Episode 1098: The Lies We Told Ourselves In Our AddictionEpisode 1098: The Lies We Told Ourselves In Our Addiction
Take 12 Recovery Radio
THE LIES WE TOLD OURSELVES (In Our Addiction). This episode explores the lies we tell ourselves i...
1:01:29•27 Apr 2026
The Lies We Told Ourselves: Humour, Denial and Getting Honest in Addiction
Episode Overview
- Lies in addiction often start long before the first drink or drug and can become so frequent they feel like truth.
- Common self-deceptions include believing you can stop anytime, that you are not hurting anyone, or that certain substances “don’t count.”
- Denial shows up in families as much as in individuals, with loved ones minimising or explaining away obvious problems.
- Moving into recovery means taking responsibility for actions and feelings instead of relying on excuses and victimhood.
- Telling the truth becomes far easier than managing a web of lies, and support from recovery communities can make that shift possible.
“After I got sober, I realized that I literally was a walking, talking lie.”
What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? Take 12 Recovery Radio takes a funny, brutally honest look at that question by focusing on one slippery theme: the lies people told themselves in addiction. Hosted by recovered alcoholic Monty Dale Meyer (the Monty'man), with co-hosts Roger McDermott and Dion Miller, this chatty, light-hearted show tackles a serious topic without getting preachy.
From "I can stop anytime I want" to "I'm not hurting anybody" and "I'm a social meth user", they swap stories that many in addiction and recovery might quietly recognise. Monty admits he lived in "fabrication mode" long before alcohol, while Roger reflects that he was "a walking, talking lie" who always had an excuse.
Dion shares how he lied so often he once genuinely believed he was related to Donny and Marie Osmond, only for his mum to call it out on the spot. Their laughter doesn't hide the message: repeated lies start to feel like truth, until consequences land hard—jail cells, broken trust, or that moment of saying, "I'm not a criminal" while standing in prison.
They also touch on common justifications around pills, cannabis, and so-called “social” use, pointing out how denial can show up in families too: "He's not like Uncle Joe," or "It's just a phase." A memorable acronym from Mickey gets mentioned for denial: "Don't even notice I am lying." Beneath the humour sits a clear invitation: honesty is less exhausting than keeping track of lies, and help is widely available through meetings, retreats, and community.
As Roger puts it, life gets better when you "do the right thing at the right time for the right reason" and stop living behind excuses. If you've ever caught yourself saying, "I'm fine, really," while knowing you're not, this one might nudge you to ask: what lies are you still clinging to, and what would it feel like to finally drop them?
Do you want to link to this podcast?
Get the buttons here!
More From This Show
The latest episodes from the same podcast.
Related Episodes
Similar episodes from other shows in the catalogue.