Riley Whelan | From Alcohol & Marijuana Addiction to Sober Living, AA Recovery, & ADHD Healing

In this raw addiction recovery story, Riley Whalen shares her journey through ADHD, alcoholism, marijuana dependency, and academic failure. From a cross-country escape to multiple rehab stints, Riley opens up about how sober living, 12-step programs, and deep personal work helped her reclaim her life—and become a recovery advocate to over 100,000 followers.Explore mental health and addiction treatment options: https://recovery.comConnect with Riley: https://www.tiktok.com/@riwhey_orthehighway, https://www.instagram.com/riwhey_orthehighway/00:00 Introduction and Personal Reflections00:21 Welcome to Recovery Cast02:32 Riley's Early Experiences with Alcohol and Marijuana09:43 High School Struggles and Family Dynamics14:22 The Turning Point: Realizing the Need for Help17:01 The California Journey and Return Home22:40 First Steps Towards Recovery27:06 Realizing Alcoholism27:25 Connecting with Others in Treatment27:39 The Power of Shared Experiences28:47 Recovery.com Sponsorship29:41 Processing Emotions in Treatment31:18 Defining Alcoholism35:05 Facing Fears in Treatment37:15 Transitioning to Sober Living43:03 Relapse and Recovery50:40 Life in Recovery55:09 Advice for Those in Fear55:54 Conclusion and Social Media