Elif Ahmad didn’t walk into a detox center or sit in a circle of folding chairs to get sober. She stood in a shower, held out her hands, and asked the universe for help. Within 24 hours, three years of cocaine addiction simply stopped. No cravings. No withdrawal. Just a complete severing of the cords that had bound her to active addiction.
Her story challenges everything the traditional recovery industry teaches about what it takes to heal. A classical pianist who performed her honors recital at 17, Elif was put on the streets by her mother shortly after that performance. Years of spiritual, physical, and emotional isolation led her to what she describes as “almost like a suicide thing”—addiction as a slow form of giving up.
But through spiritual intervention, energy medicine, and a deep commitment to understanding the science behind healing, Elif discovered that recovery isn’t about labeling yourself as an addict forever.
It’s about self-rediscovery.
Elif had the beautiful intention to start our conversation off with the sounds of a Tibetan bowl, but the audio suppression during our live portion made it difficult to hear. She recorded this audio separately and I wanted to include that here for you. Enjoy!
[05:28] The Path to Addiction: Rejection and Hopelessness at 17
Elif shares the devastating catalyst that led her to addiction—being rejected and abandoned by her mother immediately after her honors recital at age 17. The combination of abandonment and other life challenges created a sense of complete hopelessness that eventually led to cocaine use as a form of slow suicide.
After her honors recital at 17, Elif’s mother decided she didn’t want her anymore and put her on the streets
Her mother never really spoke with her again
Combined with other challenges, this led Elif to lose all hope and sense of purpose
She felt incredibly alone “in all ways, spiritual, physical, emotionally”
Addiction became a form of slow suicide—a way of giving up on life
This continued for three years until she was ready to make a different choice
Key Insight: “Addiction was just a way for me. It was almost like a suicide thing.” - Elif Ahmad
[06:40] Spiritual Awakening and Divine Guidance
During active addiction, Elif discovered psychic Sylvia Brown and became fascinated by spiritual connection. This curiosity led to a prayer that changed everything—and opened the door to spiritual guidance that would teach her how to heal without traditional treatment.
While in active addiction, Elif watched psychic Sylvia Brown on Montel Williams and read her books
She became interested in developing spiritual abilities and connecting with the non-physical world
One day she prayed to “mother God” (the feminine aspect of creator): “I just really don’t want to do this anymore. I’m ready to move on.”
She truly felt ready in her heart
Within 24 hours, her desire for cocaine completely stopped—”it was like any cords that were attaching me to addiction had been removed”
The non-physical world then taught her how to replace nutrients depleted during addiction
She made a promise to Spirit: “If you show me how to heal, I will go on and show others what you have shown me”
Spent the next 14 years researching allopathic medicine, holistic medicine, naturopathic medicine, energy medicine, mind-body-spirit connection, and meditation
Key Insight: “There is so much help and so much love and support, unconditional love and support from the non-physical realm that is waiting for you. And all you need to do is ask.” - Elif Ahmad
[08:16] The Shower Experience: Choosing Transformation
Elif describes the pivotal moment in the shower where she felt the walls closing in and knew she had to make a conscious choice between continuing on her destructive path or opening herself to transformation and healing. This moment of surrender became the turning point of her life.
While in the shower one night, Elif felt the walls closing in on her
She intuitively knew she had to make a decision: continue her current path or open to transformation
She turned her palms over and said: “Universe, please help me heal from this”
In that instant, she felt what felt like a warm blanket being put on her shoulders
In the depth of her physical heart, “it was like two chain links just reconnecting”
Her life was never the same from that moment
This experience of unconditional love became the foundation of her understanding that we are never truly alone
Key Insight: “I broke down and bawled my eyes out in that moment because the unconditional love that I felt was something I had never experienced on this physical earth plane by anyone.” - Elif Ahmad
[11:59] Beyond the Medical Model: Epigenetics and Real Healing
Elif boldly challenges the traditional addiction treatment model, arguing it’s designed to keep customers rather than create healing. She explains the revolutionary science of epigenetics—that we are literally above our genetic expressions, meaning if a trigger created a disease state, we have the power to heal it.
The current approach to recovery is based on old science and a medical model “intended to keep customers”
Newer sciences (epigenetics, neuroscience, neuroplasticity, energy medicine, science of sound) prove we are far more powerful than we believe
Everything we say and think bounces back into our subconscious and affects biology at the cellular level
Every state of disease is a gene expression triggered by something unresolved
Must address thought patterns and unresolved traumas
The trigger is never physical—it’s always emotional/spiritual
Key Insight: “Addiction is not who you are. You are far greater. And your purpose on this earth plane is waiting for you to connect with it.” - Elif Ahmad
[16:42] Sound, Frequency, and Voice as Healing Tools
Elif explains her understanding of disease as disharmony in the body’s frequencies, why alcohol is called “spirits,” and how our voice is our most powerful tool for healing—connecting ancient wisdom with modern physics and practical application.
The body is made of frequencies and sounds
Your voice is your most powerful tool—we can literally talk ourselves into or out of anything
Need to be mindful of self-talk—use your voice to lift yourself up, motivate, encourage, and inspire yourself
Why alcohol is called “spirits”: addiction (alcohol, drugs, gambling, anything) lowers our frequency
In a low vibrational state, we attract people and situations that are not good
Any state of disease is a chance to rediscover who we really are, claim our authentic self, and step into our power
Key Insight: “All recovery is, friends, is self-rediscovery. That’s it.” - Elif Ahmad
[30:14] Returning to Childlike Wonder and Spiritual Connection
Elif explains the neuroscience of childhood programming and makes a powerful case for returning to the childlike qualities of openness, curiosity, resilience, and spiritual connection that we lose as we grow older and accumulate layers of trauma and conditioning.
The Theta State: Up until age 7, we operate in a theta wave state (like the meditation brain wave state—a much slower frequency)
When we were little and fell down, we just got back up
Instead of dusting ourselves off when we fall, it becomes something way more intense, and we struggle
There is “so much more support and love than we see with our physical eyes”
Key Insight: “Jesus, or as I call him, Yeshua, you know, said you need to be childlike. And in a sense that we need to be open and curious and have that sense of wonder again.” - Elif Ahmad
Key Quotes
“Addiction was just a way for me. It was almost like a suicide thing.” - Elif Ahmad
“I really felt that in my heart that I was ready and not even 24 hours later, boom, it just stopped. I didn’t want it anymore.” - Elif Ahmad
“I broke down and bawled my eyes out in that moment because the unconditional love that I felt was something I had never experienced on this physical earth plane by anyone.” - Elif Ahmad
“There is so much help and so much love and support, unconditional love and support from the non-physical realm that is waiting for you. And all you need to do is ask.” - Elif Ahmad
“Addiction is not who you are. You are far greater. And your purpose on this earth plane is waiting for you to connect with it.” - Elif Ahmad
“All recovery is, friends, is self-rediscovery. That’s it.” - Elif Ahmad
“You are loved. You are powerful. You are amazing. You are absolutely beautiful souls. You just need to remember that.” - Elif Ahmad
Resources Mentioned
Books:
“Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself” by Dr. Joe Dispenza (neuroscience, quantum physics, gene expression)
“Resonant Currents” by Wisdom House Publishing (understanding energy and frequency)
Spiritual Teachers:
Sylvia Brown (psychic who appeared on Montel Williams)
Sciences/Fields:
Epigenetics
Neuroscience and neuroplasticity
Energy medicine
Sound healing/science of sound
Healing Modalities:
Reiki
Sound healing with Tibetan bowls and tuning forks
Hypnosis
Where to Find Elif Ahmad
Facebook: Musical Life
Email: musicandsound2025@gmail.com
Facebook Messenger: Available for questions and further conversation about topics discussed
Thank You
A heartfelt thank you to Jessica Drapluk, James Martin | Made By James, Noelle Richards and everyone who joined us live for this conversation, and to Elif Ahmad for her extraordinary compassion and wisdom. Your presence and engagement make these conversations possible.
Your Non-Traditional Path Might Be Waiting
Elif’s story reveals something essential: recovery doesn’t have to follow someone else’s script. Whether your path includes spiritual practice, creative expression, traditional treatment, or something entirely your own—what matters is that you’re ready to choose transformation.
If you’re sensing that alcohol is blocking your creative potential and personal growth, The Sober Creative Method™ offers a structured 90-day journey designed specifically for those looking to create a new path. Using the RELEASE → CREATE → BECOME framework, you’ll discover what’s possible when you remove alcohol as the barrier to your greatest work.
This isn’t about fitting into someone else’s definition of recovery—it’s about finding your own path home to yourself.
