Derek Smith Discusses How He Explained His Relapse to His Daughters

Derek Smith Discusses How He Explained His Relapse to His Daughtershome insemination kits with syringes

In a heartfelt conversation on his podcast, Derek Smith opened up about his recent relapse after maintaining sobriety for 16 years. In a follow-up interview on the podcast “In Fact with Clara Johnson,” he elaborated on why he felt it was important to share this experience not only publicly but also with his young daughters, Ava, 8, and Mia, 6.

Derek recounted how his struggle began after an ATV accident necessitated pain management through prescription opioids. However, he soon found himself consuming more than prescribed and seeking additional pills. As someone who had built his identity around his sobriety, he grappled with the shame of potentially starting over. “I had created this entire persona around my 16 years of sobriety,” he admitted to Johnson.

Recognizing the impact his actions had on his family, he chose to seek help and be transparent with his daughters. “They were aware of my relapse. We told them, ‘Daddy was on these pills for his surgery, but then he made some bad choices and started getting his own pills,’” he explained. The girls have always been informed about his struggles with addiction, sharing a humorous anecdote about how a three-year-old Ava once wanted to attend one of his AA meetings. When he explained that one must be an alcoholic to join, she enthusiastically responded, “I’m gonna be an alcoholic!”

While discussing such complex topics with children can be challenging, Derek emphasized the importance of teaching them that addiction is a disease and not a moral failing. “Getting treatment for addiction should be viewed the same as receiving care for diabetes or a broken bone,” he stated. “I carry no shame about my past. While I felt guilty about many things, I am not embarrassed.”

He expressed immense pride when his daughters acknowledge their mistakes and apologize, calling it a brave act to own one’s shortcomings. By revealing his relapse, Derek set an example for his children, and he believes that his journey towards sobriety now feels even more fulfilling than before. “I feel better with six months of sobriety than I did at 15 years,” he shared.

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Summary:

Derek Smith recently shared his journey back into sobriety after a relapse, emphasizing the importance of honesty with his daughters about addiction. He believes in treating addiction as a health issue rather than a moral failing, and he aims to teach his children the value of owning their mistakes.