ABOUT THE EPISODE:
When Ann Batchelder discovered her daughter’s suicidal thoughts, bulimia and substance misuse, she desperately sought wisdom in the places many of us do: therapy, 12-step programs, and Buddhist teachings. 

But the ancient Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone gave her the greatest solace and understanding of parenting a wayward child. As Ann “did the work” to preserve mindfulness and realism about what she could control, she also began writing about her family's experiences.

Now, a decade after it began, her book is complete. Craving Spring: A Mother’s Quest, a Daughter’s Depression, and the Greek Myth that Brought Them Together is not just a memoir but a universal call for the renewal of families strained by the burden of substance use, mental health, and eating disorders.

In this episode, we discuss:

• the power of Demeter and Persephone’s story for mothers (and all parents) of children struggling with substances
• why it’s so difficult for parents to accept that they are going through trauma as well
• finding the focus and willingness to care for our own well-being in chaotic times
• the burden Ann was unknowingly placing on her daughter and how she changed herself
• how the immense growth and change (of both Ann and her daughter) during recovery has led to a richer, more fulfilling relationship

EPISODE RESOURCES:

• Craving Spring, A mother’s quest, a daughter’s depression, and the Greek myth that brought them together (buy here)

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