Matt Salis is a researcher and writer focused on addiction prevention and recovery, with a particular focus on the impact of addiction on various relationships. He co-hosts and produces the Untoxicated Podcast, writes for and edits the Sober and Unashamed website and blog, facilitates trauma and addiction recovery writing and support groups, coaches high school soccer, and is married to his business partner, the mother of their four kids. Together Sheri and Matt authored their 2020 Amazon best new release, Soberevolution: Evolve into Sobriety and Recover Your Alcoholic Marriage. This book reads like a literal roadmap to healing your relationships after alcohol has taken it's toll on a marriage. It's a personal favorite in my alcohol literature library!
In this episode Matt and I discuss the relationship wreckage that's left behind when someone suffers from addiction. Matt shares that often times the person embarking on a new recovery journey may think that once the alcohol or substance is removed, everything is fixed and things can go back to "normal". But early recovery is often the very beginning of what can be a long road back to restoring relationships. Matt answers my pointed questions regarding how long it takes and how much work is it really when you're walking the path of relationship recovery. He also shares his thoughts on how often things actually do work out. Matt is point plank about what is to be expected during this process, provides a few non-negotiables if there's going to be hope for success, and provides us with very realistic expectations. He also gives some amazing practical tips on how to start the process and shares the number thing that must happen if relationship restoration is to take place.
On Matt's Podcast Untoxicated, Matt and his wife Sheri bare their souls with their personal stories and unearth all the good bad and the ugly of restoring relationships in recovery. The result after years of hard work between them is both beautiful and inspiring. There is hope in restoring relationships if you have two willing partners and the right tools. Although Matt's work focuses mainly on married couples, his practical steps can be applied to almost any relationship dynamic, parents and children, family members, friends etc. This episode is a must listen. I believe you'll take away a new perspective and renewed hope in relationship recovery!
Podcast: https://un-toxicated.com/
https://thestigma.org/author/mattsalis/
Soberevolution:https://soberandunashamed.com/books/
