In this episode of Recovering Us, Sandra and Dan welcome Joanna and Matthew, a couple who have been married for 17 years and have spent more than a decade navigating recovery together. Their story begins with a whirlwind courtship and a marriage that looked promising but quickly revealed areas where neither had the tools to navigate conflict, emotions, and intimacy. Over time, Matthew's hidden addiction to pornography and sex became a central source of disconnection in their relationship. When Joanna finally asked Matthew directly if he was struggling with addiction, he chose honesty after more than 30 years of secrecy. That moment became the beginning of a long recovery journey—one that required individual healing, couples work, grief, transparency, community, and learning how to reconnect. Their story also highlights an important distinction: individual recovery and couples recovery are connected, but they are not the same thing.

From Hidden Addiction to Honest Connection: Joanna & Matthew's Journey of Recovery

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