“I Should Be Dead: Rich's Brutal Story of Trauma & Addiction” | Flip That Switch Podcast

In this episode of Flip That Switch, I spoke with Rich Dunning, author of Silence Was My First Language, to discuss childhood trauma, addiction, sobriety, and rebuilding his life. Rich opened up about the impact of silence, breaking generational cycles, repairing family relationships, and the wake-up call that changed everything. He also shared how his journey inspired the First Language Foundation, created to support young adults facing addiction and trauma.Rich got brutally honest about starting to drink at just seven years old, becoming an alcoholic at 13, and the traumatic experiences that shaped the man he became. He opens up about the damage addiction caused, the moments he feared he might not survive, and the difficult road to earning back his family’s trust. This is a raw conversation about trauma, addiction, family, survival, and finding a way to break the cycle.   Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Rich Dunning's Journey 02:03 The Power of Silence and Vulnerability 06:11 Breaking the Cycle of Trauma 09:53 Navigating Mental Health and Support Systems 14:05 Childhood Memories and Early Trauma 19:52 The Impact of Addiction and Sobriety 29:47 Finding Purpose and Resilience 38:13 The Wake-Up Call: A Moment of Clarity 39:58 The Struggle with Addiction: A Personal Journey 41:45 Understanding Addiction: Empathy and Support 43:19 Facing the Consequences: The Impact on Family 45:43 Breaking the Cycle: Generational Patterns of Abuse 47:59 Finding Sobriety: The Path to Recovery 49:56 Rebuilding Trust: The Road to Redemption 51:44 Empty Nest: Rediscovering Relationships 56:35 Living in the Present: Prioritizing Family 01:00:34 First Language Foundation: Giving Back 01:06:52 Advice to My Younger Self: A Message of Hope Follow me on my socials to stay connected IG @FlipThatSwitchPodcast, @Sudduth84 Rich's IG @richdunningbooks Rich's Website richdunningbooks.com Make sure you go preorder the book "Silence Is My First Language" at richdunningbooks.com Worldwide release date of the book is October 6th.  #trauma, #addiction, #mentalhealth, #vulnerability, #resilience, #childhoodexperiences, #sobriety, #personalgrowth,  #growth, #addiction, #recovery, #family, #sobriety, #personal, #empathy, #support, #generationalpatterns, #mentalhealth, #firstlanguage,  #foundation Support the show