The Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast

As humans, we all have unconscious patterns that impact our relationships around us. For Bilinda, a mother with two kids with substance abuse issues, the patterns she uncovered will forever change her relationship with her kids. She discusses a exercise that is part of my Unbreakable Boundaries Program that helps unlock these patterns. If nothing changes, then nothing changes. For the families, we need things to change. If you have a loved one in addiction, this exercise could be life changing for you and your loved one. 

Very quickly, Mike begins by telling us about all the different masks he put on. We often do this where we are whoever you need us to be. The challenge is when we are ready to be ourselves, we don't know who that is because we have been hiding ourselves for so long. Mike shares with us how he began to break free of his masks. He also goes into the story of how he got clean, which wasn't totally normal. He ended up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury that forced him to learn how to talk, walk, read, write all over again. We also talk about his experience with MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment such as Methadone, Suboxone, Etc.)

Here is the link to the We Are Warriors magazine as mentioned in episode.

Growing up in a good home, how did a person like Amanda find herself hiding her drug use from her parents for so long? A good girl that didn't like to get in trouble turns to using some of the hardest drugs out there. Where did she start finding herself? What were the things she put her family through. Amanda shares with us her story and some helpful advice for the families out there. 

Recovery is never a straight line. People dealing with substance abuse issues can often find themselves living a life they never imagined for themselves. That was Travis. He found himself in situations he never imagined and being a person he never saw himself being. He came from a good loving home, but even that is not enough to battle someone who goes down the road of addiction. Travis eventually found himself in a community of people that had similar interests as he did. Travis will tell you, if he can do it, anyone can do it. 

Alcohol is insidious. Being so much more socially acceptable to drink alcohol, one can find themselves being able to justify and rationalize their behaviors easily, until it is undeniable that there is a problem. Even once a problem is acknowledged, it doesn't make it easy to make the decision to quit. Luanne talks in this episode about how she constantly felt like the world was out to get her and the victimhood that entails, and more importantly, she talks about how she broke free of the mental prison alcohol had her in. It was uncomfortable, but it is worth it. 

On a side note, you may hear some feedback in the audio, I am still learning myself on technical aspects of doing this. 

There is a difference between someone who is simply abstaining from drugs/alcohol and what it means to be in recovery. For years, Eddie would be able to abstain from drugs and alcohol on his own. He has been a practicing buddhist for multiple decades, so yoga and meditation practices are deeply ingrained in his daily life, but that simply wasn't enough. He felt like there was still a missing piece to getting him to the next level of self-care, and that was through the community of recovery. Now, he dedicates his life to helping others really understand and rewire old thought patterns and beliefs to help them break free from the prison of addiction through mindfulness.

You can find out more about him and what he does at amindfulemergence.com

Early Recovery is difficult. There are often misconceptions about addiction and parents choosing drugs over their kids, but in this episode, Abbie shares a different perspective about what is really going on. As challenging as recovery can be, Abbie shares with us her triumphs, challenges, failures, and so much more. Recovery is possible, no matter what. 

Every person has a different journey through addiction and through the early recovery process. Lizzy's journey is no different. She tells us what she has done to get to where she is at, and we get to hear her triumphs and her downfalls. There are a lot of different ways to be successful in abstaining from alcohol and drug use, Lizzy shares with us her secrets to success. 

Steve talks to us about his journey through early recovery and also his family upbringing. Addiction is a family disease and growing up with it, it's easy to see where addiction would just be a normal way of life. But that didn't stop him from turning things around for himself. He decided he wanted a better life and he made it happen. It wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't a straight path, but in this episode, listen to how Steve has turns his life around, endures the challenges that early recovery brings, and becomes the success he is today. And listen to what it is like for him experiencing others he cares about going through the struggles as well. 

Early recovery is challenging. It can be hard to know what to expect. Families often don't understand what a person goes through during the early stages. The questions we are asking ourselves, the challenges we face, learning how to live a normal life again. Tara knows all to well the challenges she faced during her early recovery. She experienced early recovery more than once and each time was a little different. She also had her husband have to sit back and watch her go downhill and was powerless to do anything about it. Listen to her journey.