Behind Perfect Lives: The Truth About Addiction and Alcoholism (Part 2 of 2)

Behind Perfect Lives: The Truth About Addiction and Alcoholism

Amy Connell: Sarah, thank you so much for coming back. I I was telling you before we hit record, I don't, I hardly ever do this, but I've got so many questions that are now coming into my mind as we're going. So thank you for coming back.

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. 

Amy Connell: I wanted to talk some about Christianity and the church and just the shame that. May be felt of addiction. You know, it's, it's interesting. I attend this amazing church that is pretty good at recognizing the hard things in life. And they had a night of prayer and worship several months ago and had people say like, You know, just fill out an honest, anonymously. How can we pray for you? So we have just entered into what they call small group season where they're trying to pull these small groups together. And when they were reading the cards and they were reading the prayer requests, they realized two areas that were not needed or not met. By the, they, they just, the church was not meeting the need and they wanted to meet that.

So one of them was cancer care for people who are walking through cancer or maybe who are in remission or something like that. So like getting them around other people who have walked through that. The second one was addiction. It's really interesting because if you walk in this church, this gorgeous church with amazing people and they're happy to see you and they're hugging you at the door and you know, like everybody looks amazing. But if they're, if they're looking at this and if the two things that they realize we need more help and we need more support for our church community, and one of them is addiction, that tells me that there is a lot that is not being discussed about addiction. And so I'm wondering if you could just speak to, and I'll just kind of like put a blanket question on and then you can go however you want because I think there's a lot of ways that you can do it, but like addiction in the church and 

I don't have a question, but do you have thoughts on that?

Sarah Pritchard: Yeah. you know, I really believe that if addiction is in the church and it's in the corporate world and it's in the medical field and it's in so it is everywhere. I also have seen,

Amy Connell: seen, 

Sarah Pritchard: just the 

natural thing for many people. if

you're going through addiction or there's a loved one addiction is

go to the church, go to church,

talk to someone within the church.

And we're going to figure this out.

Amy Connell: this out. 

Sarah Pritchard: And that, that,

can work

if

the person is

Amy Connell: is

Sarah Pritchard: like a hard 

drinker or a hard user. And

this could go into the weeds a little bit.

but there is a difference between like the real addict and alcoholic and just somebody that's a hard drinker or a hard user.

Given sufficient reason, the hard drinker and hard user can stop. 

Amy Connell: can stop.

Sarah Pritchard: The

alcoholic and addict cannot, right?

They're going to get a divorce.

They're

going to lose their kids. Their health is

failing miserably. They can turn it around and getting involved in in the community at church and

all that, that might be the answer. But for the real addict and alcoholic, they have to have this, this program of action to get them connected to the power to remove that obsession.

But,

going back to

just within the church, there's, there's of course, there's so much shame. Because,

just like you said, everybody's well dressed and happy and smiling. And you want to put on your, you know, like we're

children of God and it's, it's all okay. And,

but it's,

it's not. and and that's okay. That it's not okay because there's so many people that are experiencing this.

and

Amy Connell: and 

Sarah Pritchard: I guess what I 

would say is if you're seeking out help

through through your church

and it's not working. You might have to

take that next step up.

and and if you know anyone that

is going through it or has gone through it or is sober, like talk to them

Amy Connell: to them. because that's that really is the best way,

Sarah Pritchard: is is talking to somebody that knows what they're talking about

Amy Connell: talking about. Right.

Sarah Pritchard: has experienced it and has had success in that area.

And then

if you talk to them and that doesn't work,

go find somebody else.

Ask God to bring the person or people into your life

that's going to help your loved one.

I mean,

it, it works every time. It really does. It may take a little time here and there, but

if, if we truly ask, you know, God, please bring the right people into my life and I can,

and I watch for it, and I keep my eyes open, there are answers and all the time. and I watch for it, and I keep my eyes open, there are answers all the time. Once you're aware of something, you see it more. And so there's a woman named Kathy Lipp, who is kind of a writing mentor of mine. She was on the show several months ago for her book, Sabbath Soup, which is Awesome and amazing cookbook. But she gave the example one time of like, I had never heard of a Toyota Sienna. She was like, I had four kids, I needed a new car. And then someone said, well, have you thought about a Toyota Sienna, which is a minivan? And she was like, no, I haven't even heard of it. And she was like, and lo and behold, Every time I went out, I saw Toyota Siennas everywhere on the road.

right?

Amy Connell: I like how you're saying like putting that out there and starting to be aware and praying for God to reveal people or centers or something like that.

I think maybe that will give us that awareness of whatever the theory is, I can't remember what it's called to, to be able to take that next step.

Sarah Pritchard: for sure. but you know, I, I just, I want to point out again that 

Amy Connell: point out again that

Sarah Pritchard: I know there's so much shame

and, guilt, but

Amy Connell: guilt, but 

Sarah Pritchard: there,

doesn't need to be because the person is so sick.

Amy Connell: so sick. 

Sarah Pritchard: They are so sick and they would never in their right minds do some of the things that they've done.

Amy Connell: that they've 

Sarah Pritchard: Like I said,

every single person I've ever helped

has 

loved their family, has loved their friends.

So they're, they're just a very, very sick, sick people.

Amy Connell: I think too, there's this thought of like, well, if I was a better Christian, then I wouldn't have a problem or I wouldn't, you know, I would be able to say no, or I wouldn't drink so much or I wouldn't use or something like that. And, you know, I think there's a little bit of a crossover with this of, of the perception that this is also a moral issue. Yeah.

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. And I 

was told, 

Amy Connell: You know,

Sarah Pritchard: moral and philosophical convictions galore. We can't live up to them even if we'd like to, 

Amy Connell: if we'd like to.

Sarah Pritchard: We can't live up to our morals even if we'd like to.

I was raised.

Amy Connell: was raised Knowing the difference between right and wrong.

right and wrong. I was raised in a great family.

Sarah Pritchard: I, I had great friends.

I didn't have any sort of

Amy Connell: any sort of event that would quote unquote, make me alcoholic.

Sarah Pritchard: Cause I thought something had to make me an alcoholic.

I really believe it's just in my chemical makeup and I don't know if that's right or wrong, but,

Amy Connell: And I don't know if that's

Sarah Pritchard: that's what I believe because there's, there's nothing

external that could have,

Amy Connell: Because there's, there's could have. made that happen. And also addicts and alcoholics have. all different backgrounds and stories. And you know, there's people that go through really, really hard times.

Sarah Pritchard: And they're not addict or alcoholic.

And then there's people that go through the exact same thing, and they are. And then there's people that don't go through that rough of a childhood, and they're alcoholics. So, 

Amy Connell: Rough of a childhood, and they're

Sarah Pritchard: and I'm sorry, I got off track, and now I forgot the question.

Amy Connell: track. I know I forgot the question. No, that's good because now I have like 14 more questions for you.

So, but you're talking about the chemical makeup. I have heard that it can also be like a, like a genetic component. So, is there like, if we have people in our families who have, have had addiction, whether or not they're in recovery or whether or not it did not go the way that we had hoped it would go. Like, does that make a difference if it runs in a family? I mean, it's kind of like, you know, yeah, just in genetics. I mean, does that, does that play into this as well?

Sarah Pritchard: Yeah, I mean, I have, I have read stuff and seen stuff on genetics, for sure. 

Amy Connell: For sure.

Sarah Pritchard: like, my family,

I might, I think I'm the first one. 

Amy Connell: I think I'm the first one.

Sarah Pritchard: I may have had like a great uncle or something in there. I'm not quite sure,

But there's not really anyone else in my family that has had substance abuse problems. 

Amy Connell: But there's not really anyone else In my family that has had substance abuse problems. In all of our lives, right? Like we know that there will be hard times. I mean, Jesus talked about that, but we want to prevent it as much as possible because it's uncomfortable. And so I think if I'm really honest, part of that question is like, you want to be able to point to something and, and know, and then prevent and like take all of these action steps, like, well, they did this, this, and this, and they're, and now they're an alcoholic.

So therefore, I'm not going to do, or I want my loved one to not do this, this, and

Sarah Pritchard: Yes.

Amy Connell: Yes.

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. And,

I mean, I

just, you know, I really believe, and I guess kind of going back to your question about like, I'm a good Christian. Like, why is this happening? Kind of thing. 

Amy Connell: kind of thing.

Sarah Pritchard: I am so grateful to be an alcoholic.

Like, I truly, truly am.

Amy Connell: am. 

Sarah Pritchard: If you would have 

asked me that 

10 years ago, that would have been like, first I would have been like, I

don't have a problem.

But, I, this way of life is 

Amy Connell: is

Sarah Pritchard: just so much better than the way I was living. Take the alcohol out of it. Like

the way I operate as a human being is completely different than I used to operate in.

And so,

Amy Connell: in.

And so, 

Sarah Pritchard: It seems like the biggest burden. It seems like the biggest,

worst thing ever. But on the flip side of that, being able to go help somebody with, which was once my biggest liability has now turned into my greatest asset.

I, I was that person that had so much shame around, you know, not telling people I wasn't drinking and hiding that because I thought people would think I was weak.

And I, I remember sitting across from a woman, another alcoholic who was helping me,

And I told her,

I think alcoholics are weak and I think they're losers,

And She

was like, well, Sarah, I would have to argue they're some of the strongest people I know.

Amy Connell: I know. And that has been my experience, like

Sarah Pritchard: hands down. So

we get to go have an experience to help the next person and like potentially help change the trajectory of their life

and their family's lives. And their employers that, I mean,

it's just like doctors get to do that.

Who else, you know, like it is such a cool gift.

Um, My spirit just wakes up when I sit down and help another addict or alcoholic because I know where they've been

and I know they can get better too.

Amy Connell: too. I've never heard it said that way and that it can be a gift and you're glad that, I mean, who in their right mind would say, I'm glad I'm an alcoholic?

Sarah Pritchard: one. 

Amy Connell: not

Sarah Pritchard: my kids, they, at the start of the year, they have like, what do you want to be when you grow up? I certainly didn't write an alcoholic. 

Amy Connell: to check. No, there is no, that's so true. That's so true. I'm wondering if we, I'm going to kind of shift, shift drives here a little bit. I'm wondering if you can talk about, and I'm going to use this term, which I know that there's really not one, but like the face of addiction. You know, I have talked with someone and her child is struggling and she was like, I just have a hard time admitting that my child has an addiction because my version of addiction is living in your car, shooting up heroin. And that's kind of what we think about. But you're sitting here telling us that, that, you know, there's pastors who are addicts, there are, you know, or alcoholics there there's like, and we know this, right. Cause we see headlines and there's plenty of like, I don't know, people in the entertainment industry, you know, like we know this, but our, our mind goes to, yeah, living in your car.

Sarah Pritchard: Oh, yeah.

Amy Connell: You know, doing whatever the thing is. And so I was, I was wondering if you can kind of help us understand or speak into that a little bit

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. And I'm so glad you brought that up because that is what I thought too. I mean, I, I say, I always say, I thought the alcoholic was the man under the bridge with the brown paper bag. certainly couldn't be me, you know, not certainly not. 

it just goes back to the, the no control and no choice piece.

What I talked about in the last episode. And what I think I forgot to mention is like,

essentially, 

if 

I drink, and I

Amy Connell: I 

Sarah Pritchard: I

intend to,

Amy Connell: to, 

Sarah Pritchard: and then I stop, and I cannot stay stopped. Then I mean, you know, I'm probably an alcoholic or on my way. So

then the being able to stay stopped on a non spiritual basis.

That's what 

Amy Connell: what

Sarah Pritchard: defines the difference between an alcoholic, a real alcoholic.

and a

non alcoholic. heavy drinker or hard drinker.

Amy Connell: What do you mean by stay stopped? So do you mean like they're having some wine at night and they're gonna stop? Do you mean like on a more micro level or stay stopped? On like, it's January 1st and I'm never drinking

Sarah Pritchard: Right. Yes. So

stay stopped in a sense of okay I see my drinking is a problem and out of control so I I can't drink anymore I don't I should not drink anymore. So I can I'm just gonna stop.

Amy Connell: stop. 

Sarah Pritchard: I mean, there's there's plenty of people that had crazy, you know

Party life college after college and they're like whoa that got a little out of hand

It's time to stop 

and grow up 

and they don't touch another drop of alcohol again.

Amy Connell: again. What about the person who says, I'm going to do sober October, and that way I can, I'm going to prove to myself that I don't have a problem because I stopped for a month? power to them, 

Sarah Pritchard: more power to them, you know,

but what happens when they pick back up that drink again? You know, what, what happens then? Do they, are they able to just have a beer

and go home? Are they able to just

have a couple of drinks

or maybe they have a couple drinks here and there, but then it progresses into, you know, the eight, nine drinking around the clock or whatever it is.

And it looks so different, right? Because

There are the, the, the addicts that have been homeless and have the needle in their arm and

Amy Connell: arm and, 

Sarah Pritchard: But that

I am no different than them. And when I, when I went to treatment the first time

Amy Connell: time, 

Sarah Pritchard: I, I was the 

one kicking and screaming

I sat next to people that

had done all these drugs and I am, you know, I had always been like anti drug, like drugs are so bad.

Oh, my gosh. You know,

And of course now my perspective has totally changed,

but I'm like, all I do is drink alcohol. Like I just, you know, I had a bad breakup and it just got a little too,

I've been milking it a little too long. Right? Like,

and so I'm sitting next to a guy that, you know, was homeless

doing drugs.

And then the other person next to me has three DUIs and I never got arrested. And so

it was very conflicting because I'm like, well, I'm not as bad as them.

Cause I haven't had those consequences. But the reality was I could, I was probably the worst one, one of the worst ones in there

with the way I drank.

Because when, once I, once I drank, all bets are off.

I just don't know what's going to happen. happen. 

And eventually it's, it leads to very bad things, of course, but

it's a progressive illness. It's a progressive disease. It gets worse, not better.

So if that person is a real alcoholic that did sober October, And then they start drinking again, it's gonna get worse.

That's just the nature of the disease. And so

they will know.

But,

for me, I really thought like, if I could just get back to the way it was, if I can just, you know, when I went to treatment, I just got to get it cleared out of my body and I'll just get back to the way it was.

I didn't understand it was progressive.

I didn't understand it was going to get worse. And so when I drank again,

and it was, you know, for me, I progressed.

Amy Connell: I progressed 

Sarah Pritchard: And I was

drinking in the morning within, you know, a week

Again.

Um, some addicts and alcoholics don't drink in the morning. They never, they never will. And that doesn't make me alcoholic, but that's just my story.

But it, but it will get worse

over time for sure. for sure. Okay. That, well, that's, that's good to know that progression. that definitely makes sense because nobody in either one of our examples, like living in your car or living under a bridge, you know, with a brown bag, like that's not where people start. You are like, nobody plans on doing this. Right. Right, it's the progression that takes them there. And I want to go back to what you were talking about with comparison, like, I'm not as bad as them. And, you know, one thing that kind of reminds me of is this What's it called? Comparative suffering. Like I shouldn't feel bad.

Amy Connell: I mean, this is in grief or in suffering or something like that. Brene Brown talks a lot about it, but like, just because someone else has, like, I have a really good friend who lost her daughter relatively unexpectedly. I mean, like within a couple weeks,

And I can have hard things going on in my life, but if I'm constantly looking at her of like, well, my grief isn't, you know, or my heart thing isn't as bad as her because she lost her daughter. Like that negates my own hardness. And so I kind of feel like this also is something we need to remember when we're talking about addiction because of like, well, I'm not as bad as them. Does it mean that you don't have a problem?

Sarah Pritchard: Oh yeah. Yeah. It just means they have different circumstances.

They just have different consequences.

I just got lucky that I didn't get arrested. I mean,

I believe anyone's consequence is so possible for me. It just, we all have our own story and that's all it is is our story, but we suffer from the exact same thing across the board

and the solution is going to be the exact same thing and that's what, you know,

it doesn't matter if I go and I'm in a recovery circle

and we're talking about recovery.

It doesn't matter if the guy sitting next to me was living under a bridge with a

brown paper bag. I don't need to know that information. If he's sharing hope,

I'm gonna resonate with that.

If he's sharing the hopelessness that he felt,

and the internal brokenness,

Amy Connell: brokenness, 

Sarah Pritchard: I'm going 

to resonate with that as well.

It doesn't,

all the external stuff is just, it's just noise and drama. 

Amy Connell: drama. That makes sense. Okay. I feel like I'm just peppering you with questions.

Sarah Pritchard: No, it's great. I love it.

Amy Connell: So thank you. Thank you for all of that. Okay. I want to shift back to those of us or those in my community with loved ones who they, who they either know or fear that they have addiction issues. What do you, what do you recommend to people who have a loved one who either knows or they fear that they are an addict, but they don't want help and they just want to keep going and I'm not as bad as them.

I'm good. You know, what is there to do in situations like that? Okay. What does that look like?

Sarah Pritchard: therapy or the interventionist for family coaching. But to seek some help for yourself because

you will go insane. I've heard it put living with an alcoholic for years will make anyone neurotic. And that has been

many people's experience. 

And,

It is so important for the families to be able to

heal themselves and be okay, even if their loved ones not okay.

And it doesn't mean that it won't be, you know, painful, but at least

the family can have some solid foundation to stand on

and have some tools in their toolbox to help themselves. 

Amy Connell: them. Is that something that, like, Al Anon can help with?

Is this Like I know there's, and so I'll start there and then I've got another question, but is that like something like an Elanon would be helpful

Sarah Pritchard: Yeah, that's

that's,

what it was made for. You know, for for families.

So, and

you know, you may, it's kind of like if you're looking for a

doctor or a dentist, like you may not find the perfect one right off the bat. You may have to,

to kind of seek it out.

But what I, you know,

again, asking God,

show me where to go, what to do, the people in my life that I need to talk to.

And, And,

if and if

Amy Connell: with

Sarah Pritchard: you know, if, if you connect with somebody. Like, go with that. Go with your intuition. But we can't do this alone. A family cannot do it alone. I mean,

again, we don't, we don't know what to do. So we

need, we need each other.

to help each other. each other to help each other. 

Amy Connell: Sarah, I want to move into treatment for alcoholics, addicts and I'm kind of using that, those words interchangeably. So let me know if I need to use different words. But what are different treatment options for people who need help? Yeah,

Sarah Pritchard: options out there.

Amy Connell: out there. 

Sarah Pritchard: Are outpatient services where someone can go, you know, nine to five, nine to three every day.

There's residential treatment centers, which is like

You know, the,

Amy Connell: you know, 

Sarah Pritchard: the typical rehab, like she went to rehab. And that's where you stay there for an extended period of time.

There's

sober livings where you live there, but it's not necessarily like a lot of programming. It's more of

accountability and, and drug testing and things like that.

Um, of course there's detox that's to get medically detox safely. from the drugs or alcohol. And, and detox this,

I'll just say this cause I did not know this.

I had no idea how dangerous it is

to detox off of alcohol and benzos like Xanax and Klonopin. 

I, didn't know you could have a seizure. I didn't know you can actually die from

detoxing from alcohol. Or, or the benzos. So,

If, if you know someone, it is so important for them to get medically detoxed.

Because when I was going through it, I was so shaky and,

you know, everything that I just had to drink again,

it was the only thing that, that was going to work, but, With, with anything detox is always, always

the best route because you just know you're under medical care,

 it's going to be handled in the right way. 

Amy Connell: in the right way.

Sarah Pritchard: I mean, those are those are pretty much like the typical options. Of, of treatments and, and there's so many out there and

Google can be overwhelming. And 

so 

I am a big believer in, if you do know somebody like ask them first,

get their take if somebody's had experience somewhere. Because there's just so many options that it can really be overwhelming.

Amy Connell: Is it possible to heal just walking into the proverbial church basement and walk into an AA meeting?

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. It is very possible. the

12 step fellowships

Amy Connell: step fellowships 

Sarah Pritchard: are there because they work, 

Amy Connell: work, but

Sarah Pritchard: it's hard. It's really hard to do that. it takes a lot of courage to walk into a meeting by yourself.

Amy Connell: yourself. 

Sarah Pritchard: And,

And,

then you're telling me I got to go walk up to another woman and ask her to help me. And I'm going to disclose all my information to the stranger.

and

I got to pick up like a coin or

like all these things. Like

Amy Connell: like, 

Sarah Pritchard: I wasn't going to do that on my own.

Amy Connell: on my own. 

Sarah Pritchard: I needed,

luckily,

the way I got exposed to the recovery circles were, A girl I went to high school with

was a year older than me and she was sober. And my

younger sister actually reached out to her on Facebook.

It was like, Hey, I saw you're sober. My sister needs help. Can you help us?

Amy Connell: you help us? 

Sarah Pritchard: And then she introduced me to a lot of people in Atlanta that

they're amazing.

And so, Yeah, it is, it's not impossible. People do it, but

Amy Connell: it, but 

Sarah Pritchard: it is a lot easier if, You know, you're exposed to it a little bit

Or you get introduced to it.

And sometimes if you're in like a treatment.

or an IOP or a sober living being in a community of men or women

and going to

Amy Connell: to 

Sarah Pritchard: those together. 

It's a little 

bit more comforting.

Amy Connell: That makes sense. Yeah, that makes sense. You said IOP, what does that

Sarah Pritchard: Oh, sorry. intensive outpatient. 

Amy Connell: outpatient.

Got it. Okay. Okay. Now you are with a facility called Impact Recovery Center.

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. 

Amy Connell: Can you tell us some about your facility?

Sarah Pritchard: Yes. we are, we're, we're very different than, than most places. Program is very small.

We take 14, men at a time.

We are men only.

and, People are like, when are you opening a women's place? I'm like, it's a lot of work,

Amy Connell: of work! 

Sarah Pritchard: but one day, hopefully.

Um, but we, they go through the entire 12 step process while they're with us in that 35 day span.

Amy Connell: day span. 

Sarah Pritchard: So they really,

when they leave are are armed with all the tools that they need to go out and live this way of life. Like they have everything they need.

And when they get out, they are ready to make amends. They're ready to sponsor. They're ready to go back into their recovery communities and help the, next person.

It's a very intensive immersive environment. And so they're doing, they're doing the true 12 step process quickly and thoroughly. Like it was done in the early days when the big book was written, when the success rates were really high. I

think you mentioned on the last episode that the success rates are not good and they're not,

but they used to be good.

 And it's kind of like what happened and this, it's this authentic process of going through these action steps

quick.

in getting out and helping and being of service. Like, that's the real work.

And so

they, do that in conjunction with that. They

work with their therapist. They have an individual therapist that they're working with.

They have a recovery specialist that's helping them, you

know, each week and they do family sessions. We have a family program specifically so that families can get healing.

 what we found is

we would try to send the families out to certain

certain,

places or meetings or whatever. And it,

it,

it was just

not what they were looking for.

So we just decided to create our own. 

Amy Connell: our own.

and

Sarah Pritchard: it's such a cool culture out there. It's a very laid back culture. We want,

We want.

it to be fun. Like this life is amazing.

Amy Connell: amazing. sober to go live life, not to be like, not for it to be a drag and I can't do anything.

anything. And so

Sarah Pritchard: we, it's it's a very fun environment.

Everyone on our recovery team,

what we teach is the way we live our lives.

So

the men that come through, get to see walking examples of how this works,

Amy Connell: works. 

Sarah Pritchard: And it's just, it's just really, really unique again, the work they do is very intensive,

but we want them to have fun and,

and see that this is a good thing and that it's going to be a great life. 

Amy Connell: a great life. That hope word comes to mind again, because no one would ever put treatment and fun in the same sentence,

Sarah Pritchard: Right,

Amy Connell: but that's all making sense.

That makes sense. And it, and it also makes sense like, The getting out and helping others and serving others. You know, one of the things that we say on this show a lot is we take care of ourselves so we can do what we're called to do. So yeah, we want to be healthy and we want to be strong and we want to, you know, make sure that our blood work is good and all of that kind of stuff, but it's not so we can just stay in bed. look a certain size and, you know, it's not so we can reach these goals. It's so that because God has us things that he wants us doing. And, and so I love that you kind of have a similar thought on there. Like we, we heal from recovery so we can serve others and live out what God is wanting us to do and help other people in there. Um, I, So I discovered you because I just get on Google and, you know, search and all of that kind of stuff. And I discovered you, Sarah, actually from your podcast that you have on YouTube.

And is it just on YouTube right

Sarah Pritchard: Right now it's just on YouTube.

Amy Connell: on YouTube. Okay, so tell people, and you've interviewed a lot of the people. And I'm going to are with your, who are on staff. So tell everybody about your podcast if they are wanting to learn more or kind of give a little more of an insight into what goes on at Impact. Yeah. So we'll just start with

Sarah Pritchard: Yeah. So it's, called Impacting Recovery Dash Uncensored. And we talk about the truths about addiction. No sugarcoating, no judgment, just honest conversations. And we talk a lot about misconceptions and addiction and alcoholism and

misconceptions and recovery. You know, like

I, I hear it all the time. 

Amy Connell: the time.

Sarah Pritchard: It's, it's going to be a daily struggle, but they're strong. And you know, it's a fight every day. That is not my life.

It is not a fight.

I, you know, I'm actually told that I, it ceased fighting. Like there is no fighting.

We're in a place of neutrality. And so,

we talk a lot about these things that are so common

in just the public.

public,

knowledge that isn't necessarily lined up with the way of recovered life really can be.

it's kind of crazy how it all kind of came about the podcast because our team certainly are not

podcast people. Hardly anyone's on social media. Like it's, it's kind of funny, but, and, you know, I got nominated to be the host and I'm like, okay, I guess we'll do this.

 but it's been really fun.

and

yes,we bring a lot of people on the team on, and we have some outside guests.

and usually there's just

a specific topic that we're talking about. And

we'll definitely, of course, go into some things that we do at impact, just because it's

going to get sprinkled in there. But my goal really is to try to reach people that,

that,

don't understand.

And maybe it can just open up their mind a little bit, open up their heart a little bit,

And, Know like you're not alone.

and the, and there doesn't have to be this.

this,

Hush, hush, shame, because

Amy Connell: because 

Sarah Pritchard: I, I promise whatever you've been through, whoever's out there.

Someone else has gone through it too.

and I get it. I know that's way easier said than done. Like no one's just gonna like jump on a microphone and be like, Hey, my husband is snorting cocaine this morning. Like that's not

how that's going to go. But, just to know, like when you do find your people, when you do find your, how you're going to heal your therapist, 

Amy Connell: therapist,

Sarah Pritchard: your, your network, whoever it is.

It's okay.

Like it's okay to be vulnerable and open up because the more we're open and honest about it, it helps the next person.

It really, really does.

And, You know, that, that is why it's

like, why I, love my life today because I get to be open

to help the next person.

Amy Connell: person. Well, you guys are certainly doing that on that podcast and it's, it's very informative.

And I think too, we are in a world of, we want to know something more about anything, any topic. And that what's the first thing we do is we get on the internet and we Google it, you know, and we, and we kind of try and educate ourselves. So from the episodes that I've listened to, It is so informative.

It is it is a wonderful glimpse into the, the hope of recovery and what it can be. And it's just positive and encouraging, but not in a toxic positivity way. And I like that you guys are just very real on it. And boy it's, it's really incredible to hear some of the stories of some of your. Of the guests who are also impact members.

So well done with that. And you guys, I really encourage you to check that out. If you just want to learn more and that will definitely be in in the show notes. Sarah, I have a couple questions I ask all my guests. Before I do that though, I have to thank you for your time for two full episodes worth of talking about addiction and for me being all over the place because every time you said something it was so good it made me want to ask 10 more questions.

So thank you, thank you, thank you for your time and your patience with

Sarah Pritchard: No, thank you so much. This has been so great. And I think I was kind of all over the place too. So, hopefully, hopefully it made sense. 

Amy Connell: really expands. Yeah, I mean, that's just kind of life too, right? Like we're all, all over the,

Sarah Pritchard: Yes, exactly.

Amy Connell: the place. Yeah. Okay, I've got two questions. One is, I love learning about people's tattoos whenever they have them, because I have found that When people put tattoos on their body they typically will have a meaning behind it.

Not always, but typically. So I was wondering if you have any tattoos if you do, would you be willing to share what they are and the meaning behind it? If you don't have any, but you had to get one, what would it be and where would it go?

Sarah Pritchard: I do not have any tattoos and you know, I, if I got a tattoo or tattoos, I think it would be 

Amy Connell: be

Sarah Pritchard: my children's birthdays.

Amy Connell: birthdays. Mm-hmm . Yeah.

Sarah Pritchard: you know,

my sobriety date is

Amy Connell: date is one of the most important things,

Sarah Pritchard: of course, but but

it doesn't define who I am as a person. And, you know,

Amy Connell: you know, the, dates of my children is just like,

Sarah Pritchard: that is the gift from God.

And that is the gift, that is one of the gifts of sobriety. 

if you're having a bad day or, you know, God's in everyone everywhere, but you can always look at,

I can always look at my, my children and see God in them.

so that, would probably, that would probably be it. 

Amy Connell: probably be it.

Oh, that's beautiful. I love that. And I, and I love how, I mean, not to discount the sobriety date, but how you've been able to shift that and shift that that doesn't totally identify you and that, you know, the love of God is in your kids. I love that. Thank

you Okay, this is gonna be a hard one, but I ask all my questions all of my guests

Sarah Pritchard: Okay. 

Amy Connell: so of two full episodes worth of Content what is the one simple thing you would like our community and to remember about our conversation?

Oh gosh.

Sarah Pritchard: to have compassion

Amy Connell: Can

Sarah Pritchard: for yourself, whether you're the one going through it or you're the family member. And to have compassion for the loved one, you know, like, it, whether you're, you're the the one struggling with alcohol right now,

have compassion with yourself and have compassion for your family.

That's probably concerned.

And if it's the flip side of that, if you're the family member, have compassion with yourself that you don't know what to do, and that's okay.

And there are people out there that will that can help

and have compassion for your loved one because they're very very sick. 

Amy Connell: very sick. Yeah. That's fantastic. Thank you again for your time. That's all for today. Go out there and have a graced day.

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