Episode 19: Leading a meaningful life without alcohol with Shari Hampton

In this episode of the Stack'n'Days podcast, host Ray interviews Shari Hampton, who has been sober for eight years and runs a nonprofit called Served Up Sober that offers holistic services to marginalised communities. Shari is also a life and recovery coach and group facilitator. The episode covers a range of topics related to addiction and recovery, including personal experiences with addiction, cultural norms around alcohol consumption, overcoming addiction through a raw diet, and supporting loved ones through addiction struggles.

Personal history with alcohol and addiction 

Shari shares her personal history with alcohol and addiction, starting from her teenage years as a young, gay person trying to find a sense of community in the LGBTQ+ bar scene. 

Dependency on alcohol and cultural norms 

Sherri discusses how alcohol became a default mechanism for stress relief and sleep. She also explores the cultural norms and generational patterns that have normalized alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism within their BIPOC communities.

Trying to quit drinking  

Shari moved from San Diego to Indianapolis to make a change and shake off her addiction, but it turned out to be the worst seven or eight years of her life because she didn't work on herself. Shari had three DUIs and had to enter a program immediately upon moving to Minneapolis. She tried to find help through church and inpatient programs but just couldn't quit. She was able to string together nine months of sobriety but received a phone call from her dad that changed everything.

Bad news from Shari’s father 

One day, Shari’s father called her and told her he had three months to live. She felt justified in drinking and started drinking heavily again. She quit her job and moved back to California to be with her father. However, her father lived for four more years while she continued to drink heavily and wasted the time she had with him. She did get sober 3 months before he passed away though. Shari discusses her regret during her first year of sobriety, feeling like she wasted time with her father due to drinking. 

Overcoming addiction through holistic wellness

While Shari was home with her father she spent some time staying with psychiatrist and family friend Dr. Brewer. He put her on a raw diet and taught her the value of self-care through psychoanalysis, hypnosis, and meditation. 

Finding purpose and passion in sobriety 

Shari discusses how to find purpose and passion in sobriety, and how to identify the things that make life meaningful. She emphasizes the importance of tapping into one's passions and interests, and how alcohol can hinder one's ability to pursue those things. 

Coping with loss and sobriety 

Shari talks about how the deaths of several loved ones tested her sobriety. She was able to stay sober through her father's funeral because she wanted to honor him, but she didn't feel the same urge to drink during subsequent losses. She believes that the deaths of these special people in her life kept her sober because she couldn't chase death with a cocktail.

Navigating relapse in addiction recovery 

Shari says she views relapses in addiction recovery as opportunities for growth and information. She encourages clients to examine what may have triggered the relapse and use it as a way to plan for the future.

Shari’s details

Instagram: @iamsharihampton

Website: sharihampton.com

Contact the show:

Email: rdg@stackndays.com

Instagram and TikTok: @stackndays

Website: stackndays.com