Letting go of control is terrifying when control has been the only thing keeping you together.<br /><br />That's where Beth McDonough was, using alcohol to manage what she couldn't say out loud, couldn't process, and couldn't put down. What started as a way to cope with trauma became something with a grip of its own. And working in crime reporting only made it harder to put the weight down at the end of the day.<br /><br />In this episode, Lyndsay Soprano sits down with Beth McDonough for one of the most honest conversations the show has had about addiction, shame, and what recovery actually looks like when you're in the middle of it. Not the cleaned-up version. The real one.<br /><br />This episode is for anyone who has ever used something — anything — to survive a version of themselves they didn't know how to face. Recovery is not a straight line. Beth's story is proof that it doesn't have to be.<br /><br />Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.<br /><br /><b>Episode Highlights:</b><br />(00:00) Introduction to Chronic Pain and Coping Mechanisms<br />(02:52) The Impact of Crime Reporting on Mental Health<br />(05:41) Personal Stories of Trauma and Coping<br />(08:12) The Journey Through Alcoholism<br />(11:14) The Role of Shame in Addiction<br />(13:57) Reconstructing Life After Addiction<br />(16:40) The Importance of Seeking Help<br />(19:44) Empowerment Through Shared Experiences<br />(22:30) Conclusion and Call to Action<br /><br /><b>Find Beth McDonough Online Here:</b><br />Website: <a href="http://www.bethmcdmedia.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bethmcdmedia.com</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bemcdn" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@bemcdn</a><br />Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/bemcdn/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth McDonough</a><br />YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@BethMcDonough" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth McDonough</a><br />LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/beth-mcdonough-08694031/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beth McDonough</a><br /><br /><b>Find The Pain Game Podcast Online Here:</b><br />Website: <a href="https://thepaingamepodcast.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">thepaingamepodcast.com</a><br />Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thepaingamepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">@thepaingamepodcast</a><br />Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/paingamepodcast/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pain Game Podcast</a><br />LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndsaysoprano/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"> Lyndsay Soprano</a><br />YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2P3qoIO3lJqT2KBxedOcLg" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Pain Game Podcast</a><br /><br /><b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@givingpainpurpose" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Subscribe on YouTube</a> </b>| <a href="https://thegivingpainpurposeshop.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>Merch Shop is OPEN!!</b></a> | <a href="https://www.thepainhub.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><b>COMING SOON: The Pain Hub - A Women's Healing Community. Subscribe Now!</b></a><br /><br />Unfiltered convos. Dark humor. Real healing. <br />This is where pain meets purpose — and you’re not doing it alone.<br /><br />++<br /><br />Want to be a guest on <i>Giving Pain Purpose</i> with Lyndsay Soprano? Send her a message on PodMatch, here: <br /><br /><a href="https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/thepaingamepodcast" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Be a Guest on The Show</a>