Jason & Ashley Wahler | Love Through Alcohol Addiction, OCD & Postpartum Depression Healing

In this powerful Recoverycast episode, Jason & Ashley Wahler share their raw journey through alcohol addiction, relapse, OCD and postpartum depression. On their very first date, Jason told Ashley that his sobriety and faith came before everything. To support him, she even stopped drinking for over a year. Despite years of sobriety, Jason’s unresolved OCD, shame and anxiety fed his alcoholism, leading to multiple relapses and his thirteenth trip to rehab. Ashley describes the codependency and secrecy that defined their marriage during these dark years, and how Al‑Anon and therapy gave her tools to reclaim her identity and set boundaries.

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After the birth of their son August, Ashley was blindsided by postpartum depression, anxiety and OCD. She recalls experiencing vivid suicidal thoughts and feeling like a “demon had taken over”. Her mind raced so intensely that she would drink just to quiet it, demonstrating how postpartum mental health issues can lead to substance misuse. With Jason’s support, she sought medical help, bravely trying medication despite fearing dependency. Together, they discuss the importance of therapy, medication, exercise and spiritual practice in healing. Jason speaks candidly about moments when he was “literally drinking vodka, crying that I didn’t want to do this” and how recovery taught him to love himself and his family again. This episode offers hope to anyone battling addiction or mental health challenges, showing that recovery is possible for individuals and families.

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⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Jason & Ashley Meet: Sobriety on the First Date
02:20 – Navigating Early Love: Setting Boundaries & Staying Sober
08:31 – Reality TV Rewind: Filming Addiction on The Hills & Laguna Beach 
16:13 – The Mask of Addiction: OCD, Anxiety & Mental Health 
17:47 – Relapse & Recovery: Al-Anon, Codependency & The Family Disease 
24:45 – Saving the Marriage: 3 Years of Therapy & Rebuilding Trust 
27:56 – Daily Discipline: Faith, Fitness & The 12 Steps 
36:25 – Ashley’s Darkest Hour: Postpartum Depression & Intrusive Thoughts 
43:18 – Medication & Healing: Breaking the Stigma of PPD Treatment 
46:19 – The Gifts of Recovery: Emotional Maturity & A Second Chance 
51:57 – Advice for Spouses: Spotting the Signs & Trusting Intuition 

❓ Questions the Video Answers:

1. How do you support a partner struggling with alcohol addiction?
2. What does sobriety look like when you’re married to an alcoholic?
3. How do OCD and mental health issues fuel substance use?
4. What does relapse feel like for someone in long‑term recovery?
5. What are the first signs of postpartum depression and anxiety?
6. How can postpartum OCD manifest after childbirth?
7. What should you do when you suspect your spouse is secretly drinking?
8. How does Al‑Anon help families of addicts recover?
9. What is postpartum depression medication and how does it work?
10. How do you balance motherhood and recovery after postpartum depression?
11. How can therapy and community help rebuild self‑trust after relapse?
12. Why are honesty and boundaries critical in addiction recovery?
13. How do you rebuild a marriage after addiction and mental health crises?
14. What coping tools exist for mothers experiencing postpartum anxiety?
15. How can exercise and spirituality support long‑term sobriety?

#mentalhealth #addictionrecovery #postpartumdepression