Inside The Mind Of An Addict

Amber Hollingsworth
  • 4.8 (47)
  • 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. Why Liars Get Angry When Confronted

    Jun 3

    Why Liars Get Angry When Confronted

    You've had the same fight a hundred times. You've watched them at their best and seen them throw it all away. No matter what you do, the relationship always seems to end up back in the same painful place. In this episode, Amber Hollingsworth explains why that happens, and it's probably not what you think. The cycle you're stuck in isn't really about the drinking, drug use, or addictive behavior. It's about bargaining. The person struggling with addiction bargains with themselves constantly:"I'll quit tomorrow.""I'll cut back.""I'll get help after this one last time." But family members often find themselves bargaining too:"If they just understood how much they're hurting me, they'd stop.""If they hit a big enough consequence, they'll finally change.""If I could just get their dad to stop enabling.""If I could just get them into treatment." When both sides are caught in bargaining, the cycle keeps repeating and everyone ends up exhausted. Amber breaks down exactly what the bargaining cycle looks like on both sides of the relationship, why it keeps families stuck, and what it actually takes to step off the roller coaster. She also discusses how to know when it's time to keep fighting for the relationship and when it may be time to let go. Most importantly, she reminds listeners that either choice can be valid, and that making decisions based on reality instead of hope alone is often the first step toward peace. If you're tired of having the same arguments, waiting for the next promise to stick, or wondering why nothing ever seems to change, this episode will help you understand what's really happening beneath the surface and what you can do next. Resources Mentioned 👉 Denial Breakthrough Intensivehttps://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge 👉 Beyond Boundarieshttps://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1 🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get a $10 discount:https://streamyard.com/pal/d/4991328482492416

    33 min
  2. It ALWAYS Goes Back to the Same Old Thing

    May 27

    It ALWAYS Goes Back to the Same Old Thing

    If you've ever found yourself having the same conversation, the same argument, or making the same promises over and over again, you're not alone. One of the most frustrating parts of loving someone with an addiction is feeling like you're trapped in a cycle that never changes. You see glimpses of hope. You watch them do well for a while. Then somehow, everything circles right back to where it started. In this episode, Amber Hollingsworth takes a closer look at what's really keeping that cycle alive. Spoiler alert: it's not just the drinking, drug use, or addictive behavior. At the heart of it all is bargaining. The person struggling with addiction bargains constantly:"I'll quit after this weekend.""I'll cut back.""I'll prove I can handle it." But family members often get pulled into their own version of bargaining:"If they really understood how much this hurts me, they'd stop.""If they finally face enough consequences, they'll change.""If I could just get their dad to stop enabling.""If I could just get them into treatment." Sound familiar? Amber breaks down how bargaining shows up on both sides of the relationship, why it keeps everyone stuck, and how it quietly drains your energy, hope, and emotional well-being. More importantly, she explains what it actually takes to step off the roller coaster and start making decisions based on reality instead of wishful thinking. Whether you're still fighting for the relationship or you're starting to wonder if you're done, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and practical insight for navigating one of the hardest parts of loving someone with an addiction. And if you're struggling with what comes next, Amber reminds you that both paths deserve honest consideration. Resources Mentioned 👉 Denial Breakthrough Intensivehttps://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge 👉 Beyond Boundarieshttps://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1

    41 min
  3. When to Cut Ties with an Addict/Alcoholic

    May 20

    When to Cut Ties with an Addict/Alcoholic

    Everyone tells you to set boundaries. What nobody talks about is how to know when those boundaries are no longer working and when you’ve reached the point where nothing is changing no matter how much love, patience, support, or sacrifice you give. In this episode, Amber dives into one of the hardest and most emotionally loaded questions families face when dealing with addiction or destructive behavior: How do you know when it’s truly time to walk away? This is not a conversation built on guilt, anger, or fear. It’s about understanding the clearest sign that tells you the relationship dynamic has crossed into a place where cutting ties may be the only healthy option left. Amber explains why so many people stay stuck in the waiting phase, hoping for a breakthrough, searching for the “right” answer, or waiting for permission to finally let go. You’ll also hear why the things you’ve done up until now were not weakness or failure. They were survival strategies that made sense based on the information, hope, and emotional reality you were living in at the time. Amber breaks down how people slowly reach the point where boundaries stop creating change and start becoming empty lines that only drain your emotional energy. This episode is for the people carrying the weight of impossible decisions. The ones wondering if they are giving up too soon, staying too long, or losing themselves in the process of trying to save someone else. If you’ve been searching for clarity, this conversation will help you better understand the difference between healthy hope and painful denial. Additional Resources: 🔥 Today’s episode is sponsored by Soberlink, remote alcohol monitoring that actually works:Soberlink with Amber 📆 Get an appointment with Amber:Book a Session with Amber 🤖 Try Amber AI, available 24/7 when you need support right now:Amber AI Support 💗 Beyond Boundaries online program:Beyond Boundaries Program

    38 min
  4. I Told My Wife to Go to Rehab, and People Are Telling Me I'm Part of the Problem

    May 13

    I Told My Wife to Go to Rehab, and People Are Telling Me I'm Part of the Problem

    In this episode, Amber breaks down two real Reddit stories from husbands who tried to talk to their wives about their drinking gently, carefully, and with good intentions, only to watch the conversations completely fall apart. The problem was not just what they said. It was what their words unintentionally threatened underneath the surface. Amber dives into the psychology behind why conversations about alcohol can go so wrong, even when someone is approaching the situation from a place of love and concern. Using the concept of self-verification theory, she explains why pointing out someone’s drinking problem can feel like attacking their identity, values, and sense of self. In many cases, the more evidence you bring, the more defensive the other person becomes. This episode breaks down where the Reddit commenters got it right and where they completely missed the deeper issue. Amber also walks through “The Nurse’s Husband” story and explains why the wife was not simply defending her drinking. She was defending the promise she had always made to herself about who she believed she was as a person, wife, and mother. You’ll also hear why phrases like “you’re going to hurt the baby” often land emotionally as “you’re a bad mother,” immediately triggering shame, fear, and defensiveness. If you have ever walked away from one of these conversations confused about how things escalated so quickly or feeling like somehow you became the problem, this episode will help you understand why. Most importantly, Amber explains what to do instead. You’ll learn how to approach difficult conversations in a way that lowers defensiveness, makes the truth easier to receive, and creates a better chance for honest reflection and real change. If you feel like you’re losing your mind trying to help someone you love, this episode will remind you that you are not crazy. You are trying to navigate a deeply complicated emotional dynamic, and there is a healthier, more effective way through it. Ready to learn the actual approach?Join the Denial Breakthrough Challenge:Denial Breakthrough Challenge Work with Amber directly:Strengths-Based Assessment Join the Put The Shovel Down community:Put The Shovel Down Community

    28 min
  5. You Can't Help an Addict If You're Falling Apart

    May 6

    You Can't Help an Addict If You're Falling Apart

    Learn how to realistically look at your actual influence over your loved one. Discover why changing strategies might not be working and how you might be the reason. If you’ve been trying everything to help your loved one change but nothing seems to stick, this video will challenge the way you see your role in the situation. We’re breaking down what “influence” actually means in real life, not in theory, and why good intentions don’t always lead to real results. You’ll learn how to take an honest look at where your control begins and ends, and why overestimating your impact can quietly keep both of you stuck. We’ll also dig into why your current strategies might not be working and how, without realizing it, you could be reinforcing the very patterns you’re trying to stop. https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1

    26 min
  6. When does "bad habit" become addiction?

    Apr 29

    When does "bad habit" become addiction?

    Is it just a bad habit… or something more? Most people think of addiction as something extreme, something that only applies to drugs or alcohol at their worst. But what if the same clinical criteria used to define addiction also showed up in everyday behaviors like scrolling your phone, gaming, binge-watching, or even that nightly glass of wine? In this episode, Amber breaks down what addiction actually is, using real, clinical standards, and then puts those criteria side-by-side with some of the most common habits people don’t usually question. The comparison is eye-opening. If you’ve ever wondered whether something in your life (or someone else’s) has crossed the line from harmless to hard-to-control, this conversation will help you see it more clearly without labels, judgment, or overreaction. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of where the line really is… and how to recognize it sooner rather than later. ✅Take our free quiz to find out where you stand and what to do next: https://hffrc-sud.scoreapp.com/ ✅Denial Breakthrough Challenge https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/motivation-unlocked-challenge ✅Website: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/

    40 min
  7. Don't Go Silent. Get Strategic

    Apr 22

    Don't Go Silent. Get Strategic

    Silence can feel like the safest option—but most of the time, it only protects the problem. When you hold back what needs to be said, nothing actually changes. In this episode, we talk about how staying quiet can unintentionally reinforce unhealthy patterns and keep you stuck in the same cycle. You’ll learn why avoiding difficult conversations often leads to more frustration, resentment, and disconnection—and what to do instead. This isn’t about saying more, it’s about saying it better. We walk through a smarter way to communicate—one that reduces defensiveness, keeps conversations productive, and helps you actually be heard without making things worse. If you’ve been walking on eggshells or are unsure how to speak up without blowing things up, this episode will give you a better approach. Helpful resources: https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/beyond-boundaries-1  https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership  https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/consultations

    20 min
  8. You're NOT Setting Boundaries — You're Trying to CONTROL Them

    Apr 19

    You're NOT Setting Boundaries — You're Trying to CONTROL Them

    If you’ve been setting “boundaries” that never seem to work, this episode will help you understand why. So many people supporting a loved one through addiction are told to set boundaries—but what most of us are actually doing isn’t a boundary at all. It’s control. And that difference is exactly what keeps people stuck. In this conversation, we break down how to recognize your true intent, what healthy boundaries actually look like, and the subtle ways control can show up disguised as something helpful. It’s one of the most misunderstood parts of family recovery—and getting it wrong can leave you feeling frustrated, exhausted, and no closer to real change. If you’re tired of spinning your wheels and ready for a different approach, this is a great place to start. Take the free Boundaries Quiz:👉 https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/self-assessments Looking for deeper support?👉 https://www.familyrecoveryacademy.online/hff-membership

    32 min
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4.8
out of 5
47 Ratings

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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