Hilary Phelps' inspiring journey to sobriety: The hard truths about alcohol

Once the nation’s fastest swimmer in her age group, Hilary Phelps’ life took an unexpected path at the age of 14 when she tried alcohol for the first time. That one seemingly small decision opened the door to a 15-year battle with addiction. 

After college, she “just became a wine drinker,” — which is a common rationale in today’s wine culture. Her journey toward recovery began at 29 when she courageously took a significant step toward healing.

In this episode of Living Well with Alison Starling, a podcast brought to you by VHC Health and WBJ, Phelps and Dr. Linda Lang, VHC Health’s medical director for the behavioral health service line, discuss the hard truths about alcohol. 

“What if there’s one woman who hears my story — one woman who’s drinking, maybe too much wine … who decides not to drink today?” Phelps asked. “What that does for her family, her children, her community, her profession — that ripple effect of one woman getting sober is so powerful.” 

Listen to this episode to learn about:

• How Phelps confronted the underlying issues that led to alcoholism and discovered she wasn’t alone 
• What kept her quiet for 15 years 
• How women and men struggle with alcohol and recover differently 
• Being in a family of athletes (yes, Michael Phelps is her brother) 
• Determining how much alcohol is too much 
• The lesser-known dangers of alcohol, such as increasing the risk of six cancers 
• Signs that point to alcoholism and how to approach the topic with a loved one
• Practical strategies for simply cutting back or not drinking at all, including GLP-1 medications

Learn more about addiction treatment at VHC Health, where you can explore our comprehensive services. Treatment often begins with a medically controlled detox process, followed by personalized care, including options such as our inpatient treatment program, residential treatment at trusted facilities or intensive outpatient care. Reach out today to take the first step toward healing.

VHC Health is becoming the region’s preferred community health system. With a teaching hospital and multiple primary and specialty care locations, we offer exceptional patient-centered care close to where our patients live and work. Consistently recognized for excellence, VHC Health is dedicated to meeting the needs of our diverse community.

Disclaimer
This podcast and any information, advice, opinions or statements within it are provided for general informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and does not create a patient-provider relationship. Seek the advice of your personal healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding the information presented and before undertaking a new health care regimen.

Unless specifically stated in the podcast, the views expressed in this podcast are the speaker’s own and do not represent the views of VHC Health. Participation in this podcast should not be implied as an endorsement of VHC Health or any particular organization, product or service.