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)

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)

The Mission

The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.

We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.

The Hosts

Matt Bair

Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.

Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.

Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.

Ryan Hedrick

Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.

To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.

Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

The Mission
The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.
We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.
The Hosts 
Matt Bair
Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.
Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.
Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.
Ryan Hedrick
Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.
To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.
Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

Supporting Sobriety Podcast

The Mission
The Supporting Sobriety Podcast is dedicated to providing hope to the unsung heroes behind those struggling with addiction…their friends and family.
We will share insights, stories and resources to help listeners support their loved ones and care for themselves on the recovery journey.
The Hosts
Matt Bair
Matt considers himself blessed to be a recovering alcoholic. His lifetime profession as a radio broadcaster has been derailed multiple times by alcohol abuse but he remains alive and employed through the grace of God and help of others.
Matt lives by the humility introduced in the first step of 12-step recovery, that the alcoholic is truly “powerless over alcohol,” and the alcoholic in use of alcohol possesses a life that is “unmanageable.” He enunciates these beliefs in teaching recovery to alcoholics and addicts, while understanding there’s more to learn from the ones who don’t make it (Keep. Coming. Back). He truly believes everything “always gets better” if you don’t take the next drink or drug. Matt is dedicated to “supporting the supporters” like those who have been critical to his ongoing sobriety.
Matt is the long-time morning and afternoon traffic reporter for WIBC / Indianapolis.
Ryan Hedrick
Ryan Hedrick's life has been a journey of recovery from a challenging battle with addiction spanning nearly 25 years. His struggles with cocaine and methamphetamine led him down a dangerous path, marked by numerous attempts at treatment. However, salvation came in the form of a 12-step program that became his sanctuary.
To break free from the shackles of addiction, Ryan committed himself to giving back to recovery communities nationwide. He extended his support by bringing 12-step meetings to jails and institutions, sponsoring men on their recovery journeys, and regularly attending meetings. Like his co-host, the clutches of drugs and alcohol jeopardized Ryan's life and his career in radio.
Ryan is currently a reporter and morning news anchor at WIBC/Indianapolis where he met his podcast co-host Matt Bair. Together they strive to offer a beacon of hope to those grappling with similar struggles. Their podcast aims to reach and assist individuals behind the scenes by sharing personal experiences, strength, and hope with their followers. Through their collective journey, Ryan and Matt seek to inspire and support those supporting loved ones on the path to recovery.

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