Addiction: When the Mask Stops Working

What if your superpower was secretly destroying your life?

Ian Fee spent decades thinking alcohol was his key to connection – his edge in business and relationships. He built a successful career, a massive network, and a party-filled life that looked like everything was working. But beneath the surface, he was numb, disconnected, and silently unraveling.

Everything changed on the third day of rehab, when a moment of clarity hit: if he wasn't right with himself, nothing else would ever be right. That spark ignited a complete shift. Since then, Ian's found deeper purpose through daily routines, emotional healing, and a strong core of support. He's sharing his story not just to reflect, but to help others know it's never too late to change your life.

Takeaways:

1. A moment of emotional awakening in rehab changed Ian's direction for good
2. He learned to replace numbing with daily healing practices like journaling, meditation, and cold plunges
3. His transformation was possible because he built a small, trusted circle of support who saw every version of him

Topics Discussed:

1. Why he believed alcohol was the key to his professional success
2. The emotional suppression that followed decades of drinking
3. Entering rehab and hitting a breaking point
4. The role of his "core four" in keeping him grounded
5. Creating daily rituals to feel better, not just function
6. How sharing vulnerably helped him reclaim his story
7. The ripple effect of helping others through his book

Websites:

makeitgreat.me – Ian's personal site with merch and info

Amazon – The Wild Ride to Sobriety by Ian Fee

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Mentioned in this episode:

Available Now: "still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything"

This episode is brought to you by *still HERE: True Stories of the Moments That Changed Everything* by Matt Gilhooly. Matt is the creator and host of The Life Shift Podcast. Over four years and more than 240 episodes, he has sat with strangers and asked them about the moments that changed everything. *still HERE* is what he found. Over 100 true stories. Eight sections. One listener making sense of what it all means for the rest of us. Available now in Kindle and paperback on Amazon. Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Still-Here-Stories-Moments-Everything/dp/1639011854/ If you read it and it moves you, an honest review on Amazon helps more people find it.