My Love Will Make Them Change: The Most Dangerous Myth for Women

What was your biggest Takeaway from this Episode! I would Love to hear from you!What if the very love you’re giving is the thing keeping you stuck?In this powerful episode of Empowering Women in Conversations, host Anita Sandoval, LPC, sits down with Dr. Eluterio Blanco, Jr., Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and Nationally Certified Master Addiction Counselor, to unpack one of the most dangerous myths women believe:“If I love them enough, they’ll change.”Together, we explore how addiction isn’t just about substances—it’s about compulsive behavior, loss of choice, and continuing patterns despite negative consequences. We also examine how people pleasing and codependency can function like an addiction, keeping women emotionally bonded to unhealthy relationships and chronic burnout.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why love, pressure, and ultimatums don’t create real changeWhat addiction really means (and why language matters)The difference between supporting recovery and enabling harmHow intrinsic motivation—not sacrifice—is the foundation of changeWhy boundaries don’t fix them, but they do free youHow women can begin reclaiming their voice, identity, and self-trustThis conversation is compassionate, honest, and empowering—especially for women navigating relationships affected by substance use, compulsive behaviors, or emotional over-functioning.If you’ve ever felt exhausted, resentful, or confused by giving everything and still feeling like it’s not enough… this episode is for you.🔗 Connect & Learn More📚 Recommended Reading Codependent No More by Melody BeattieSome links may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only share resources I personally trust and recommend.🌸 EmpowerHer Pathways & Resources 👉 https://www.anitasandoval.com/empowerher/links🎧 Listen to More Episodes 👉 Empowering Women in Conversations (available on all major podcast platforms) https://www.anitasandoval.com/podcast-directories💌 Join the EmpowerHer Community Support, resources, and conversations for women moving from people-pleasing to empowered living.🎓 About Our Guest Dr. Eluterio Blanco, Jr. is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, Nationally Certified Master Addiction Counselor, and Clinical Associate Professor at The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, where he coordinates the Bachelor of Science in Addiction Studies.