Finding Freedom in Recovery of Addiction and Anxiety with Cesar Wurm

mgraziano45
Jan 31
4 min read

Addiction is a disease – one that can leave people feeling trapped in a cycle of self-destruction. In this episode of Adventures in Business, we sat down with Cesar Wurm, author of The Powers of Addiction: Finding Freedom in Acceptance and Recovery, to hear his story of overcoming alcoholism and the profound lessons he’s learned about acceptance, recovery, and resilience. Read on to learn about Cesar’s journey, how he’s learned to deal with severe anxiety, and his best advice for leaders when someone in their life is struggling.

Meet Cesar Wurm

Cesar Wurm is the author of The Powers of Addiction: Finding Freedom in Acceptance and Recovery. His book covers his battle with substance abuse, providing a raw, unfiltered look at the realities of addiction, alongside actionable strategies for overcoming it. Cesar shares about the genetic, psychological, and societal factors contributing to his addiction, and gives a multifaceted understanding of the issue beyond the surface level.

The Secret Struggle

Cesar opened up about the depths of his addiction, recalling a time when his day revolved around alcohol. He described how his life became a carefully orchestrated facade, saying that it was scary how good he got at hiding it. Despite having a beautiful young family and a successful career, his addiction led him to take risks that could have cost him everything.

Looking back, Cesar reflects on how normalized this behavior felt – like he was living in an alternate world, and it was all normal.

Anxiety and a Wake-Up Call

Many people can relate to the feelings Cesar describes, whether that’s because of addiction, anxiety, or depression. Cesar recounted a really terrifying experience when he had his first panic attack.

He started to feel his heart race, and then one of his arms went numb. He immediately thought he was having a heart attack, and he called for help. In the end, it was a severe panic attack. He shares in his book how he’s gone on to deal with severe anxiety, and what he does to create a calm and positive mindset.

Finding Freedom in Acceptance and Sobriety

Cesar shares that acknowledging that he was an addict was the hardest part.

He tried everything to prove he wasn’t an addict, from drinking only on weekends to switching to beer. Nothing worked – it wasn’t until he fully accepted his addiction that he could begin the work of recovery.

Now, he has healthy coping mechanisms. Cesar shared his daily practices for managing anxiety: he starts his mornings with positive affirmations and breathing exercises to reset whenever he feels stressed. He says this is a habit that supports him being his best – even a few minutes of breathing or a five minute gratitude podcast makes a difference for him.

Breaking the Stigma

We talked about how unfortunately, there’s still a stigma around addiction. If you have diabetes, people accept it. But if you’re an addict, there’s still so much judgment – like it’s something you chose.

Cesar’s decision to share his story publicly came from a desire to break that stigma and be a resource for others. The more he opened up, the more he realized how many people are affected by addiction, whether it’s themselves or their loved ones.

The Markers of Addiction

Another interesting moment in Cesar’s journey involved exploring the biological and psychological factors behind his addiction. He went through extensive biomarker testing and discovered genetic predispositions that made him more susceptible to risk-taking and addiction. It was eye-opening for him, and helped him understand that addiction isn’t just about choices – it’s also about biology.

Inspiring Others to Heal

Cesar’s honesty and courage have inspired countless individuals to confront their own struggles. Through his book and his active presence on social media, he shares tools, affirmations, and resources for mental health and addiction recovery.

If you aren’t following Cesar on Instagram or LinkedIn, he’s a must-follow for affirmations and hacks for a more positive mindset!

Changes in the Hospitality Industry

When we asked how the hospitality industry could do a better job of entertaining and building relationships without always including alcohol, Cesar says that he’s seen people start to be more inclusive and thoughtful about who they’re trying to entertain.

He recommends thinking through about the group that you’re trying to connect with, and consider if there’s an activity that can still be fun and allow people to connect on a deep level – with or without alcohol.

Advice for Leaders When They See Someone Struggling

We asked Cesar for his advice for leaders when they see someone is struggling with addiction, anxiety, depression, or something else. He says that’s a fine line – because you want to help, but you don’t want to overstep.

He says that he looks for natural openings. If he notices that someone isn’t acting like themselves, he’ll check in and ask if everything’s okay and if there’s anything he can do for them. He hopes that opens the door for someone when they’re ready to talk.