Our Side of Addiction

Addiction and mental health disorders are common dual diagnoses. Mental health disorders can cause an addiction to develop. Addiction can also cause mental health disorders to develop. The issue is that treating one isn't going to address the other. They both need to be treated separately in order for addiction recovery to be successful. For more resources on addiction and support for the loved ones of addicts, visit HERE.

The loved ones of addicts often feel out of the loop as it pertains to an addicts recovery process. It can feel frustrating to not know what's going on, what you should be doing, or how your loved one should be behaving. In this episode, we take a look at the first 90 days of recovery. To ensure that you are more informed, more regulated, and connected to the process.For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Self-care? What, are you crazy or something? My loved one is practically dying and you are talking about SELF-CARE?!!Well, that's exactly how I thought when my sister was alive and in her active addiction. It feels impossible and also, wrong to practice self-care during such awful times in life. There is only so much that you are going to be able to do for someone. There is also a breaking point when ignoring your needs will cause harm. This occurs physically, mentally, and emotionally. It can also cost you your relationships, career, safety, and future. In this episode, we lean into the topic of self-care to better understand exactly why we need it, why it's helpful and how to start practicing it. For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Relapse is a terrifying word for the loved ones of addicts. It's one of your top nightmare scenarios. Depending on the addiction, up to 92% of addicts will relapse within the first year of sobriety. Even though it's petrifying to think about, as the loved ones of addicts, it's vital that we start having conversations around the subject. Especially since it's so prolific and considered to be part of the recovery process for most schools of thought. In this episode with will start warming up to the word RELAPSE and enhance our understanding of what it is, what leads to it, how to respond, and how to be productively supportive.For more, visit Sober and beyond

Boundaries is a complicated topic. Not because it's complex but rather because it's difficult. Boundaries itself is straight forward. However, it can feel as though you are punishing or abandoning your loved one with an addiction. It can feel as though you are a bad person for even thinking about boundaries. You stay stuck in a loop for this exact reason. Boundaries are a stability and guidance that both you and your loved one need in order to survive this experience. In this episode we take a look at boundaries and how to start implementing them with love, compassion and success. For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Loving an addict means living in a state of chaos and dysfunction. This creates unsafe environments but it also causes the loved ones to abandon their own safety for the sake of addicts. This usually occurs gradually and from a place of self-sacrifice. You think that it is necessary to do this because your loved one is sick right now. They need you to do this for them and you are happy to do so.At least that's where it starts. Let's dive into the topic of safety and how to start reclaiming yours.For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Communication is challenging for the majority of us. It is especially uncomfortable when you are having to communicate with a loved one who has an addiction. Not only do they intentionally deter you from communicating but it often leads to conflict or pressure that can cause enabling behaviors. In this episode, we take a look at communication with an addict and how to start implementing it without fear or repercussions. For more, visit Sober and Beyond

What happens when your loved one with an addiction refuses to get help? You offer to get them into treatment but they don't actually go. Even if they initially agree, they evade it in one way or another. This is a difficult and frustrating experience. It can even border infuriating. Let's explore this topic to understand why it happens and what you can actually do in response. For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Loving an addict is traumatic. It can also be dangerous. That means physically but also mentally and emotionally. As loved ones of addicts, it's important that we remember to put our safety as a priority.This episode explores the concept of stepping back for the sake of safety, common barriers that you might face, why it's common to ignore the red flags, and how to do it successfully. For more visit Sober and Beyond

Alan Marlatt was a clinical psychologist who pioneered relapse prevention and gave us a cognitive behavioral model that differentiates a lapse from a relapse. The difference determines how quickly someone will or will not return to sobriety. Learning about this model helps the loved ones of addicts understand how relapse occurs and how responses determine the length of time spent in active use.Altering how loved ones respond plays a huge role in this model and empowers loved ones to enhance their knowledge on healthy and productive reactions.For more, visit Sober and Beyond

Codependency is prolific when it comes to addiction. The majority of addicts participate in these types of relationship dynamics. Which happen to be highly dysfunctional and dangerous. If there is any change for your loved one to get sober, they HAVE to release codependency. Let's take a look at what it is and what it isn't.For more visit Sober and Beyond

Guilt, shame and anger are commonly experienced by the loved ones of addicts. We can often feel like these emotions aren't allowed because someone else is going through a difficult time. We can also feel guilty for feeling angry which compounds everything and makes it worse. So, what are you supposed to do? Ignore it? Stuff it down? Stay in a guilt loop?Let’s get into it to not only normalize your emotions but to validate what you are going through.

We dive into what the loved ones of addicts commonly experience. It's tumultuous, distressing, frustrating, and maddening. Let's acknowledge your hardships and the emotions that go alongside this difficult time. The world seems to blow past you are your side of loving an addict. That ends now.

Welcome to Our Side of Addiction! In this episode you will hear all about why I am here and why this podcast is for you if you have a loved one with an addiction. We set the tone for the coming episodes after a little introduction. Glad you're here. Can't wait to build our community together.