Inside The Mind Of An Addict

Amber Hollingsworth
  • 4.8 (48)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Weekly

Master Addiction Counselor Amber Hollingsworth teaches you how to recover your loved one from addiction. You'll discover the secret to breaking through denial, finding your loved one's motivation, and helping them get their life back on track. New episodes are released every Thursday. For Additional Information and Resources visit our website: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/

  1. Jul 29

    Are you really ready to get sober? (Here's how to know)

    What if being ready to get sober doesn't feel the way you think it should? Many people believe they have to feel completely confident, fully committed, and ready to promise they'll never drink or use again before they can begin recovery. But the truth is, readiness is often much messier than that. In this episode, Amber Hollingsworth explores what it really means to be ready for sobriety. We discuss why fear, doubt, and mixed emotions don't necessarily mean you're not ready—and how recognizing that your current pattern is no longer working may be the clearest sign that change is possible. You'll learn how to stop waiting for certainty, identify the next honest step, and approach recovery without feeling like you have to figure out the rest of your life today. Whether you're sober curious, struggling with addiction, or simply wondering if it's time for something different, this conversation offers practical, shame-free guidance to help you move forward. Resources Mentioned: • Recovery Coaching: Learn more about working with Amber one-on-one:https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online • Denial Breakthrough Intensive: If you're trying to help a loved one recognize the problem without pushing them further away, learn more here:https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need to hear that they don't have to feel fearless to take the first step toward recovery.

    Are you really ready to get sober? (Here's how to know)

  2. Jul 22

    Why They Lie About Drinking /Using—Even When You Already Know

    Why do people deny they've been drinking when the evidence seems undeniable? If you've ever found yourself questioning your own reality after confronting a loved one, you're not alone. In this episode, Amber Hollingsworth explores the psychology behind denial and why the lie often isn't about convincing you—it's about protecting the person from shame, fear, consequences, or the painful reality of what admitting the truth would mean. Together, we'll discuss why gathering more proof rarely changes someone's mind, how families become trapped in the role of investigator, and why you don't need a confession to trust the patterns you're seeing. You'll also learn the difference between policing someone's behavior and creating healthy accountability, along with practical strategies for responding when facts still aren't enough to break through denial. If you're exhausted from smelling someone's breath, checking receipts, searching the house, or debating what you know you witnessed, this conversation will help you step out of the detective role and into a healthier way forward. Resources Mentioned: • Soberlink: Learn how Soberlink can provide an objective accountability structure that reduces suspicion and helps families move away from detective work:https://go.familyrecoveryacademy.online/soberlink-jul26-why-lie-about-drinking-using • Denial Breakthrough Intensive: Learn how denial and defensiveness really work, how to lower resistance without minimizing the problem, and how to stop having the same arguments that never lead to change:https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who may need this conversation today. This episode is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical, mental health, or legal advice.

    Why They Lie About Drinking /Using—Even When You Already Know

  3. Jul 15

    How To Care Without Controlling: The Secret To Finding Your Peace

    Have you ever felt like your love for someone has turned into managing their entire life? Maybe you're constantly checking in, trying to say the right thing, or believing that if you just work a little harder, they'll finally change. In this episode, Amber Hollingsworth unpacks the difference between caring for someone and trying to control them. While it often comes from a place of love, taking responsibility for someone else's choices can leave you emotionally exhausted, frustrated, and stuck in a cycle that helps neither of you. You'll learn why the urge to control is so common, how overfunctioning can unintentionally enable unhealthy patterns, and what it really means to "stay on your side of the street." Most importantly, you'll discover how setting healthy boundaries allows you to reclaim your peace without giving up on the person you love. Whether you're supporting someone struggling with addiction or navigating another high-conflict relationship, this conversation offers practical tools and encouragement to help you love others without losing yourself. Resources Mentioned: • Denial Breakthrough Intensive: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge • Invisible Intervention: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/invisible-intervention • Family Recovery Membership: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership If you found this episode helpful, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs this reminder today.

    How To Care Without Controlling: The Secret To Finding Your Peace

  4. Jul 8

    Can One Person Save A Relationship?

    Are you the only one trying to save your relationship? It’s one of the most painful realizations you can have: feeling like you care more about the relationship than your partner does. You’re doing all the emotional labor, trying every technique, and waiting for them to finally "get it"—but nothing changes. In this session, we’re diving into the exhausting reality of One-Sided Relationships. We'll explore why we stay even when it feels hopeless, and look at the two powerful forces keeping you stuck: Intermittent Reinforcement: Why those "small moments of good" act like a drug, keeping you hooked on the possibility of change. The Guilt Trap: How our own loyalty and sense of responsibility are often used against us. The Big Question: Can one person save a relationship? The answer isn't a simple yes or no, but there is a way to find out for sure. The hardest part of being in this position is the "not knowing." Is your partner truly indifferent, or are they just so buried in denial and defensiveness that they’ve shut down? Denial Breakthrough Intensive:👉🏻https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge STOP THE GUESSING GAME If you’re tired of trying to figure this out alone, join me for the Denial Breakthrough Intensive starting soon. This is a deep-dive program where I teach you the exact techniques to peel back the denial and see exactly what you’re dealing with. Stop wondering if they care and start getting the clarity you deserve. Learn more and reserve your spot here: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge

    Can One Person Save A Relationship?

  5. Jul 1

    The Cost of Toxic Relationship Stress: Why Your Body Is Crashing

    Are you feeling physically exhausted, sick, or "bone tired" because of the stress in your relationship? Today we’re discussing why your body is crashing and how to stop the drain. When you are in a relationship with someone struggling with addiction, your body often knows the truth before your mind is ready to accept it. Chronic stress, hyper-vigilance, and the constant "detective work" of trying to save someone else take a physical toll that can’t be ignored. In this stream, we’ll explore the medical and psychological link between your relationship dynamics and your health, and why "recovery" isn't just for the addict—it’s for your physical well-being too. In this episode, we cover: The science of why toxic stress causes physical illness. How to identify the specific behaviors that are "draining" your energy. Practical steps to stop the physical crash and start protecting your health. Why "loving them" shouldn't mean losing your physical vitality. #PutTheShovel Down #RelationshipStress #AddictionRecovery #ToxicRelationships #HealthAndWellness ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: ✅Denial Breakthrough Intensive https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge ✅ Consultation Session https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

    The Cost of Toxic Relationship Stress: Why Your Body Is Crashing

  6. Jun 24

    When Helping Your Loved One Becomes Enabling: Knowing When to Step In (and When Not To)

    When you love someone struggling with addiction, one of the hardest questions is knowing when to help and when stepping in may actually keep them from facing the consequences of their choices. Should you pay their bills, provide support, or allow them to experience discomfort that could lead to change? In this episode, we explore how to make these difficult decisions with both compassion and wisdom. You will hear that if you can't sleep at night because you are not doing something for your loved one struggling with addiction, you can give yourself permission to do it. Learn how to balance your heart with healthy boundaries, recognize the difference between support and enabling, and choose what you can truly live with in your relationship with addiction. https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1 https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

    When Helping Your Loved One Becomes Enabling: Knowing When to Step In (and When Not To)

  7. Jun 17

    Remorse is NOT the Same As Readiness

    They’re Sorry… So Why Don’t They Change? Have you ever had someone apologize after drinking, using, lying, disappearing, embarrassing you, or breaking trust — and they seemed completely sincere? They cried. They promised. They said, “I’ll never do that again.” And then… it happened again. In this video, we’re talking about why someone can be genuinely sorry and truly mean it in the moment, but still not be ready to change. With addiction, the person may not always be lying to you. Sometimes they’re believing the lie addiction is telling them: “This time will be different.” Remorse is real. But remorse is not the same as readiness. If you’ve been stuck in the cycle of apology, hope, disappointment, and repeated behavior, this video will help you understand what’s really going on. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: Examples of Change Talk: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/change-talk-examples Denial Breakthrough Intensive: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/change-talk-examples Book a Strategy Session: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

    Remorse is NOT the Same As Readiness

  8. Jun 10

    Change How You Interact with Your Loved One

    If you’ve been doing everything you can to help a loved one struggling with addiction but still feel stuck, exhausted, and frustrated that nothing is changing, this video is for you. Many families unknowingly get caught in patterns that keep them focused on the wrong things, waiting for promises to be kept, hoping for motivation to appear, or believing that more support will finally create change. In this video, you'll discover why these approaches often lead to disappointment and what may actually be preventing progress. Whether you're a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend, this discussion will help you better understand the dynamics of addiction and identify practical steps that can support healthier decisions for everyone involved. Learn why you stay frustrated that nothing is changing and how to engage with addiction in a more productive way. https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1

    Change How You Interact with Your Loved One
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4.8
out of 5
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About

Master Addiction Counselor Amber Hollingsworth teaches you how to recover your loved one from addiction. You'll discover the secret to breaking through denial, finding your loved one's motivation, and helping them get their life back on track. New episodes are released every Thursday. For Additional Information and Resources visit our website: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/

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