Finding Sobriety, Strength, and Hope as an “Alcoholic in Long-Term Recovery”

This week’s podcast episode features one of our Recovery.com cohosts, Cliff McDonald. Cliff is the Chief Growth Officer at Recovery.com and identifies as an alcoholic in long-term recovery. In this episode, Cliff shares his recovery story and details his path as a successful entrepreneur, former Wall Street businessman, coach, father, and mentor.

“A Ticking Time Bomb”

Cliff was raised in a robust Irish Catholic drinking culture. His father, a Boston police officer and professional boxer, and his grandfather, a decorated World War II veteran, both drank heavily.

Alcohol was a staple at family gatherings. Even as a child, Cliff had “sips of beer” and, on occasion, Jameson whiskey. By 13, Cliff had not only gotten used to alcohol, but had begun anticipating opportunities to drink.

“I had this other life where I was getting severely intoxicated with my friends starting at 13 years old. And that was a secret,” Cliff says. “That remained a secret for a long time, until it didn’t. I experienced, wholeheartedly, the progressive nature of this disease.”

Cliff played football in high school and later at Dartmouth College, where he sank deeper into fraternity party culture and heavy drinking. His once-stellar grades began to drop.

It was during this time that Cliff noticed he drank more than everyone else, and seemed far more reliant on alcohol, especially during the football off-season.

After college, Cliff followed many of his peers to Wall Street, where he built a successful career. He later married and moved to Madison, Wisconsin, where he opened and ran several Irish pubs.

Then, Cliff’s father passed away at just 55 years old, a death Cliff suspects was related to alcohol.

The slow-burning fuse became a racing flame.

Gradual Descent to a Public Rock Bottom

As Cliff navigated the grief of losing his father, the pressures of business ownership, and the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood, drinking shifted from a habit to a necessity.

He expanded his career beyond the pubs by taking on a COO role at another company. But when he traveled back to check on the bars, what began as a routine beer turned into a beer and a shot.

“So these little changes, right, over time,” Cliff explains. “Then came the next phase—real chaos—for about 18 months to two years, when I became severely alcoholic.”

After having one too many drinks at a company party, Cliff was let go.

In 2018, he entered rehab for the first time, but checked himself out after just 14 days. His counselor told him he’d see him again.

Cliff recalls, “I went home to Madison and had 90 days of sobriety. Brutal sobriety. No meetings. No sponsor. Just white-knuckling it. After 90 days, I decided it would be okay to have a drink.”

Wading Through The Mire

That drink marked the beginning of a darker chapter. Cliff’s wife made it clear she didn’t want him living in their home if he continued drinking, and she held that boundary.

Cliff moved into his own apartment, unemployed, and began drinking around the clock.

“I think I was drinking to die,” he says. “I really had no will to live.” He remembers people reaching out at first, checking in, offering support.

“I wouldn’t answer the phone because I didn’t want to talk to people. I was hiding,” Cliff shares. “Then the phone stopped ringing. I had never felt alone in my whole life. I was alone in that apartment, with no one near me and no one checking in on me.”

After not hearing from him for several days, Cliff’s wife requested a welfare check. Cliff was found in dire condition and taken to the hospital, where he detoxed for six days before returning to treatment.

Rising to Recovery

Cliff’s second time in rehab was profoundly different.

Recalling a moment with his counselor, Cliff says, “She told me, ‘Some people are alone. You’re not. You have people who still love you and still care for you.’ And it hit me, hard.”

A spiritual awakening, combined with working the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, set Cliff on the path to long-term recovery. After rehab, he transitioned to sober living and found a sponsor.

His therapist at the sober living home offered a striking perspective. “She referred to me as a ticking time bomb,” Cliff recalls. “She said, ‘It’s amazing you held it together as long as you did. You were destined to explode, and you did. Now we can rebuild. But let’s dive into why.’”

When asked what made recovery stick the second time, Cliff is clear. “Therapy was huge. Prayer and meditation were huge. Fellowship was huge.”

Today, Cliff sponsors other men in recovery and brings his lived experience with addiction, and the treatment space, into his work as Chief Growth Officer at Recovery.com.

He’s also the author of Don’t Sell, Generate Revenue, a book on ethical, relationship-driven business growth. Cliff credits his recovery, and his Higher Power, with restoring his creativity, guiding him back to entrepreneurship, and allowing him to show up fully as the husband and father he wants to be.

Find Treatment and Start Your Own Recovery Journey

If Cliff’s story resonates with you or someone you love, know that help is available. Recovery.com makes it easy to find alcohol addiction treatment programs that match your needs, whether you’re seeking detox, residential care, or ongoing support. Explore trusted options, compare programs, and take the first step toward recovery today.