Healing Hidden Wounds: Trauma, Addiction & Recovery | Arlina Allen | The Recovery Vow Podcast

Today’s episode delivers an honest and deeply grounded conversation about recovery, trauma, and long-term healing.

Eric is joined by Arlina Allen, recovery coach, author, and podcast host, who shares her story of getting sober at 25 after years of childhood sexual abuse, family dysfunction, and emotional pain that shaped her relationship with alcohol, identity, and self-worth.

Arlina opens up about how early trauma and parental divorce created a deep sense of shame, powerlessness, and self-blame—patterns that later fueled addiction and destructive coping. She explains how trauma impacts the nervous system, why reactions are often “historical” rather than situational, and how unresolved pain shows up in relationships, anger, anxiety, and perfectionism.

With more than three decades of sobriety, Arlina reflects on the practices that supported her healing, including self-inventory, gratitude, mindfulness, and redefining her understanding of God in a way that felt safe, compassionate, and accessible. She also breaks down common misconceptions about 12-step recovery, the difference between meetings and the program, and why long-term sobriety requires ongoing spiritual and emotional maintenance.

This episode is a thoughtful exploration of what it means to heal from trauma, release shame-based beliefs, and build a life rooted in honesty, service, and personal responsibility.

On This Episode:
Arlina’s path to sobriety and early childhood trauma
How sexual abuse, neglect, and divorce shape addiction
Why emotional reactions are often tied to unresolved pain
The role of gratitude and mindfulness in recovery
Redefining God after religious wounds
Clarifying myths and misunderstandings about 12-step recovery

Connect with Arlina Allen:
Instagram: @arlinaallen
Book: The 12-Step Guide for Skeptics

Connect with Us:
Socials: @RecoveryVow
Website: recoveryvow.com
Email: recoveryvow@gmail.com

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