Alysse Bryson: Person of the Week

Alysse Bryson is a strong woman in long-term recovery, an innovative media maven, marketing guru, public speaker, and gal about town. With her humorous outlook on life and fierce determination to succeed, Alysse has made a significant impact in the world of media and modern day sobriety.

https://thesobercurator.com

Q. If you are in recovery, what was your drug(s) of choice and when is your sobriety date?

A. My sobriety date is 05.01.2006
Vodka and cocaine were my vices specifically. But I was never that picky, so anything booze and drug related went into my system when given the opportunity.

Q. Is there anything special in your sobriety toolkit that helps keep you sober?

A. My higher power, which I choose to call God or the “Big Guy Upstairs.”
One of my sponsees calls her higher power Greg, and I think that’s really funny.

Q. Do you think addiction is an illness, disease, a choice, or a wicked twist of fate?

A. I believe it’s a progressive disease and that once a cucumber becomes a pickle, it can’t ever go back to being a cucumber again.

Q. Where are you from and where do you reside now?

A. Born and raised in Washington State. Shout-out to the Emerald City!

Q. What is one word you would use to describe yourself?

A. Creative.

Q. Describe how you came to your “rock bottom” point.

A. It wasn’t like something significant happened on my last weekend of drinking. At least, not in comparison to some really tragic things that happened over the years of my drinking and drugging career. (I started at 16 and stopped at 30). I was given the gift of desperation and realized I was on the brink of losing everything. It also became really obvious to me not what I was losing, but what I wasn’t able to gain due to my substance abuse.

Q. If you ever retire, would you prefer to live by the ocean, lake, river, mountaintop, desert, or penthouse?

A. Put me in a fancy house on the Washington or Oregon coast. #GooniesNeverSayDie.

Q. How do you measure success?

A. By the number of people I’m able to help.

Q. If you had an extra million dollars, which charity would you donate it to?

A. The Recovery Cafe + The Residency – both organizations based in Seattle, WA, that I’ve had the opportunity to volunteer with for over a decade.

Q. If you could give advice to your younger self what would it be?

A. You will never believe what kind of future lies ahead, girl. Don’t give up. You’ve got to keep going. The best is yet to come.

Q. What major event or realization shaped who you are?

A. I had emergency heart surgery at the age of 40 and ten years sober. Nearly dying really changes your perspective on what and who is important in your life. It also shapes how you want to spend your time.

Q. What do you love most about living sober?

A. My memories. I actually have them now, and there are so many good ones to choose from.

Q. Which part of your treatment and recovery do you feel was the most interesting or unexpected?

A. Long-term sobriety, with no days off, is where it’s at. Your problems become so much classier than they used to be, and you become so much more comfortable in your own skin.

Q. What is your Astrological sign?

A. Cancer.

Q. Who is your favorite celebrity in recovery?

A. Oh there are so many that I respect for recovering out loud. To name a few: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Lamott, and Brené Brown.

Q. What books are you reading now?

A. Anthony Hopkins “We Did Okay, Kid.”

Q. If you were giving a dinner party for your 3 favorite authors, living or dead, who would they be?

A. Anne Lamott, Brené Brown, and Drew Barrymore.

Q. Which film have you watched the most?

A. 28 Days with Sandra Bullock.

Q. What book would you most like to see turned into a movie or TV show that hasn’t already been adapted?

A. I would like to see 28 Days the Sequel – And Sandra Bullock’s kid goes to rehab.

Q. Are you binge watching any TV series?

A. Just finished Imperfect Women and Paradise (Season 2).

Q. What is your favorite App?

A. Claude, Instagram, TikTok, and Splice (for editing videos).

Q. Who is your favorite performer, living or dead?

A. Elton John.

Q. What are some of the most memorable songs in your life?

A. Chumbawamba Tubthumper is my life long theme song.

Q. What is your favorite city?

A. Seattle.

Q. What are five things you always carry with you?

A. Sunglasses, glass cleaner wipes, spray hand sanitizer, at least one teletie, orange mint lifesavers.

Q. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

A. Getting sober and raising my son as a single mom – he’s 29 now.

Q. Where do you go when you’re seeking solitude?

A. Creating content (usually writing) or crafting (usually bedazzling something).

Q. When did you realize you were a grown-up?

A. Wait. WHAT? I have to grow up?

Q. How important are your pets to you?

A. I am a dog owner. I currently own a chubby Boston Terrier Frenchie mix named Bella, who looks like a baby cow. We lost her sister, a Boston Terrier, Roxie almost two years ago now and I think about her every day.