MAINTAINING A SUPPORT SYSTEMMAINTAINING A SUPPORT SYSTEM
On the Brink: The No Grey Area Podcast
Yosiya and Pamela Rinell talk about what a real support system looks like in addiction recovery, from people and routines to spirituality and self-honesty. The conversation outlines practical tips to avoid unhelpful support and build networks that genuinely help you stay sober.
11:56•7 Jul 2026
No Grey Area: Building the Support System That Keeps You Sober
Episode Overview
- A support system can include people, places and activities, as long as they offer genuine emotional or practical support.
- Family members are not automatically the best support; mismatched expectations can create resentment and harm recovery.
- Hobbies, schedules and routines help fill the space left by alcohol, turning destructive time into constructive habits.
- Exercise and creative outlets like writing can be both grounding and therapeutic, reinforcing gratitude and sobriety.
- Spirituality, including the serenity prayer, can provide inner strength when interpersonal relationships feel shaky or unreliable.
“Support networks are like the roots of a tree that allow it to grow strong and all the way up to the sky, because they keep that tree grounded and connected to the earth.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? This conversation between Yosiya and transformational life coach Pamela Rinell digs into what actually keeps someone going when recovery stops feeling shiny and starts feeling hard. You’ll hear Yosiya share that after 30 years of on-and-off drinking and 12 months of recovery, his support system is the difference between moving forward and slipping back.
He widens the usual definition of a support system from “a network of people” to include places and things that offer emotional or practical backup. That might be a trusted friend, a phone call, a social media post that sticks with you, or even a routine that keeps your day anchored. The episode is built around three straight-talking tips.
First, steer clear of "marriages of convenience" in recovery – just because someone is family doesn’t automatically make them the right person to lean on. As Yosiya puts it, love alone doesn’t qualify someone to perform "life-saving surgery" on your mental health. Second, he champions "hobby, schedule, routine" as his holy grail.
Writing and exercise fill the spaces alcohol once occupied, helping him swap destructive habits for constructive ones and turning early-morning workouts into an "attitude of gratitude" instead of hangovers and anxiety. Pamela adds a powerful image of support networks as "the roots of a tree" that keep you grounded and growing. She talks about chosen family and a "good garden of friends" built on honesty and vulnerability.
Finally, Yosiya shares how spirituality underpins his support system, with the serenity prayer as his go-to when the storm hits: accepting what can’t be changed, finding courage for what can, and seeking the wisdom to know the difference. If you’ve ever felt alone in a crowded room during recovery, this candid chat might help you rethink who and what truly has your back.
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