What if some of the things you’ve believed about addiction recovery—about love, relapse, boundaries, even faith—aren’t fully true?

In this episode, I gently challenge 10 common myths that quietly shape how we show up for the people we love. If you’ve ever wondered…

• Am I enabling?
• Is relapse proof they’re not trying?
• Shouldn’t my faith make this easier?
• Why does loving them feel so exhausting?

This conversation is for you.

We’ll unpack what’s really happening beneath addiction, why recovery is rarely a straight line, and how love and boundaries can coexist without guilt. Most of all, we’ll talk about your healing—because recovery doesn’t just impact one person.

If you’ve been walking on eggshells, afraid of saying the wrong thing, I hope this episode brings clarity, courage, and grounded hope.

Time Stamps

00:00 Top 10 Addiction Recovery Myths (Intro & Overview)
01:01 Myth #1: “Loving Them Is Enabling” — Love + Boundaries
03:39 Myth #2: “Addiction Is a Choice” — What’s Happening in the Brain
07:16 Myth #3: “Talking About Drugs Makes Them Use” — Why Conversation Protects
09:18 Myth #4: “Relapse Means They’re Not Serious” — Recurrence & the Recovery Journey
14:40 Myth #5: “Boundaries Are Mean” — Why Boundaries Are Brave
15:46 Myth #6: “My Healing Doesn’t Matter” — Family Recovery Starts With You
16:56 Myth #7: “I’m the Only One” — Finding Community
18:05 Myth #8: “If I Have Faith, I Shouldn’t Struggle” — Holding Faith and Pain
19:20 Myth #9: “Mental Health Talk Is Weak” — Strength in Asking for Help
20:17 Myth #10: “They Just Need to Stop” — Getting to the Root
Wrap-Up: Truth, Hope & Final Encouragement

Pre-order the book When You Love Someone In Recovery: https://whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com/

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I sit down with Brandon Burley, Marine Corps veteran, former law enforcement officer, educator, and the founder of the Redemption Project - for a deeply hopeful conversation about addiction, incarceration, and what it really takes to help people rebuild their lives.

Brandon shares how his career in narcotics exposed him to the revolving door of recidivism: the same people cycling through the system, wanting treatment but facing barriers like lack of beds, insurance, and support. He talks honestly about the stigma that exists not only toward people who’ve been incarcerated or struggled with addiction, but even within law enforcement itself—and why enforcement alone can’t create safer communities without real rehabilitation on the back end.

We explore how recovery is both a public health and public safety strategy, and why community and belonging are often the missing pieces.

If you care about recovery, reentry, or what it looks like to become the kind of community that helps people truly come home, this conversation will leave you thinking—and hoping.

You can find Brandon at TheRedemptionProject.news (plus his podcast and Substack), and connect in his Facebook community, The Redemption Group.

00:14 Meet Brandon Burley: Marine, Law Enforcement & the Redemption Project

02:20 Breaking the Silos: Collaboration, Stigma & Compassionate Policing

06:04 Why Recidivism Happens: What Brandon Saw in Narcotics Work

09:41 Recovery as Public Safety: Community as the Missing Pillar

14:05 The First 30 Days After Release: IDs, Medication & Reentry Barriers

18:29 What’s Working Now: Redemption Project, Veterans Advocacy & Men of Valor

22:18 How to Connect + Final Thoughts

For more resources, visit carolinebeidler.com.

Pre-order the book: When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction.

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com

In this episode of Circle of Chairs, I am deeply honored to have my mom, Diana Dalles, as a special guest. Together, we candidly discuss the profound impact addiction and recovery have had on our family, sharing personal experiences and the journey toward healing and hope. We touch on the challenges we faced, from the lack of resources in the early 2000s to the isolation my mom felt, and the transformation that occurred through community support. We reflect on how showing up with love and hope can make a monumental difference for those struggling. Diana offers invaluable advice for family members feeling alone, emphasizing the importance of seeking support and resources available today. We also recount cherished memories and the enduring bond that has flourished despite the trials of addiction. This episode is a testament to the power of love, community, and unwavering hope in the face of addiction. Thank you for listening.

00:00 Introduction to Circle of Chairs

00:14 Meet My Mom, Diana Dallas

00:48 Humor and Light Moments

02:07 A Mother's Perspective on Addiction

04:43 Challenges and Changes in Recovery

09:06 The Importance of Support and Community

20:43 Reflections and Memories

23:08 Conclusion and Resources

Diana Dalles LPN, MSW has been writing poetry and journaling since her teenage years, mainly for her own enjoyment and healing. She spent the early years of her career in the nursing field, then worked thirty-five years as a professional social worker. Her employment interests included hospice, medical social work, and gerontology. She has facilitated grief, trauma, and women’s empowerment groups. Diana retired in 2015, and being with her family brings her the greatest joy. Diana lives with her cat in East Tennessee.

Pre-order a copy of my new book releasing April 2026:

When You Love Someone in Recovery https://whenyoulovesomeoneinrecovery.com/

Caroline Beidler, MSW, is an author, speaker, and Managing Editor of Recovery.com, where she combines expert guidance with research to help people find the best path to healing and treatment. Her next book, When You Love Someone in Recovery: A Hopeful Guide for Understanding Addiction, is coming Spring 2026 with Nelson Books. Drawing from her own recovery journey through addiction, mental health challenges, and trauma, along with training as a clinical mental health provider and addiction recovery expert, Caroline is passionate about guiding you into seasons of greater healing. Learn more about her books here.

Subscribe to her Circle of Chairs Substack community at carolinebeidler.substack.com