Amy Robach is ‘pushing boozy lifestyle on high-functioning alcoholic TJ Holmes – it’s insensitive,’ says psychologist
TJ HOLMES’ podcast confession surrounding his drinking habit has exposed the ousted GMA star as a high-functioning alcoholic, a psychologist has claimed.
But she said his partner, Amy Robach, has been “insensitive” over the issue, given an Instagram comment and a booze-filled New Year’s Eve reel.
On Thursday, father-of-one TJ, 46, shared a clip of an Amy & TJ podcast episode.
He and Amy, 50, discussed their past alcohol consumption and their decision to give up booze for Dry January.
“We are going to be honest about our alcohol intake,” TJ said, looking serious.
Amy smiled and called it “so embarrassing” as she placed her hand on her temple.
“We spent, in the month of December, $2,869 on alcohol alone, period,” TJ added, to which Amy added, “I am appalled.”
TJ went on, “I am certainly somebody who right now and in years past needs to reexamine my relationship with alcohol, and that’s what we are doing.”
The former GMA host explained he could go through 18 drinks a day, adding that he would be “two drinks in” by 10 in the morning.
Psychologist Jo Hemmings said TJ was using alcohol in a “darker way.”
“TJ has used their podcast like a big confessional,” Hemmings told The U.S. Sun.
“His comments, such as drinking before 10 am, indicate he is a high-functioning alcoholic.
“This is someone who might look to others like they are not a big drinker — but in reality, they are using alcohol as a coping mechanism.
“This can often be referred to as alcohol use disorder.
“It is, for a man, drinking 14 plus units a week. But TJ claims he could drink as much as 18 units a day.”
Hemmings said alcohol could be used in new relationships for several reasons.
“If you are going out more than you are staying in, you are bound to drink more,” she said.
“But it can also be used in a darker way.
“Amy and TJ’s relationship was exposed before they were ready and where previous partners and children were involved.
“In this case, alcohol could have been used more to mask feelings of sadness, hurt, guilt, and anger.
“Sadly, there are also some toxic relationships which do not work very well without alcohol.
“Some people need to feel the effects of drinking to be able to communicate effectively with their partner.
“This kind of situation could spiral out of control for one or both partners if their relationship becomes dependent on alcohol.”
So far, the couple’s iHeartRadio podcast has left no stone unturned.
It has lifted the lid on the beginnings of their relationship to losing their jobs and upsetting family members.
Amy and TJ’s affair came to light in November, after which ABC News took the co-anchors off the air and suspended them.
At the time, Amy was married to actor Andrew Shue, 56.
TJ was married to lawyer Marilee Fiebig, 45. He filed for divorce last December.
Their podcast launched on November 5, and Amy revealed how she found TJ face-down, drunk, and high when the scandal broke — and immediately feared he had killed himself.
TJ told listeners he was tired after the affair was exposed, and he left work.
“That day was essentially me getting off work and pounding vodka,” he said.
“I didn’t stop for several hours and took who knows how many weed edibles.”
Amy found TJ at his apartment and said, “I was so afraid. You were just incoherent.”
Photos on Amy’s Instagram feed confirm the pair were drinking in the aftermath of their affair.
A New Year’s reel shows clips of the couple enjoying cocktails.
In another post on December 28, Amy held her glass up to TJ’s mouth.
“He’s shy… but these cocktails are 100,” she captioned it.
Hemmings claimed Amy’s comment and photos seemed out of place.
“The post where she said he was shy probably reflects TJ’s awful situation,” she said.
“This was when he drank so much vodka.
“But maybe TJ was cautious about being seen drinking socially.
“Amy had already found TJ passed out after downing Vodka when the scandal broke.
“So her December Instagram image and comment seem odd.
Amy should not have been pushing TJ to drink or be seen drinking.
Jo Hemmings
“Amy seems keen to move on from that dark phase of their relationship and has been brushing it all to one side.
“TJ, understandably, has not been quite ready to be that open.
“Amy needs the empathy and understanding to go at his pace, not hers.
“She should not have been pushing TJ to drink or be seen drinking.”
Hemmings explained how functioning alcoholics can often be successful, high achievers like TJ.
She said psychological concerns can creep in, such as memory loss and blackouts.
“Functioning alcoholics are often successful, high achievers, have a stable relationship and strong social bonds with friends and family,” she said.
“But it is still problem drinking and can lead to all sorts of physical issues like liver disease and pancreatitis as well as psychological concerns.
“TJ suffered a blackout when his relationship with Amy was exposed.
“But this podcast reveal is something he needed to say, and it is a start.
“Bantering with Amy on the podcast about their drinking is a beginning.
“The high expense of it is TJ’s way of revealing his problem.
“Once out in the open to fans and the public, he may be better positioned to deal with it.”
Interestingly, the contrast between their healthy, marathon-loving lifestyle could not seem greater.
Amy was diagnosed with breast cancer after having a mammogram in October 2013 on GMA.
In 2014, she had a double mastectomy and eight rounds of chemotherapy.
“That’s the only major change,” Amy said in their podcast.
“We have always been runners, and we have always been pretty good about watching what we eat, so the alcohol is the big change that we’ve made.”
Hemmings weighed in.
“It could be that she turns to alcohol or just feels low and miserable,” she said.
“They both need to find strategies to stay level-headed and calm.
“Amy posts much more online about boozy times out than TJ does. Again, this seems a little insensitive of her.”