Denial offers strong opposition to the caregiver trying to save the life of their suffering addict or alcoholic, and the situation can seem impossible. Can you help when they refuse to say, “I’m an alcoholic?” Can they be treated without admitting, “yes, I’m an addict?” Are they using more excessively? Do they say, “That’s just who I am,” while nursing hangover after hangover? Do they refute your concerns with “I can stop anytime I want,” even though they don’t? What about you, caregiver? Is it hard to believe your loved one is truly an addict or alcoholic?

In this episode, Supporting Sobriety co-hosts Matt Bair and Ryan Hedrick speak with Amber Hollingsworth, who calls on her decades of experience working with caregiving families to answer the demanding questions about denial in recovery. If you believe your child, sibling, parent, or S/O is stricken with the disease of addiction, please listen. Amber has lived addiction her whole life, growing up in an addicted family and as a professional caregiver for decades. She also has a YouTube channel called Put the Shovel Down, which hits the disease of addiction from all sides.

Thank you for listening. Please like, subscribe, and rate.

Resources:

Join the Supporting Sobriety community @sobriety_pod on X or Instagram.  
Al-Anon.org
aa.intergroup.org/meetings, Meetings (virtual-na.org)
Suicide Prevention Hotline: (800) 273-8255 (24/7)