454 From Special Forces to Alcoholism: How A Stranger Saved Drew's Life

454 From Special Forces to Alcoholism: How A Stranger Saved Drew's Life

0:00

What happens when the uniform comes off and you have no idea who you are underneath it?

Today I sit down with Drew LaBoon, a retired 17-year Army veteran who served in special operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. He has been sober since 2019 and now works at Warriors Heart, a treatment program for veterans and first responders. Drew joined the Army at 17. When he retired, he had an undiagnosed traumatic brain injury, untreated post-traumatic stress and moral injury. Within months he was drinking 24 hours a day. He became homeless, sat through his darkest nights in a VA parking lot, and lost nearly everyone who loved him before a prayer in church finally cracked something open.

Drew's story is about the people who "stand in the gap" for us, sometimes without ever knowing it. It's also about rebuilding an identity from the inside out. And it's about the surprising freedom in learning to stay out of your own way.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why access to care, not stigma, is now the biggest barrier for veterans looking for help

• How to separate who you are from what you do, and why it matters in recovery

• What it means to "stay out of the way" and let your life unfold

• The difference between going to meetings and actually working a program

• How to find a 12-step group that feels like home

So without further delay, please enjoy this episode, and let me know what you think!

SHOW NOTES:

Guest Website: https://www.warriorsheart.com/

👊🏼Need help applying this information to your own life?

Here are 3 ways to get started:

🎁Free Guide: 30 Tips for Your First 30 Days - With a printable PDF checklist