193 - How to Get Help for Addiction with Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Ricky Byrd

The Verywell Mind Podcast

Dotdash Media Inc.

Health & Fitness, Self-improvement, Mental Health, Education

5 • 703 Ratings

🗓️ 29 August 2022

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Ricky Byrd is a rock and roll guitar player, singer, songwriter, and music producer. For more than a decade, he was a member of Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, where he contributed background vocals and music to many albums, including two platinum albums and one gold album. His most famous song might be “I Love Rock 'n Roll,” which was released in 1981. For many years, Ricky lived what might be the “typical” musician lifestyle. He drank, used drugs, and partied hard as he toured around the world alongside other famous musicians like Paul McCartney, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen, and Stevie Wonder. But Ricky made a decision to get sober over 30 years ago. Since then, he’s created a lot of new music that focuses on recovery and hope. He often performs at benefit shows to raise money for drug and alcohol treatment facilities. He’s become a certified recovery coach and drug and alcohol counselor. He frequently leads recovery music groups at treatment facilities around the United States. Some of the things he talks about are how his denial and desire to punish himself kept his substance abuse going, the one thing that inspired him to get help, and how he now helps other people who are struggling with addiction. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Very Well Mind podcast. We've interviewed over 100 authors, experts, entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and others to help you learn strategies to care for your mental health.
0:22.9	This episode is hosted by psychotherapist and bestselling author Amy Morin. Now let's get into the episode.
0:49.1	Okay. If you've ever heard the song, I love rock and roll, you've heard today's guest.
0:53.9	For more than a decade, Ricky Bird was a member of Joan Jett and the Black Arts.
0:59.3	His life as a musician started out like a lot of other stories you probably heard.
1:03.9	As he rose to fame, his drinking and drug use also rose.
1:10.3	He performed drunk and high on stages all around the world, until he decided to get sober.
1:14.5	And he credits AA with helping him in his path to healing and recovery.
1:18.5	So whether you struggle with an addiction or you know someone who does,
1:20.4	today's episode is for you.
1:24.1	Some of the things Ricky talks about are what made him get help,
1:28.0	why AA isn't for everyone, but why it worked for him.
1:31.0	And how people can find their own path to recovery.
1:35.0	Make sure to stick around until the end of the episode for the therapist's take.
1:39.0	It's the part of the show where I'll break down Ricky's mental strength building strategies and share how you can apply them to your own life.
1:41.9	So here's Ricky Bird on how to get help for an addiction.
1:45.8	Ricky Bird, welcome to the very well-minded podcast. Nice to meet you, Amy. You know,
1:51.6	such a pleasure to talk to you. As I said, before we- You should wait until this is finished
1:55.7	before you say something like that. Well, you know, before we press the record button, you and I
2:00.8	chatted for a minute and I said about, I don't know, before we press the record button, you and I chatted for a minute,
2:01.6	and I said about, I don't know, two hours after we booked you on the podcast, I sit in the car
2:06.6	and I hear I love rock and roll on the radio, and immediately think this is amazing. I get to talk
	...

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