#20 Dacey Fenton —Trauma, Faith, & Finding Freedom Beyond Sobriety

Dacey Fenton’s recovery story is about far more than overcoming addiction. It’s about discovering that getting sober was only the beginning of a much deeper journey toward healing shame, processing trauma, rebuilding identity, and learning what it truly means to feel safe.

Growing up in what she describes as a loving home, Dacey’s life changed dramatically after her parents divorced when she was 12. As her sense of safety unraveled, alcohol quickly became more than just a way to have fun with friends—it became an escape from grief she didn’t yet know she was carrying. What began with drinking at 12 eventually progressed to prescription stimulants, marijuana, multiple DUIs, legal trouble, and a life that felt increasingly out of control.

After a second DUI, house arrest, and her father taking her to her first AA meeting, Dacey committed fully to recovery at 22 years old. Yet years into sobriety, she experienced what she describes as a second rock bottom—not because of substances, but because unresolved trauma, codependency, and grief finally demanded attention.

In this deeply honest conversation, Dacey shares how motherhood unexpectedly triggered buried trauma, how learning to regulate her nervous system transformed her recovery, why community with other women became essential to her healing, and how her relationship with Jesus reshaped her identity. Together, Dacey and Jonny explore shame versus guilt, attachment styles, trauma responses, codependency, parenting, faith, and why recovery is ultimately about becoming whole—not simply abstaining from substances.

You’ll Hear:

* How Dacey’s parents’ divorce at age 12 shaped her identity and relationship with addiction
* Why addiction often begins as an attempt to cope with pain we don’t yet understand
* The difference between guilt and shame—and why shame keeps people isolated
* How prescription stimulants became part of her early addiction story
* Why getting sober did not immediately heal the trauma underneath her addiction
* What Dacey means when she says she experienced a “second rock bottom” years into recovery
* How becoming a mother unexpectedly triggered PTSD and unresolved trauma
* Why learning to regulate her nervous system became a turning point in healing
* The role of trauma therapy, breathwork, yoga, and other holistic approaches in her recovery
* How codependency became her next addiction after substances
* Why finding community with other women transformed her recovery
* How faith and an intimate relationship with Jesus became central to her healing
* Why recovery often requires embracing discomfort instead of avoiding it
* The importance of secure attachment, healthy relationships, and emotional awareness
* How Dacey and her son’s father built a healthy co-parenting relationship through recovery
* Why she believes healing happens one “yes” at a time

Why Listen:

* To understand why addiction is often rooted in grief, shame, and unresolved trauma—not simply substance use
* To learn how recovery continues long after someone stops drinking or using drugs
* To hear practical insights on healing trauma, codependency, and emotional wounds
* To better understand the connection between attachment, nervous system regulation, and recovery
* To discover why vulnerability and authentic community are essential for lasting healing
* To hear an encouraging conversation about faith, hope, and rebuilding identity after addiction
* To be reminded that recovery isn’t about becoming a different person—it’s about becoming the person you were always created to be

If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available.

To learn more about National Addiction Specialists and the Breaking Down Addiction podcast, visit nationaladdictionspecialists.com.

To watch this episode on Youtube, click here: 
https://youtu.be/8wzvh-G2Glc