Brilliant Doctor, Bad Choices (Dr. Lisa Stanton): Episode 8

“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

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Get her book: 52 Life Lessons I Learned in Recovery

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