Love Over Addiction

When you love someone suffering from addiction or substance abuse disorder, it can feel like you're dealing with two different people.

When they're sober, you see the person you fell in love with. They're kind, loving, funny, and caring. In these moments you see your true partner and the love of your life.

When they start drinking or using drugs, it feels like they turn into someone else. Their addiction masks their personality and takes away the person you fell in love with in the first place.

We discuss how to navigate these 'two different people'.

I want to share a special story with you today that I don't share very often. It's my personal story about why I left my marriage with someone that drank too much and suffered from addiction. Every woman's path will be different, but I hope you find comfort and encouragement in mine.

Our community is full of women that love good people who drink too much or suffer from addiction. We truly believe that our loved ones are good people. On today's episode, it's a bit of an unusual story, but listen in to hear the core story about why we believe they're good people.

When we love someone suffering from addiction, sometimes our most trusted confidants can give us the most well-meaning, bad advice.

Some of the wisest people have helpful guidance for "normal" marriages without addiction. But some of the advice I had received during my marriage as "codependent people-pleaser" would have sent me down a spiral that ended in a breakdown.

Read the blog or listen to the podcast to learn the best way to decipher between good advice or wisdom you should ignore.

If you love someone who drinks too much or suffers from addiction you'll learn three reasons why we can't just break away when we know we should entertain the idea of leaving because the reality of today outweighs the hope for our future.

If you're doing your part. If you're showing up and have been committed to the work but it feels like all our efforts of helping them get sober bring inconsistent rewards. If you're trying to detach and trying to set boundaries, but it's just not working…. Then listen to this week's podcast: https://loveoveraddiction.com/112/ or visit us for more FREE helpful tips at LoveOverAddiction.com.

The drama and stress from loving someone suffering from addiction are enough to make you feel like you're going insane. There are days where you want to curl up into a ball forever. Addiction can make you feel like you're suffocating and your feelings and thoughts don't matter.

The women in this community, your sisters... we understand exactly what you're feeling.

Listen to the podcast to find helpful tips and to know that you're not alone: https://loveoveraddiction.com/111/. For more free tools head over to our blog at LoveOverAddiction.com We are here for you! Always.

We're smart enough to understand the benefits of self-care, right, especially when we love someone who suffers from any kind of addiction.

And if you're new to the subject of self-care a great place to start is by listening to episode #96: https://loveoveraddiction.com/96/ or reading the 7 Most Important Questions You Need To Ask Yourself: https://loveoveraddiction.com/79.

Sometimes the most caring thing we can do for ourselves is spend less and simplify our days.

Self-care is a good thing. For sure. But let's make sure what we're doing is really feeding our souls and filling us up, not turning into something that's just another thing to conquer or accomplish. If you want to learn how to avoid turning self-care into another chore this episode is for you.

Click here to read the post or listen to the podcast at LoveOverAddiction.com/110.

Anger…. It's an emotion women don't like to discuss. But it's a very REAL and HONEST feeling when addiction is a part of your family - and we always believe in speaking truth - even when it prickles a little.

Loving someone who suffers from alcoholism or addiction is hard. Period. And you're allowed to ride the roller coaster of emotions without apologies.

If you feel angry sometimes - no shame sister. WELCOME TO THE CLUB! Now head over to LoveOverAddiction.com and get 5 helpful tips to deal with your natural feelings of anger.

Would you prefer to listen to a podcast? We've got that too. Click here to listen to the Love Over Addiction podcast.

Have you ever dreamed of the day your loved one finally gets sober?

I think most of us can raise our hand.

For many women in our community, this dream has come true, and today we get to talk to one of them.

She was just like us, worrying about her future and feeling guilty that she may have made the wrong decision by marrying a man with a drinking history.

She even talks about having thoughts of taking her own life because of the way addiction was making her feel.

Make no mistake about it - she is not afraid to speak the truth and I am so stinking proud of her.

She talks about how her husband got help and found sobriety, how she had to master the skill of boundaries and detachment AFTER he got sober and what to do when relapses happen.

Listen to this courageous woman and her refreshing honesty will inspire you.

Would you rather read the transcript? We have you covered. Find more here: https://loveoveraddiction.com/he-got-sober/

If you're worried that your kids are suffering from the natural trauma that comes from loving someone suffering from addiction, my interview with Dr. Gowda (who has the most impressive resume and is a child psychologist) teaches us how we can help our children develop into healthy, well- adjusted and successful adults.

When children are raised in a household with addiction, there are certain things we, as mothers, need to be aware of. We're their biggest advocate. We need to learn how to fight for them.

Even if you have older children who have left the house, it's never too late to learn the skills that will help your family navigate through addiction.

We owe it to our children to become educated about ways we can help them navigate through all their complex feelings of having a parent who drinks too much or suffers from drug addiction (substance use disorder).

Listen to the podcast by clicking here. Or if you'd rather read the transcript - we have that too (just click here) or visit our website at LoveOverAddiction.com