Love Over Addiction

Here's the deal: today I get to share a conversation with you - one I had with a Love Over Addiction Sister in our community.

She's sharing her personal story about loving a good man that suffers from addiction. We cover big topics like why (and how) she ended up here in the first place.

We talk about how her lack of self-confidence impacted her whole relationship, and where she is today with her two young children.

As always, please welcome this brave woman with loving, judgment-free acceptance.

Find more here:https://loveoveraddiction.com/podcast/

Join your community: https://loveoveraddiction.com

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

Growing up, weren't we all taught that when we feel guilty about something, that's our conscience telling us we've done something 'wrong'?

I know I was. So when I was married to a good man suffering from addiction, dealing with feelings of guilt was hard, because I assumed I was in the wrong.

Here's the thing though: addiction doesn't play by the rules. All those 'helpful' tips and tools out there don't apply to us, and our relationships, because we love someone suffering from addiction.

Addiction breaks rules, lies, manipulates, and is aggressive.

Well, I have a different idea: feeling guilty can actually be a good sign that you're doing the right thing, and that you're on the right path. Don't worry, I'll explain everything in today's episode.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/feeling-guilty-is-a-sign/

Join your community: https://loveoveraddiction.com

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

Her son (and her husband) both suffer from addiction. She has twin sons, one suffers and one doesn't. And she thinks she knows why… Usually we don't get into the details of why someone may suffer, but when you're a mother with a child suffering it can be helpful. We talk about why and much more.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/podcast

Join your community: https://loveoveraddiction.com

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

Some people try to avoid their anger. And in my experience, women especially.

As women, we seem to be the ones that always hold it together. So getting angry makes us look bad, like we're falling apart.

But we're not.

Here's the truth: Anger is a very real and true emotion. And when we love someone suffering from addiction, anger is completely normal.

In fact, if you think you're not angry, I encourage you to take a deeper look at what's really going on.

Today we'll explore what's underneath that anger. We'll look at its roots, and find out how to use the anger for good.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/why-anger-is-okay-and-how-to-use-it-for-good/

Join your community: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

I love hearing stories. It's so powerful, and these real life examples can open our eyes and hearts to our very own potential.

Today, listen to our conversation with one of our brave Love Over Addiction sisters who shares about her relationship with a good man that drinks too much.

She gets brutally honest with us about the baggage she brought from past relationships, how her husband has set boundaries on her, and how she's come to a place of compassion and gratitude.

She's found her own happiness and continues to heal and recover, all the while she's staying married, and her husband is still drinking.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/addiction-as-excuse/

Join the sisterhood: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

Addiction lies. It has to in order to thrive. And we, as the partners, loved ones, and spouses, we get the brunt of these lies.

Do you feel like you're reading into everything, questioning each detail, asking clarifying questions, or wanting them to verify their story? Do you check their phone for 'proof' they're telling the truth (or not)?

I did. There's no shame or judgment here. My ex-husband lied to me constantly. So I was always on guard. I had a strong intuition, but it was continually being tested.

I felt like I was going crazy. I was exhausted. Can you relate?

So one question I hear from women in our community all the time is this: "When can I trust again?"

And that's the question we'll answer today.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/learning-to-trust-again/

Join the community: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

When we love someone suffering from addiction, we deeply desire for them to get sober. We dream of the day they decide to be done with alcohol, drugs, pornography, or whatever else, for good.

Well today, we hear from a woman in our community who's been married for over 35 years. And her husband has been in and out of recovery for years.

She's learned to trust her intuition, come out of denial, and discover herself, whether he's sober or not. It's a daily challenge for him, but she has boundaries in place to protect herself, stay in her lane, and be happy, no matter what he's choosing that day.

Hear her story, and how she's found compassion for her husband today.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/their-long-road-to-recovery-and-yours-too/

Join the community: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

When we love someone suffering from addiction, it can be hard to see the light of day. Our once very accurate judgment and perception is now being manipulated into something else.

I remember feeling so lost, thinking, "What is actually going on?" I felt crazy. Have you ever felt like that?

As I started my own recovery and healing, I discovered that there are little tools and tricks that I could use in those moments to find clarity. To remind myself that I'm actually not crazy.

I used these tactics day in and day out when I was married to a good man suffering from addiction. So today I share two simple lessons with you that I was reminded of when my ceiling caved in a few weeks ago.

Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/lessons-when-your-partner-suffers-from-addiction/

Join the sisterhood: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally (and see the ceiling): https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

Here's the deal: you reserve the right to change your mind at any time, for any reason.

Why is that important? Because if you're anything like me, you put a lot of pressure on yourself to make the "right" choice.

And sometimes you may even get stuck or frozen in indecision, because you're too afraid of getting it 'wrong'. There's no judgment here. I've struggled with this all my life.

Whether it's coming from your inner perfectionist, pressures from society's expectations, or even friends and family, find out why it's okay to get it 'wrong'.

And why we need to allow ourselves grace and space to mess up.

Find more: https://loveoveraddiction.com/why-its-okay-to-change-your-mind/

Join our judgment-free community: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally and see all the ways I get it 'wrong': https://instagram.com/love_over_addiction/

When I was healing from loving a man suffering from addiction there was one thing that was part of all of my days: self-care.

And I know, I get it, self-care is all the rage right now.

But self-care should meet your needs, and not necessarily be 'trendy'.

My self-care right now is a bowl of ice cream and an episode on Netflix. My self-care has been physical movement, walking with my dog and kids, taking a bath with all my favorite soaps, among other things.

My point is that it doesn't matter what you do, but when you can do it every single day, you'll have a breakthrough.

For me, it helped me feel more calm, more available to handle the chaos that did come my way, and overall, more grounded.

Find more details here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/take-care-of-yourself/

Join our community: https://loveoveraddiction.com/

Connect personally: https://www.instagram.com/love_over_addiction/