What does rebuilding your life after alcohol addiction actually look like—and how do you stay sober when recovery feels overwhelming?

In Part 3 of Marci Hopkins’ story on Addiction Talk, Marci moves from her past into the practical side of recovery, sharing the tools, mindset shifts, and daily practices that helped her build a life she no longer wanted to escape from.

Marci discusses changing the way she thought about herself through practices such as gratitude, meditation, spirituality, and positive affirmations. She recalls a powerful moment in recovery when she was finally able to say out loud, “I love myself.”

She also talks about the challenges of early sobriety, including the first 30 to 90 days, facing emotions without alcohol, recognizing triggers and cravings, and learning grounding techniques. Marci emphasizes the importance of community, 12-step support, therapy, and giving yourself grace while building a foundation for long-term recovery.

Nearly 11 years into her recovery, Marci says the work has been worth it.

Early on, she imagined that someday she might be able to drink again—perhaps sitting on her front porch with a glass of wine. Today, she says she doesn't want alcohol back in her life. Instead of worrying about staying sober forever, she learned to focus on one day at a time—sometimes one minute or even one second at a time.

In Part 3, Marci and host Joy Sutton discuss:

• What rebuilding your life in recovery can look like
• Changing your thinking after addiction
• The challenges of the first 30–90 days of sobriety
• Managing alcohol cravings and triggers
• Grounding techniques for difficult moments
• Why community and support matter in recovery
• The role therapy played in Marci's journey
• Gratitude, meditation, and self-worth
• Why recovery is worth the work
• Staying sober one day at a time
• Building a recovery “toolbox”
• Learning to believe that you are worthy of a better life

Marci also shares practical techniques she uses to stay present, including a daily gratitude practice, breathing exercises, and sensory grounding methods that can help bring attention back to the present moment when emotions, cravings, or anxiety become overwhelming.

And she closes the conversation with a message for anyone who may be struggling:

Your past does not define you. You are capable. You are worthy.

Marci says the worth that addiction and pain can make someone lose sight of is still there—and that recovery can offer the opportunity to rediscover it.

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or addiction, help is available.

Watch Parts 1 and 2 of Marci Hopkins’ story on Addiction Talk to hear how her journey began and the experiences that led her to recovery.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of addiction and mental health services.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers. If you or someone you know needs help, call 866-407-4130, or visit our website at AmericanAddictionCenters.org

How can childhood trauma shape someone’s relationship with alcohol—and why can addiction remain hidden even when life looks successful from the outside?

In Part 2 of Marci Hopkins’ story on Addiction Talk, Marci takes us back to where her relationship with alcohol began and shares the painful experiences that followed her from childhood into adulthood.

Marci recalls having her first drink around age eight and getting drunk for the first time at 12. She also opens up about childhood sexual abuse, feeling unsafe at home, struggling with her self-worth, and eventually using alcohol as a way to escape. As she got older, drinking became an increasingly constant part of her life.

But from the outside, Marci’s life could look very different.

She built a successful career in media, moved to Los Angeles, got married, and continued moving forward professionally—all while alcohol remained a regular part of her life. Marci describes herself as having been a high-functioning alcoholic, even though at the time she would not have identified herself that way.

Marci and host Joy Sutton also explore how comparing your drinking to other people’s drinking can make it easier to convince yourself that you don’t have a problem. Marci explains how she surrounded herself with people who drank like she did—or more—which made her own drinking seem less concerning.

In Part 2, Marci discusses:

• Childhood trauma and alcohol use
• Drinking at an early age
• Using alcohol to cope and escape
• How trauma affected her self-worth and relationships
• Building a successful life while continuing to drink
• What high-functioning alcoholism looked like in her life
• Why comparing your drinking to others can be dangerous
• Addiction and family history
• Forgiveness and letting go of the past
• Why feeling wounded doesn't mean you're broken
• Rebuilding your life in addiction recovery

Marci ultimately shares an important shift in how she came to view sobriety: instead of thinking she was giving up alcohol, she began to see recovery as getting her life back.

As she puts it, a life built on an unstable foundation can come crashing down—but recovery provides an opportunity to rebuild that life one brick at a time.

In Part 3, Marci explains what that rebuilding actually looked like for her, including changing her thinking, navigating cravings and triggers, finding support, practicing gratitude, and learning to live one day at a time.

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or addiction, help is available.

Continue with Part 3 of Marci Hopkins’ recovery story on Addiction Talk.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of addiction and mental health services.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers. If you or someone you know needs help, call 866-407-4130, or visit our website at AmericanAddictionCenters.org

Can someone look successful on the outside while struggling with alcohol addiction behind the scenes?

In Part 1 of Marci Hopkins' story on Addiction Talk, Marci opens up about the years she spent hiding her struggle with alcohol, the shame and exhaustion she experienced, and the moment that ultimately changed the direction of her life.

After waking up following a DUI, Marci reached a point where she knew something had to change. She describes what surrender really meant for her, walking into an AA meeting for the first time, and realizing that asking for help wasn't a sign of weakness.

Marci also shares how she became skilled at hiding her drinking. Despite building a career, appearing successful, and keeping a smile on her face, she says she was breaking down inside. Then, on October 4, 2015, she sat in front of her husband and said three words:

"I need help."

Those words became a turning point in a recovery journey that has now lasted nearly 11 years.

In Part 1, Marci and host Joy Sutton discuss:

• What high-functioning alcohol addiction can look like
• Hiding an alcohol problem from friends and family
• The exhaustion of pretending everything is okay
• What surrender means in addiction recovery
• Why asking for help takes strength
• Pride and ego as barriers to getting help
• Finding community in early sobriety
• Marci's first experiences with AA
• The three words that changed her life

And this is only the beginning of Marci's story.

In Part 2, Marci goes back to where her relationship with alcohol began, including childhood trauma, drinking at a young age, and the experiences that shaped her relationship with alcohol as she grew into adulthood.

If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol or addiction, help is available.

Watch Part 2 to continue Marci Hopkins' recovery story.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers, a leading provider of addiction and mental health services.

Addiction Talk is brought to you by American Addiction Centers. If you or someone you know needs help, call 866-407-4130, or visit our website at AmericanAddictionCenters.org