What if every addiction—whether it’s alcohol, sugar, or even your phone—is actually a substitute for love?

In this episode of Sisters in Sobriety, Sonia and Kathleen sit down with the wise and wonderfully candid Dr. Donna Marks. She’s a psychotherapist, addictions counselor, educator, and author with 30+ years of experience helping people find freedom from addiction by turning inward—not outward—for healing. She’s written Exit the Maze and The Healing Moment, and has created an award-winning addiction training program in Florida. Today, she joins us to unpack what addiction really is… and how self-love is the way through.

We cover a lot in this episode—everything from the impact of childhood trauma to the sugar-cocaine connection (seriously, it’s wild), to whether things like medical marijuana or Ozempic are helping people heal… or just creating new problems. You’ll hear about the sneaky ways addiction hides in everyday habits, why medication isn't always the magic answer, and how to truly support your brain and body on the road to recovery.

Expect real talk, powerful insights, and a whole lot of “ohhh that makes so much sense” moments. We also get personal—Dr. Marks shares her own story of relapse, healing, and radical transformation. Plus, Kathleen opens up about her sugar detox journey and navigating ADHD medication in recovery.

Don’t miss Dr. Marks talking about growing up in an addicted household, what led to her own relapse, and how she reclaimed her life through love, not punishment. Her transformation is seriously inspiring.

This is Sisters in Sobriety, the support space helping women change their relationship with alcohol. Want more tools, prompts, and inspiration? Head over to our Substack for all the extra goodness.

Highlights from the Episode:

00:02 – How Dr. Marks turned a painful upbringing into her purpose

00:06 – What caused her relapse after 23 years sober

00:08 – The problem with how doctors still treat pain—especially for people in recovery

00:10 – Why she built an addiction training program (spoiler: no one knew what to look for)

00:13 – Big Pharma, overprescribing, and how therapy sometimes misses the mark

00:17 – Kathleen’s personal update on tapering ADHD meds and cutting sugar

00:20 – That time sugar in salad dressing brought back all the cravings

00:23 – Why addiction is never really about the substance

00:25 – How childhood gaps in care create emotional holes we try to fill

00:28 – What true self-love looks like (and how to build it daily)

00:33 – Dr. Marks' take on how addiction drives most physical and mental illness

00:35 – Screen addiction, food noise, and feeling stuck in a loop

00:37 – Are drugs like Ozempic a shortcut—or just another trap?

00:39 – How trauma can actually become a doorway to growth

00:42 – What forgiveness actually looks like in healing

00:44 – The telltale sign you’ve swapped one addiction for another

00:46 – “Progress, not perfection”—why this mindset is everything

00:47 – Final takeaways on sacred self-care, flexibility, and finding peace

Links to Connect with Dr. Donna Marks:

• 🌐 Website: drdonnamarks.com

More from Sisters in Sobriety:

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📸 Kathleen’s Instagram

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