What Recovery Month is *really* about
listen at your own risk + join me Friday for a live event
This week, I get real.
(this is your warning)
Listen in on my conversation from the start of Recovery Month.
For those who don’t know, Recovery Month is a time to shine a light on the beauty and power of recovery—from addiction, mental health challenges, trauma, disordered eating, and more. It’s about honoring the journey in all its forms and recognizing that healing is a process.
It’s not perfection or even progress. It’s about formation.
Listen in as I talk about what Recovery Month is really about (and the answer may surprise you).
P.S. Want to Help Others Heal Too?
I mentioned in the episode a new initiative that’s close to my heart:
The Women’s Recovery Leadership Foundation, created to empower women in recovery to lead with purpose and impact their communities.
Learn more and how you can get involved: Women's Recovery Leadership Foundation.
Let’s take this journey together.
You can also register to join our last Fridays in September series where I’ll be joined by my dear friend,
. You don’t want to miss this conversation about women, leadership, and recovery.
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.
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Your talk was just what I needed today. I am getting frustrated trying to pull together a committee of six women across four time zones for a Nar-Anon service project, but after hearing you speak so eloquently about the value of service in all its forms, I will take a few deep breaths, say the Serenity Prayer and try again.
In one of my recent essays, I wrote: Recovery for an alcoholic is about more than not drinking. Recovery for families and friends of addicts is about more than setting boundaries. And recovery for those grieving a lost loved one is about more than feeling less sad. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration defines recovery as:
“A process of change through which individuals improve their health and wellness, live a self-directed life, and strive to reach their full potential.”
My recovery is first and foremost about me, but I can’t reach my full potential without community and purpose.
Great reflection on what recovery month is all about! Take a listen :)