• The Bear Lake relapse and the birth of internal conflict
• The life-altering text message: “She’s pregnant—and the baby is yours”
• The NICU visit that sparked a sacred shift
• What Jason means by “the gift of volition” and why it’s the key to lasting change
• Why family love matters—but isn’t the whole equation
• Finding God’s unconditional love through fatherhood
• Why relapse doesn’t mean failure—it means the person is still in process
• A powerful closing metaphor: Why families are farmers, not saviors

If you’re a family member who’s tried everything to help someone get sober—this episode is for you. And if you’re struggling yourself, it’s a reminder that if you’re still breathing, there’s still hope.

📘 Get Jason’s book Unhooked on Audible or Amazon

🌐 Learn more at brickhouserecovery.com

Register for Live UNHOOKED to reclaim your clarity, your strength, and your sanity starting today!

JOIN the next FREE Webclass at liveunhooked.com
For more information on treatment services, check out brickhouserecovery.com