"Put the Shovel Down": Helping a Loved One with Addiction w/ Amber Hollingsworth | Harder to Breathe
Release Date: 09/30/2025
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info_outlineYour natural instinct is to fix it, but what if your efforts are making the problem worse?
We sit down with Addiction Expert Amber Hollingsworth, founder of the huge "Put the Shovel Down" community, who offers a revolutionary approach to family addiction recovery. Amber specializes in teaching family members how to stop enabling and break the cycle of blame that fuels addiction. This is essential listening for anyone who loves someone struggling with substance abuse.
In this powerful episode, you'll learn:
The "Villain" Role: Why the person with addiction often needs a family member to play the villain—and how to quit that role immediately.
Support vs. Enabling: Amber shares her simple formula to know if you're truly helping or unknowingly enabling your loved one.
The Power of Pre-Contemplation: Learn how to influence change before they hit rock bottom by using empathy to unlock their inner motivation.
Control is a Fallacy: Ryan and Amber discuss how giving up control is the crucial first step for both the addicted individual and their family.
Stop digging a deeper hole. Start building a path to recovery.
Episode Guide
00:00 - Welcome & Guest Intro
20:20 - Amber's Approach
22:00 - The "Villain Role"
25:40 - "Put the Shovel Down" Difference
30:30 - The Rock Bottom Question
34:00 - Reversing Family Dynamics
36:00 - Finding Internal Motivation
41:20 - Giving Up Control to Gain Control 4
8:20 - Support vs. Enabling Line
52:30 - "Put the Shovel Down" Meaning
55:00 - Addiction as Shame Spiral
01:01:20 - Amber's Origin Story
01:14:30 - Future Goals
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