From Self-Doubt to Self-Trust: Transformative Stories

In this episode of Recovery: The Whole Enchilada, hosts Peg McDermott and co-host Heather Hageman explore trust as a foundational part of recovery—learning to become trustworthy, rebuilding trust with others, and trusting the process and a higher power. Heather shares how early sobriety began with “putting a plug in the jug,” showing up one day at a time, and recognizing when people aren’t safe, including a story of a friend pushing alcohol on her after she said she wasn’t drinking. Peg reflects on coming from a dysregulated home, struggling with self-trust and broken commitments, and rebuilding trust through small promises, honesty, and noticing bodily signals. They discuss evaluating congruence between words and actions, patterns, boundaries, grace, and making amends through changed behavior, ending with the idea that trust isn’t found—it’s practiced daily. 00:00 Welcome and Topic 00:53 Trust Starts Within 02:50 Boundaries and Triggers 05:22 Rebuilding Self Trust 09:09 Redefining Trust 11:04 Body Signals and Safety 13:32 Words Versus Actions 17:45 Amends and Being Trustworthy 18:55 Police Story Breakthrough 24:38 Trust the Process 28:39 Daily Practice and Closing