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In this deeply honest and illuminating conversation, host Andrea Atherton welcomes special guest Tyler Blandin, a substance abuse counselor with over 20 years of professional and personal recovery experience. Together, they explore one of the most misunderstood truths in addiction treatment: you cannot force someone into recovery. With compassion and clinical insight, this episode unpacks the painful reality individuals face when they desperately want change. Tyler shares how true transformation begins with willingness, and how attempts to control or coerce often deepen shame and resistance rather than inspire healing.

Andrea and Tyler also address the vulnerable question so many quietly ask: How do I know if I’m an addict or alcoholic? They clarify the difference between problematic use and addiction, discuss the emotional and behavioral markers that often go unnoticed, and demystify how programs like Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous actually work. Together, they gently dismantle common misconceptions about 12-step recovery, revealing the spiritual, communal, and accountability-based foundations that have helped millions find lasting sobriety.

This episode also courageously confronts the cultural punishment model still embedded in how society responds to addiction. Andrea and Tyler examine the stigma surrounding medication-assisted treatment, particularly the shaming that can occur in some recovery spaces for those taking Suboxone. They explore how self-help communities can both save lives and, at times, unintentionally perpetuate harm. If you have ever loved someone struggling with addiction or questioned your own relationship with substances, this conversation offers clarity, hope, and a call toward more compassionate recovery pathways.

Tyler Blandin

https://emotionalnightmarespodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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