This week on dopey! We are joined by Allegra Okarmus! She gets into the super nitty gritty of her experiences of drugs, addiction and dumb shit! Daughter of a Christian Scientist Mother and Soprano's Actor Father(he played Tony's dad - Johnny Boy on thje show) Allegra ran the gamut of all things Dopey! From getting kicked out of Mountainside for romance - to her connection to Chris, her overcome serious sexual trauma, debilitating drug addiction to managing the continuing care program for Mountainside her journey had it all! PLUS voicemails, emails, celebration and more this week on a brand new fucked up episode of that good old Dopey show!
Emilia's Notes:
- kicked out of mountainside
- chris's facebook messages
- vape built into the dash of a truck
- mdma
- mom's religion
- sexual assault, sexual trauma
- xanax blackouts
- accidental k-hole
- outdoing her friends with drugs
- sex for heroin
- boyfriend's seizures, selling heroin on craigslist
- arrested for shoplifting
- pulled a knife on her boyfriend
- robbing tourists
- sponsoring
- relapse without drugs
- reminiscing about mountainside
- faltering recovery
- dad's death
- sober parenting
AI's Notes:
Summary: In this episode of Dopey, Dave talks about upcoming events and shares stories from listeners. He also interviews Allegra O'Karmis, a manager of Continuing Care at Mountainside Recovery. They discuss Allegra's journey to recovery and her role in helping clients transition from residential treatment to aftercare. The conversation touches on the importance of continuing care and the challenges of staying sober after treatment. Allegra shares her experiences of drug addiction and trauma, including instances of rape. She discusses her upbringing in a strict and religious household, her early experimentation with drugs, and her move to St. Thomas and later Tampa. Allegra reflects on her identity as a party girl and the role drugs played in her life. She also explores the complex emotions and confusion surrounding her experiences of rape. The chapter ends with Allegra being sent back to New York by her mother. In this part of the conversation, David Manheim discusses his descent into addiction and the challenges he faced during that time. He talks about his struggle with withdrawal, his use of various drugs, and the consequences of his addiction on his relationships and life. Eventually, he reaches a turning point and seeks help at a treatment center. In this final part of the conversation, David and Allegra discuss their experiences in recovery and the challenges they face as sober parents. They emphasize the importance of finding joy and replacing old behaviors with healthier ones. They also touch on the fear of relapse and the need for community and support. The episode ends with a cover of Dave's song 'Good So Bad' on the banjo by a listener named Jake.
KeywordsDopey, addiction, recovery, treatment, continuing care, Mountainside Recovery, drug addiction, trauma, rape, upbringing, experimentation, party girl, identity, addiction, withdrawal, drugs, heroin, cocaine, treatment, recovery, recovery, sober parenting, joy, replacing behaviors, fear of relapse, community, support
Takeaways
- Continuing care is an essential part of the recovery process, helping individuals transition from residential treatment to aftercare
- Treatment can provide support and structure, but it's what individuals do after treatment that determines their long-term sobriety
- The availability of free resources and support can vary, making it challenging for individuals to navigate their recovery journey
- Reading messages from deceased loved ones can be a way to process grief and feel connected to them
- Recovery is a personal journey, and what works for one person may not work for another The influence of upbringing and environment on drug addiction
- The complex emotions and confusion surrounding experiences of rape
- The role of drugs in shaping identity and relationships
- The impact of strict religious beliefs on personal choices and behaviors David's addiction led him to use various drugs, including opiates, cocaine, and ketamine.
- He experienced withdrawal symptoms and used other drugs to combat the sickness.
- His addiction affected his relationships and led to risky behavior, such as sleeping with others for drugs.
- David's father tried to intervene and get him help, but he resisted initially.
- Eventually, David reached a breaking point and sought treatment at a rehab center. Finding joy and replacing old behaviors with healthier ones is crucial in recovery.
- Being a sober parent comes with its own challenges, but putting oneself first is essential for being able to show up for the children.
- Having a community and support system is important in maintaining sobriety.
- The fear of relapse is a common concern, but staying connected to a recovery program can help prevent it.
- Sharing personal experiences and stories can provide hope and inspiration to others in recovery.
Titles
- Personalizing the Recovery Journey
- The Importance of Continuing Care in Recovery The Party Girl Persona: Drugs and Identity
- Navigating Trauma: Allegra's Experience of Rape The Descent into Addiction
- Intervention and Seeking Help Managing the Fear of Relapse
- The Challenges of Sober Parenting
Sound Bites
- "Treatment never was the answer for me, but I think it answers a lot of questions when you're there."
- "I struggle to feel feelings in general. I dissociate like nobody's business and I kind of love it because it's gotten me through life."
- "Continuing care is an essential part of the recovery process, helping individuals transition from residential treatment to aftercare."
- "I don't know if it's better to have been the victim of something, because I'm sure you did fucked up shit, too."
- "It's like all this talk about smoking really makes me want to have a cigarette."
- "I loved smoking. There's something wonderful about it."
- "I was more fucked up then. I was sober when I was yelling about, like that was me with my best thinking."
- "I started doing a lot of coke to try and combat the sickness because, you know, science."
- "So yeah, so I moved back into the apartment, luckily."
- "Time is the best commodity I can give you."
- "I didn't get where I am today in drug addict-wise because I didn't want to have fun."
- "Replacing the obsessive thinking and bad behavior with something else is key in recovery."
Chapters
00:00Introduction and Sponsor Message
09:21Celebrating Sobriety and Personal Achievements
16:04DopeyCon Contests and Announcements
25:06Sharing Dopey Stories and Listener Experiences
39:17Reflecting on Past Relationships and Loss
57:19Navigating Trauma
01:14:29The Party Girl Persona
01:25:58The Influence of Upbringing
01:38:18Risky Behavior and the Impact on Relationships
01:44:12Intervention and Seeking Help
02:44:11Finding Joy and Replacing Behaviors