Breaking Free from Opioids and benzodiazepines was not an easy path for Elizabeth Kipp, but her journey from dependence to recovery is nothing short of extraordinary. After more than 30 years of opioid and benzodiazepine use to manage chronic pain, Elizabeth discovered a new way forward—one that blended science, spirituality, and resilience. Today, her story offers hope and practical guidance for anyone struggling with the weight of chronic pain and addiction.
Elizabeth’s story of recovery was recently featured on the Conversations with Rich Podcast in association with Rage Against Addiction.
Elizabeth Kipp’s 40-Year Experience with Chronic Pain
For decades, Elizabeth lived under the shadow of relentless pain. Surgeries, powerful opioid medications, including fentanyl, and benzodiazepines became her daily companions. While these drugs offered temporary relief, they created a cycle of dependence, cognitive fog, emotional instability, and nutritional deficiency. Instead of healing, the treatments deepened her suffering.
Her lived experience reflects the painful reality of millions who find themselves trapped by well-intentioned prescriptions that eventually limit, rather than restore, their lives.
The Turning Point at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation
In 2013, Elizabeth entered the pain-management track, headed by Dr. Peter Przekop, DO, at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, a decision that would forever alter her path. Unlike conventional approaches that focus solely on symptoms, this program invited her to understand pain as more than a physical ailment. She learned that chronic pain is also a brain-processing condition, shaped by trauma, stress, and emotional patterns.
Here, Elizabeth discovered new tools: psychological counseling, yoga, meditation, Ancestral Clearing, and breathwork. These practices allowed her to reclaim agency over her body, regulate her nervous system, and reframe her relationship with pain.
Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
One of the greatest revelations of Elizabeth’s recovery was the profound mind-body connection. Stress and anxiety amplify pain, while mindfulness and relaxation soothe it. The nervous system holds memory, tension, and resilience, and by cultivating presence through breathwork and meditation, Elizabeth began to shift her experience from one of constant suffering to one of healing possibility.
Blending Science and Spirituality in Recovery
Elizabeth’s recovery toolkit bridges the clinical and the spiritual. Alongside adversity therapy, she also practiced yoga, meditation, and ancestral clearing techniques. This multidimensional approach allowed her to heal on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels.
By integrating integrity, mindfulness, and spiritual practices into daily life, Elizabeth built a foundation strong enough to prevent relapse and nurture inner peace.
From Patient to Guide: Helping Others Heal
Today, Elizabeth Kipp is a stress-management and ancestral trauma specialist, recovery coach, and author. Through coaching, workshops, and her book The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power, she empowers others to break free from the cycle of dependence.
Her approach honors the wisdom of neuroscience while holding space for spiritual healing—offering a hopeful blueprint for those navigating their own recovery journeys.
Resources for Recovery
Narcotics Anonymous (NA) & Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): Peer support for addiction recovery
Recovery 2.0: Yoga and recovery community
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation: Comprehensive programs for addiction and pain management
Elizabeth’s Book: The Way Through Chronic Pain: Tools to Reclaim Your Healing Power
A Hopeful Blueprint for Healing
Elizabeth Kipp’s journey proves that recovery is not only possible but also transformative. By embracing a holistic path rooted in resilience, integrity, and spirituality, she broke free from opioids and found lasting freedom.
Her story is more than personal triumph; it is a guiding light for anyone facing the challenges of chronic pain and addiction. With courage, compassion, and the right tools, healing is within reach.
