Through the Glass Recovery
Through the Glass Recovery
Recovering Out Loud: When You're Ready to Share Your Story
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For most people, the idea of recovering out loud fills them with anxiety and incites an instant cringe. All those stories, all that shame… why would you share it with others? But often, at some point in one’s journey, they realize that their story has the potential to lead others to the same freedom they’ve found.

When you’ve found freedom from addiction, it’s natural to want to help others find their way there, too.

In this episode, we’re joined by John, Corey, Kristyna, and Jeff, who have all chosen to talk openly about their journey to sobriety. Some have gone fully public, talking about it in front of huge audiences. Others have quietly shared bits and pieces with people close to them. These are their stories – the fears they faced, the fulfillment they gained, and how their experiences with recovering out loud turned out.

In this episode:

  • The pros and cons of the anonymity factor of Alcoholics Anonymous
  • What it’s like to “come out” as sober in a drinking culture
  • Knowing when you’re ready to share
  • How our society is changing, and becoming more open and supportive of the choice to be alcohol free
  • Overcoming shame and embarrassment
  • The difference between sharing and oversharing
  • Sharing information about your recovery at work, with bosses or HR
  • Defining “stigma” and what it means to recovering out loud
  • The language we use surrounding addiction recovery goes a long way in making it more comfortable for others

“One day, you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through, and it will become someone else’s survival guide.” – Brene’ Brown

John began drinking to manage social anxiety and perfectionism present all his life.  As his drinking escalated, he appeared on the outside to be functioning – married, two kids, a practicing physician.  But on the inside he was struggling to hold it all together.  It took him years of trying to moderate before he realized he had to quit drinking, then many tries to actually stop drinking.  He’s now sober over 3 years and more at peace than ever.

Kristyna is a 45-year-old fierce woman, wife, and mother of 2 boys, ages 8 & 9. She is a born and raised SOUTH Jersey girl – GO BIRDS! Kristyna grew up around alcohol and had her first drink at 12 or 13 years old. From then on it was pretty much drinking whenever possible. In her 20’s she began to really feel the
negative effects of her drinking. She was drinking till she blacked out every weekend and doing things she would never have done sober. But it was just a weekend thing – no big deal! It continued like that for years. She even tried to learn how to prevent blackouts; not by quitting drinking though! Then in 2014, she had enough; enough of the shame and the guilt, she quit. Kristyna had her sons in 2015 and 2016 and stayed sober. Then, slowly, she got sucked into the mommy wine culture which, eventually,
spiraled out of control. Then in 2024, after 2 to 3 years of daily drinking till blackout and constant depression, anxiety, shame, and guilt, she was ready to try again. At the recommendation of her therapist, she decided to try 30 days alcohol free. That was on June 2, 2024 and she never thought she would make it to day 30 and today she is over 7 months alcohol free and never going back.

Jeff Breedlove serves as strategic policy advisor for the Georgia Council for Recovery
and the Georgia Addiction Counselors Association as well as CEO for the American
Addiction Recovery Association.  
Jeff serves on the Board of Directors for the Georgia School of Addiction Studies, the
Georgia Faith & Recovery Collaboration, and the Regional Advisory Board for the
Rx Summit.
Jeff was announced as a member of the 2023 Atlanta Business Chronicle Power 10:
Health Care List as one of the 10 most powerful health care leaders in Georgia.
Jeff was awarded a personal proclamation from Governor Brain Kemp in September
2023 as an outstanding advocate for peer led recovery in Georgia.
Jeff was awarded The Erick Allen Recovery Advocate of the Year for Georgia and has
received numerous Recovery Leadership Awards from organizations across Georgia.
In the past, Jeff has served as

   •    Chief of Staff for DeKalb County Commissioner Nancy Jester.
   •    Senior staff member to Congressman Bob Barr in the historic 104th Congress and
again in the 105th Congress.
   •    Deputy Director for the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development for Governor
Nathan Deal
   •    Policy analyst for the Georgia State Senate
Jeff was selected to serve as a volunteer for the G-8 Summit on Sea Island, Georgia. 
He has served as a staff vice-chair for The National Conference of State Legislatures on
the Transportation Committee and as a member of The Council of State Governments
Southern Legislative Conference Committee on Economic Development, Transportation
and Cultural Affairs.  
Jeff also served as the Georgia state director for The American Council of Young
Political Leaders and was the former Georgia state director Sister Cities International
and a member of the City of Atlanta Sister City Commission. Jeff Served as a
Commissioner and Assistant Scout Master with the Boy Scouts. Jeff served as PTA
President at Imagine International Academy and Vice President of the PTA at Maynard
Jackson High School.
Jeff is married to Kathryn Ballou; they reside in the Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta.
They have a son, Lawrence Foster “Jack” Breedlove, who was born in Gansu, The
People’s Republic of China.  He is a person in long-term recovery with a passion to
share his story so others know Recovery is real.

https://linktr.ee/endthewhisper
https://linktr.ee/jeffbreedlove

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