E83: From Denial to Disclosure: The Importance of Honesty in Recovery From Alcoholism

Honesty is one of those topics that seems pretty simple and clear cut at first, but starts getting a little squirmier the more you dig into it. There's layers there, too. Many of us tend to think we're pretty honest folks, but as we work more and more on our recovery, we start recognizing areas of our lives where we'd actually been quite dishonest... and that's especially true when it comes to being honest with ourselves. We've invited three inspiring people in long term recovery to come chat with us, and reflect on how honesty has played in a role in their recovery from alcoholism... and how that's evolved over the course of time. Listen as we talk with Kenny, Emily, and Adam and get real about honesty.

 

"Recovery meant getting honest with myself about my contentment and quality of life. I had to realize I was settling for less than my full potential."

In this episode:

• Honesty with yourself - and how that evolves with greater self awareness
• Excuses and lies of omission
• Using lies to hide and cover up addictions, imperfections, mistakes and flaws
• Dishonesty and perfectionism
• Advocating for yourself as a part of honesty
• Recognizing the physical reaction that happens when you are dishonest
• How ego applies to honesty
• Understanding - and getting honest about - underlying subconscious beliefs
• The freedom that comes with living an open and honest life

"I always believed it was okay, as long as I didn't get caught."

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About our guests:

Kenny Hill is a combat veteran who has been sober for 17 years. He now works as a therapist with addiction and trauma in his private practice, called Recovery Hill.

Beyond his professional life, Kenny has a podcast called Patina’d Podcast, where resilience is the underlying theme as guests discuss their origin stories. This podcast can be found on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcast. 

https://www.youtube.com/@PatinadPodcast/featured

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patinad-podcast/id1728582206

He also put together a mini-documentary series specific to addiction called “Story Of.” Each guest has sustainable recovery, and shares their experience and personal tips for long-term sobriety. Here is the link for ‘Story Of’:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhkvLzyf87EjpTsLguktlPllq_kJmM2m

Kenny's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kenny_from_recoveryhill/

And Patina’d Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patinad_podcast/

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Adam Head spent the majority of adulthood running from a life that he found unfulfilling by drowning it in vodka and peppermint schnapps. This eventually landed him in the hospital with a diagnosis of acute alcohol induced liver failure. Fast forward through five rehabs, hundreds of meetings and a divorce, and he still found himself drinking. Until he discovered CBT, Spirituality, and the power of identity. He now lives a life he describes as overflowing with joy and is "effortlessly sober."

X - @theadamhead

www.adamthead.com

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As always, you can find more information about our guests, as well as all of the other resources Julie and Steve offer, at throughtheglassrecovery.com