Andy Benckart: Leaning Into Extremes to Find the Middle Ground

Rise Recover Live

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#83: Andy Benckart (he/him) developed a love and passion for surfing from a young age. He recalls traveling throughout his childhood from his home in landlocked-Pittsburgh to coastal Long Island to surf. While the ocean was "his first addiction," he later found alcohol in high school and it became the crutch for his underlying anxiety. Surfing was the part of him that he loved so much but lost during his addiction. Now he's a sober cold water surfer and surfing has become a form of his recovery. Check out the episode to hear more of Andy's story, including:
- What it's like to get sober as a young person, which both Bryce and Andy relate to.
- The day Andy woke up with a moment of clarity and decided he wanted to change.
- His first year of sobriety, and how he tried to "white knuckle" his way through recovery.
- Knowing how to find the middle ground, and why he practices extreme self-care so that he can live an extreme life.
- Why it's important to him to say he's been in recovery for 6 years and sober for 4 years.
- How surfing has taught him to be authentic, present, and let go, and recovery has helped him understand this.
- Why it's critical to find things that teach you about life and how to accept what you cannot control.
- Andy's wisdom: fear is not the end all be all of our human experience.
To hear more from Andy, check out his Instagram @steelcitysurfer
Check out the Rise Recover Live episode Tips for Traveling in Recovery!
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If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health or substance use related crisis, the following resources can provide immediate help.*
If you are experiencing a medical/mental health emergency, dial 911.

• Dial 988 for the SAMSHA Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Available 24/7
• Text “HOME” to 741-741 for the NAMI Crisis Text Line. Available 24/7
• Dial 1-800-622-2255 to connect with a nearby treatment center & community resources through NCADD Hope Line. Available 24/7
• Call/text 1-844-326-5400 for The GSCA CARES Warm Line. Answered by Certified Addiction Recovery Empowerment Specialists with lived experience of SUD. Available any day of the year, 8:30am-11pm EST

*Note: The resources listed are provided for informational purposes only. This list is not comprehensive and does not constitute an endorsement by The Phoenix or the Rise Recover Live Podcast.

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