“My intellect was my greatest obstacle to getting sober.”

Dr. Lisa Stanton is the brilliant doctor who made a lot of bad choices. In some ways, she was too smart for her own good. Too smart to get sober, as she says. Until it all caught up with her. In this honest conversation, she opens up about her spiral into alcoholism that began in high school and accelerated through college and into getting her PhD. She details an eating disorder, perfectionism, trauma, and the endless quest for approval. Lisa’s credentials are impressive—PhD in social psychology, researcher, author—but they masked a painful, chaotic double life. And yet, this is not a story of defeat. It’s one of grace and how Jesus meets us in our darkest moments.

We talk about family dynamics, childhood trauma, substance abuse, forgiveness, and the unique intersection of female addiction and sexual approval. Most importantly, we talk about Jesus—and what happens when the head finally surrenders to the heart.

Don't miss this one. And be sure to come back next week for part two, where we explore Lisa’s practical tools for recovery and the lessons that changed her life.

We explore:

—Growing up with perfectionism and emotional bypassing
—Her first drink: 12 ounces of whiskey measured in a Pyrex cup
—Blackout Lisa vs. perfect Lisa: a life of hidden chaos
—The trauma of sexual approval and body image issues
—Academic achievement as a mask for addiction
—The power of accountability and confession
—The five-day binge that led to a spiritual breaking point
—How Jesus used a crucifix in a Catholic church to meet her
—Why sobriety alone isn’t enough—and what true healing takes

Subscribe to Lisa's newsletter: Things on My Heart

Get her book: 52 Life Lessons I Learned in Recovery

Follow Lisa on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drlisastanton 

Follow Jon: https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/

Order the new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic: www.christianalcoholic.com.

Watch this episode and get daily motivation: www.theveritasdaily.com.

&ldquo;My intellect was my greatest obstacle to getting sober.&rdquo;
Dr. Lisa Stanton is the brilliant doctor who made a lot of bad choices. In some ways, she was too smart for her own good. Too smart to get sober, as she says. Until it all caught up with her. In this honest conversation, she opens up about her spiral into alcoholism that began in high school and accelerated through college and into getting her PhD. She details an eating disorder, perfectionism, trauma, and the endless quest for approval. Lisa&rsquo;s credentials are impressive&mdash;PhD in social psychology, researcher, author&mdash;but they masked a painful, chaotic double life. And yet, this is not a story of defeat. It&rsquo;s one of grace and how Jesus meets us in our darkest moments.
We talk about family dynamics, childhood trauma, substance abuse, forgiveness, and the unique intersection of female addiction and sexual approval. Most importantly, we talk about Jesus&mdash;and what happens when the head finally surrenders to the heart.
Don't miss this one. And be sure to come back next week for part two, where we explore Lisa&rsquo;s practical tools for recovery and the lessons that changed her life.
We explore:
&mdash;Growing up with perfectionism and emotional bypassing &mdash;Her first drink: 12 ounces of whiskey measured in a Pyrex cup &mdash;Blackout Lisa vs. perfect Lisa: a life of hidden chaos &mdash;The trauma of sexual approval and body image issues &mdash;Academic achievement as a mask for addiction &mdash;The power of accountability and confession &mdash;The five-day binge that led to a spiritual breaking point &mdash;How Jesus used a crucifix in a Catholic church to meet her &mdash;Why sobriety alone isn&rsquo;t enough&mdash;and what true healing takes
Subscribe to Lisa's newsletter:&nbsp;<a href="https://thingsonmyheart.substack.com">Things on My Heart</a>
Get her book: <a href="https://a.co/d/b2fKcfQ">52 Life Lessons I Learned in Recovery</a>
Follow Lisa on Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/drlisastanton">https://www.instagram.com/drlisastanton</a>&nbsp;
Follow Jon: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/">https://www.instagram.com/jonseidl/</a>
Order the new book,&nbsp;Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.christianalcoholic.com">www.christianalcoholic.com</a>.
Watch this episode and get daily motivation: <a href="https://www.theveritasdaily.com/">www.theveritasdaily.com</a>.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit christianalcoholic.com for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian alcoholic" (based on the book by the same title) is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts. The show features interviews with fellow addicts and alcoholics as well as professionals in the fields of trauma, faith, and addiction recovery. Because let's be honest, we're all addicted to something. "Confessions" is a place for the desperate, the downtrodden, the destitute, and especially, the drunk. But it's also a place of hope and healing. Jon found sobriety after decades of struggling, but more importantly than finding sobriety, he found Jesus. In every episode, he gets radically vulnerable as he explores what it looks like to be on this journey of messy sanctification. Visit <a href="http://christianalcoholic.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://christianalcoholic.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1747239325727000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1G-752Q-1dyjq6GN5gt7xw">christianalcoholic.com</a> for more resources.

Jon Seidl is the bestselling Christian author who became an alcoholic, not the other way around. It's usually the other way around. Or is it? "Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic" is all about real stories, radical vulnerability, and remarkable comebacks of people who have struggled with alcoholism and addictions of all sorts.