Episode 269

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

The worst day of Barbara’s life came just before spring break of her son’s 4th grade year, which he spent in a psychiatric ward. At age 12, he began using marijuana, and the familiar cycle of problems only continued from there – multiple schools, multiple treatment programs, sleepless nights, and ostracization from many of the parents she thought were friends.

Barbara had zero experience with substance misuse or addiction, and like many parents, she was suddenly thrown into uncharted territory. The friends who stuck with her naturally talked about the positive life paths their kids were taking. Hearing about the colleges they’d been accepted to and the jobs they’d taken was difficult, and her son felt left behind by his peers as well. The constant stress eventually manifested in Barbara’s body as an autoimmune disorder, complicating her life even more.

Eventually, she came across a meditation I had recorded years earlier on Insight Timer, and from there, she discovered The Stream Community. In this family story episode, Barbara explains the power of hearing the stories of other parents going through similar experiences, her most effective mantras, and why both she and her son are now helping other parents believe that there is still hope and a path to recovery.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

InsightTimer meditation - A Gift Of Sleep For Parents Of Addicted Children

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 268

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

Eight years ago a miracle happened. Today’s episode is one from the vault - originally published in 2021, which I’m resharing today in honor of my son’s eight year anniversary of starting a new life.

While it’s longer than my usual episodes, this series of story chapters allows you to drop into the ICU with me, among other places, as our family hung onto hope that my son Enzo would not be one of the statistics you read about in the news. You’ll be along for the excruciatingly long ride to the hospital, through hushed conversations with doctors, unexpected laughter with nurses and more as we spent 30+ days in some very dark places.

Lace up for a long walk or listen chapter by chapter during your busy days this week - and remember, if they are alive, there is always, always hope.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 267

In this snack-sized episode, I share three concepts to help parents navigate the stormy waters of having a teen or young adult child who struggles with substance misuse and mental health issues. 

I emphasize the importance of self-care and separation from external chaos to maintain emotional stability and effectively support (and not drive crazy) those closest to you. 

I share three key points: visualizing personal boundaries to keep chaos out, understanding that every storm will eventually pass, and recognizing the harm caused by neglecting self-care. There's even a little bit of woo-woo included for those willing to experiment.

Some practical tips and a personal story underscore the necessity of prioritizing yourwell-being for the benefit of your entire family.

00:00 Introduction: Weathering the Storm

00:39 Welcome to Hope Stream

02:14 Taking Care of Yourself

03:07 Maintaining Your Vessel's Integrity

06:38 Every Storm Runs Out of Rain

14:44 The Greatest Harm: Not Taking Care of Yourself

17:52 Conclusion and Resources

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 266

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

As Patrina's daughter began her college life, their relationship and communication remained strong.  They met weekly, usually grabbing a bite to eat or going to a sporting event while talking about life.

Even so, Patrina was starting to notice some things that were a little off: her daughter would map out semester coursework, then end up dropping out. She sent odd texts at night, or called crying. On at least one occasion, her daughter's boyfriend called to tell Patrina that her daughter was out driving drunk after a fight they'd just had.

Having gone to night school while working full time, Patrina wasn't certain if this was “typical” college behavior or how serious her daughter’s drinking was. The message she got was this is what everyone else in college is doing - it’s normal. Sadly, it may not have been much of an exaggeration.

In this family story episode, Patrina takes us through her daughter's alcohol misuse and recovery, a journey that involved nine treatment facilities over the course of several years.  We discuss her search for a community of moms who truly understood what she was going through, the mantra and coping mechanisms that kept her grounded, the qualities she sought out in a mentor, and much more. 

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 265

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In this deeply personal episode, Cathy and I peel back the layers of what parent support looks like during your child's long-term recovery, sharing some intimate "what if" questions that continue to echo in our minds. 

Drawing from our own experiences with three kids in recovery, we explore the nuanced emotional landscape of supporting our kids, and ourselves, through the challenges of substance misuse and mental health issues.

We answer questions like, 

"What's my role when when my child is 5+ years into recovery? 

"How do you balance vigilance with trust and letting go of control?" 

We dive into raw, honest conversations about:

You'll even hear a kayaking analogy that might act as a powerful metaphor for your recovery, learn why there's no "normal" path to healing, and discover how parents can find hope and resilience when supporting children through their unhealthy substance use and into sustained recovery.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 264

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

As a two-time NCAA champion, Janice’s son was steeped in macho culture. But over time, the identity he developed there became increasingly at odds with the truth of his privately held, and personally rejected homosexuality. And while Janice, self-admitted “cool mom” was perfectly fine with her son’s sexuality, her casual acceptance overlooked the intense inner struggle he was facing.

When he moved home from college during the pandemic, she noticed that he looked terrible, sometimes slept all day, and never seemed to have any of the money he earned at his job. Eventually, she found a bag of crystal meth in his belongings, and her strengths as a no-nonsense New York executive took over. She would, and could, solve the problem.

In this family story episode, Janice explains why the attitudes that help you succeed in business are the very attitudes you must let go of, how she finally figured out what it means to “do the work”, and why sobriety is not a panacea for the issues that drive young people to using substances in the first place.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

Intent Clinical (formerly O’Connor Professional Group - Diana Clark)

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 263

ABOUT THE EPISODE

In this episode, I delve into the concept of allowing natural consequences as a form of 'invisible intervention' in parenting teens and young adults struggling with substance misuse and mental health issues. I share real-life examples and experiences on the benefits of stepping back to let reality teach essential lessons, emphasizing the need for patience and rock solid boundaries. 

I highlight the challenges parents face in resisting the urge to fix everything and discuss how this approach can profoundly impact a child's journey towards recovery - creating change sooner than later. 

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 262

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

Lynne’s first clue that her son might be using substances was finding a Google search: “marijuana for anxiety.”

Outwardly, there was nothing particularly concerning about his behavior - at first. He had always made good grades, even as an elite athlete headed for college play. But inside, the looming life changes were causing a lot of anxiety. The first time he tried marijuana, he knew it was exactly what he had been looking for and it worked…for a while.

Once he got to college, his use of marijuana was compounded by other substances, his grades plummeted, and Lynne’s family had to make the difficult decision of no longer paying for school. After a psychotic episode and an automobile accident, Lynne’s son was finally able to embrace treatment and sustain recovery.

Meanwhile, Lynne demonstrated the resilience innate to her personality and became certified as a Mayo Clinic Health and Wellness Coach, Invitation to Change parent coach, and meditation instructor. In this family story episode, she shares her process of learning how to see the journey without regard for the outcome, the benefits of learning to set boundaries, and shares the key to her strength to help her son recover his life.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 261

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

Consider this your wakeup call: In 2023, the number of people using marijuana products daily surpassed those who use alcohol daily - even though three times as many people drink. Young people aged 18-25 make up the largest group of those daily users.

As president of the Partnership to End Addiction for five years, Fred Muench, Ph.D. provided recovery information and resources about all substances, from alcohol to heroin.  But when his team looked over their own helpline data, they noticed that calls about marijuana far outpaced every other substance. Most were calls from parents, and they weren't simply discovering that their children had begun using high-potency marijuana. Many were detailing their kids dropping out of school after daily use, or even showing frightening signs of cannabis-induced psychosis.

Today, Fred is the founder and CEO of Clear30, a community-centered support app that invites people to change their relationship to weed. The app isn't just a repository of information, but a personalized, interactive support system for withdrawal and recovery. Clear30 invites daily users to take a 30-day break, examine their own symptoms, and find encouragement from others who are finding that high-potency marijuana isn't all it was promised to be.

In this episode, Fred and I talk about the inception of Clear30, the specific support systems it can provide, the difference between male and female withdrawal symptoms, and the questionable marketing of marijuana products.

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and Alcohol

Hopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Episode 260

ABOUT THE EPISODE:

In this episode, I explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) complements CRAFT and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to form a powerful approach to influencing positive change in struggling teens and young adults. I explain key ACT principles, such as psychological flexibility and mindfulness practices, and offer three practical tools you can experiment with to start paying more attention to your experience during the Roller Coaster Ride. This episode encourages you to transform your own responses to create better conditions for those you care about while also emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional well-being. 

EPISODE RESOURCES:

This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.