“My Own Family Told Me I Embarrassed Them”: Fitness Influencer Who Survived Addiction, Finds Support Outside His Own Blood

Getting through an addiction is a challenging situation for the one suffering and those around them. Bodybuilding influencer Joey Swoll knows this scenario all too well. While he tries to build a positive image of gym, fitness, and workouts for his fans, his experience comes from a tough place. Earlier this year, Swoll opened up about his addictions and his recovery journey, in order to instigate some positivity and hope in the fitness community. However, recently, he revealed how support did not come in from the people he thought were close to him.

This prompted fans to pour in with copious amounts of love and support. Let’s take a look!

Joey Swoll battled his demons with some unexpected support

Going through troubled times requires the will and intention to get out along with support from loved ones. In January this year, Joey Swoll confessed to his addiction to opioids in the year 2020. Opioids are substances found both in pain medication as well as certain drugs. Getting rid of that addiction was not an easy road to navigate for Swoll.

The older post detailed his journey through addiction and how he slowly and steadily recovered. While he battled it out in 2020, he wanted to do something about it and set forth on the path of getting clean. Working on himself all through 2021, the fitness influencer attended to his mental health and took time away from social media.

Read More: “Only Disrespectful Person… Is You”: Fitness Icon Joey Swoll Slams Former D1 Runner Behaving Rudely in the Gym

His hard work paid off when he could finally create a better fitness community surrounded by positivity. But little did he know that it was the same community that would hold him up when his own near and dear ones abandoned him. In a recent tweet, Swoll confessed, “When I came out about my addiction many friends dropped me and my own family told me I ’embarrassed them'”. But recently, a stranger at the gym thanked him for spreading awareness about addictions. Swoll added, “Yesterday a stranger at the gym I’ve never met before thanked me and told me my posts about addiction gave them the strength to get clean and helped save their life. #Ironic“

Swoll has always championed maintaining a non-toxic culture in gyms. He often reacts to trending videos about mistreatment in gyms and shares opinions that are bold but necessary to hear. Case in point, Swoll once criticized a man who tried to shame a fellow gym-goer by pressing with the weights he was struggling with. “I hope this gym sees this, and revokes the membership or makes you apologize…” he slammed. No wonder fans have always supported Swoll in his views and journey!

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