The Unhooked Podcast

This Unhooked conversation is with Dr. Nicole Labor, who is board certified in both family medicine and addiction medicine.   

She is currently the medical director at OneEighty, a treatment center that offers inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency and behavioral health services in Wooster, OH. She is also the director of the addiction medicine Fellowship for Summa. Dr. Labor is also medical director for Interval Brotherhood home as well as the EsperTreatment Center in Erie, PA. 

In recovery herself since 2005, Her Addiction Assassin Facebook page says she is the; Addiction Medicine Physician, spiritual gangster, Superhero ninja warrior pirate, ringmaster of the shit show.  

First created to educate other physicians and medical professionals, Dr. Labor's lectures are something I post regularly (Here's a great one! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ras8yOq30WY&t=48s),  

Dr. Labor has also written a fantastic book that I would say, is the best I have read when it comes to understanding chemicals and addiction behavior.  "The Addictoholic Deconstructed" is a book I personally recommend that EVERYONE read, whether you've been addicted, loved someone who has struggled  with addiction, or just need to know more (we ALL need to know more, check it out!). 

Listen in as Dr. Labor explains some profound points and reveals information in such a simple way that we all can come to a new understanding.  

Addiction is described as "a hole in the soul through which the cold wind blows." Understanding opens the way for solutions.   

You can find Dr. Nicole Labor on her Addiction Assassin Facebook page, or at the website:  https://www.theaddictsdoc.com/

Today's conversation is with an incredible woman, whose posts I have followed for some time now.  I had the privilege of meeting her this past year at an AMAZING retreat in Santa Barbara, California.  A retreat that she is the creator of, called Heart of a Warrior Woman... 

What works for my family may not be what works for yours, and vice versa - yet, regardless of the approach or process, we are all in this together.  The support, understanding, kindness and compassion we show one another as family's impacted by addiction is EVERYTHING that matters.

In short, Kathleen Cochran has been through many of the struggle all of us have walked the floors trying to figure out.  She has remained by her daughter’s side through her battle with substance use disorder. Their sixteen-year path has included over 20  rehabs, IOPs, sober livings, a therapeutic boarding school and a partridge in a pear tree. 

After being labeled an “enabler” and “codependent”, then directed to allow her daughter to hit rock bottom, Kathleen became determined to find a more compassionate approach. She researched and read, devouring hundreds of books on a wide range of approaches and tools. She aligns with the practice of harm reduction, to keep our children alive until they can find their way to recovery and CRAFT, as a more effective approach to communicate and encourage sobriety. 

Kathleen is passionate about helping other mothers. She shares her experience and knowledge to lessen the angst of their journeys. Kathleen and partner Allyson Abraam together are creating a community where true sisterhood can flourish. Where women can find the knowledge, strength, joy, and compassion that is needed to endure the journey of loving their children through addiction at a retreat (I have personally attended and found to be healing and wonderful) called “Heart of a Warrior Woman.” 

Listen in as she tells her story and gives wisdom and insight into the path no one would choose for their family, but together we are rising strong from. 

Kathleen can be found on Facebook, Instagram and by logging onto https://www.heartofawarriorwoman.com/ Listen in and check her out! 

I met this amazing woman on a retreat in Santa Barbara, California and felt an instant warmth and connection. I have been eager to have her on the podcast...we discuss the effects of addiction on the family, in particular as it impacts the heart of a Mother. 

Allyson describes her journey to acceptance as her son has been unbelievably incarcerated as the result of an overdose.  

She shares her family's situation in a very raw, real yet hopeful way with me in this conversation.   Allyson offers so much hope and insight for women struggling adjacent to a son or daughter's addiction.  She gets it!   Years of hiding her son’s problematic drug use left Allyson feeling isolated.  She captured her secret life in a blog called "What is Behind My facade?" that was shared by Arianna Huffington.  

The overwhelming support empowered her to continue writing. She has been a guest writer on HuffPost, Addiction Unscripted, Love What Matters and other sites. Allyson’s perspective and writing shifted after she attended the National Harm Reduction Conference in 2016. Instead of punishing her son’s addiction, she focused on mitigating its damage. 

She became aware of the stigmas and injustices endured by those fighting for sobriety, and motivated to expose them. As traumatic experiences became the norm (something anyone affected by this disease can relate to), Allyson was compelled to find personal growth in the circumstances.    

She wished for a culture that encouraged women to move beyond the negativity and find purpose. A true introvert, 

Allyson found unexpected joy in attending the first Warrior Women’s Retreat in May of 2018. The sheer volume of mothers in need of connectivity inspired her to help grow the event into Mecca.  

 You can connect with Allyson @ https://www.heartofawarriorwoman.com/  listen in to the podcast and check her out!! 

Allyson's Huffpost Blog:  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-facade-my-son-is-a-heroin-addict_b_8914552?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAH73FyANu55nEkJ8qIwOysooV2WotYhCN59_1tD_T0vEchDyzWAgrIAPycSn8pmycqOyL5sR6k6n8L0WwS4hX6DZjdSiuf0V4DSMjBHgbr8VKYksP68hHjasJizLDWP70d9oorONZO-5QoEcnPTd6sGEMtop-ediUSHz39fcc9Wf

Back for Part II with Whitehall Division of Fire's Asst. Chief Chris Menapace, joined by Community Paramedic Randy Jones, this conversation was recorded from the firehouse.

Listen in as these two first responders and who I like to call "heroes in the work of the addiction epidemic" share stories from the SAFE Station; where anyone needing relief and recovery is welcome through the doors without fear of arrest, rejection or judgment.

Back again with Whitehall Division of Fire's Asst. Chief Chris Menapace, joined by Community Paramedic Randy Jones, this conversation was recorded from the firehouse.

Listen in as these two first responders and who I like to call "heroes in the work of the addiction epidemic" share stories from the SAFE Station; where anyone needing relief and recovery is welcome through the doors without fear of arrest, rejection or judgment.

"The Unhooked Podcast"

This week's conversation is with Joan, a fellow Mom from the rooms.  Joan has years of experience under her belt when it comes to healing the effects of family addiction, alcoholism and dysfunctional religious beliefs.

A lot heals in the process of recovering - including your perception of yourself, along with the types of friends you remain close to, or see the need to distance yourself from.

Listen in as Joan shares her story regarding her marriage, navigating the addiction struggles with her daughter, as well as relearning how to view things from a non-condemning perspective in order to have peace.

Check it out! 💕

Peer support occurs when people provide knowledge, experience, emotional, social or practical help to each other. It commonly refers to an initiative consisting of trained supporters, and can take a number of forms such as peer mentoring, reflective listening, or counseling. 

Having come to understand the value of supportive peers for myself, I'm excited to introduce the topic of Peer Support as it relates to recovery and emotional and mental health and healing, with Thrive Peer Support CEO, Brian Bailys. Brian shares his own recovery success story and resulting passion for offering support and encouragement for others with what began as a mobile peer support app and has spread to face to face as well as emergency room settings. 

Listen in to hear Brian's journey and the incredible work peers are doing for one another in Ohio and all across the nation! Check out Thrive here!  https://thrivepeersupport.org/

Regan (daughter of Janelle, featured on the last week's podcast), shares her personal story and inside view of addiction and recovery. 

At just 19 years old, Regan has experienced already the nightmare of addiction and relapse, as well as the relief of recovery.  She describes the impact substance use has had on not only her own life, but upon the lives of those closest to her.  As her family suffered on the sideline, having to make the excruciating decision to allow her to go live her life, her way - Regan quickly realized that it was not the life for her, and that those who loved her most were were waiting to welcome her home.  

As she continues the work to recover and move onward, Regan shares her story of falling into the trap of drug use to soothe personal struggles, which led to heartbreaking separation from her family, and even a "Britney Spears head shaving moment."   

This beautiful young woman is a brave example of how not only are substances readily available to young people - but recovery is an incredible design for life out of the depths of it. 

Listen in to hear Regan's story of reality, recovery and HOPE! 

In this episode, we hear the story of a Mom who like so many in this epidemic - becomes desperate and frantic after discovering her young daughter's substance use and eventual struggle with addiction.  

Janelle shares her fight for her daughter's life. Listen as she describes her own personal awakening and revelation of the need for education, support and recovery for herself in the midst of her daughter's spiral into addiction while still in high school, as well as the relief of finding a treatment program that was the best fit for their family.   

Janelle's process of recovering has been like many of ours; the shock and horror of addiction coming for a much loved child, leading to a deep dive into introspective truth and transformation.   

On this side of the situation, Janelle shares the passion with many of us who share our family's success story in order help lead hope to traumatized family members going through the nightmare of a son, daughter or other loved one falling into addiction, by starting a PALs support group, the first one in a 50 mile radius of her Houston suburb. 

Addiction is a crisis I would wish on no family.  However, what the process of recovery does within a family is the gift I'd love every household to experience. 

For more information about the process of IASIS mentioned in this podcast, check out: https://microcurrentneurofeedback.com/

If it wasn't for a process of recovery, and finding my way into some amazing rooms - I would still be a broken, fearful mess.  Most likely I'd still searching for that one answer or event to finally heal my life.  With my emotional well-being at the mercy of people and situations outside of myself, which is a great way to live a miserable life!   

This episode was recorded in a family support group meeting, in the same room where I found hope, acceptance, connection, love, encouragement and confidence to face my insecurities and go to work on my own dysfunction.    

Beginning with a bit of our backstory, to examples of family frustrations, to where we are now - the trajectory of my life has had many twists and turns.  Where we are now is just about as far as you can get from where we used to be!  From my relationship with my family, Mother, son and with rude people! 

Many situations included in my 2nd book, "Unbroken, Navigating the Madness of Family Addiction, Alcoholism, Dysfunction and Heartache."   While It's impossible to cover everything in a share, I wanted to hit the highlights and share what recovery has taught me, given me, and what I'm doing with it now.   What an honor to share more of my recovery story with some of my most favorite people from the rooms of recovery and support.   

If you or someone you know are affected by a loved one's addiction, alcoholism - please find a meeting along with safe, healthy, compassionate support, it'll alter the course of your life! Peace is possible! 

Still learning, 

Annie 

Author of books: Unhooked, and Unbroken, Navigating the Madness of Family Dysfunction, Addiction, Alcoholism and Heartache 

For information, comfort, encouragement and support: 

Codependents Anonymous Parent Support – TAPU Family Recovery Support