Addiction and the Family

We examine the recovery acronym "HALT" to see if its guidance to not let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired holds up to scientific scrutiny. We look at how each of these factors affects your brain and your recovery.

Mellissa talks about seeing family patterns of addiction play out in her parents, siblings, and herself throughout childhood, adolescence, and much of her adult life. She looks at the transformations that have happened through recovery, leading her to a life of service.

Mia Tracy is a therapist who found recovery while working in the field. She shares the ups and downs of her journey and how she found the strength a humility to claim her seat at the recovery table. Special Guest: Mia Tracy, LCSW.

Research is increasingly showing that eating disorders are a form of addictive/compulsive behavior. We explore this idea, what it implies, and what we can do. Along the way, we interview Dr. Heather Ingram to get further insight and perspective. Special Guest: Heather Ingram, PsyD.

Ashely and Tom reflect on what it was like for them as a couple and for their kids before Ashley found recovery at Windmill Wellness Ranch in 2022, what it was like while she was at the treatment center, and what it is like now.

In this retrospective episode, we look back at the year in recovery as we interview several people who have been on the program in 2023. Each one talks about their year in recovery and what they hope for in 2024.

Now that NARCAN is approved as an OTC drug, we look at how this life-saving medication works, how to use it, how to recognize opiate OD, controversy around it, and where to get it (sometimes for free).

Tonja Myles talks about her rise from family and personal trauma into the triumph of her amazing and accomplished life in recovery today. We discuss intergenerational trauma and how healing can happen for anyone. Check out her new book, "From the Crack House to the White House." Special Guest: Tonja Myles.

Christopher Morris, author of "We Are All Made of Scars", talks about growing up with a mother who struggled with alcohol. He talks about what he learned along the way and finding his own recovery. Special Guest: Christopher Morris.

In their new children's book, Casey and illustrator Skye Hilton worked together to help kids find hope and healing around a parent's addiction. Skye and Casey discuss why they wrote it and how to talk to kids about these issues. Special Guest: Skye Hilton.

Valerie Silveira, founder of Warriors in Hope, talks about how the tragedy around addiction in her daughter changed her life, not only in how low it took her but also how it was transformed into a source of inspiration to help others. Special Guest: Valerie Silveira.

In this episode, we interview Dr. Evelyn Higgins about the work she is doing on teh gentics of addiction and how she uses it to bring hope and help through her company Wired for Addiction. She also talks about some the othe preson journey tha tled to her interest in helping those with addiction and their families. Special Guest: Dr. Evelyn Higgins.

Lisa Gennosa talks about the trials and blessings of her son's addiction, finding her own recovery, and helping others through personal encounters, professional talks, and her new book "Incurable Hope". Special Guest: Lisa Gennosa.

We tackle some of the questions families have for people in active addiction, in treatment, and then in early recovery. Our all-star panel of people in recovery from addiction give honest and heartfelt answers.

We explore the stress that addiction and early recovery put on relationships of all kinds and how to find your way to healthier relationships through all of it. As part of this, we tell our story to illustrate some of the concepts.

As teens, Deanna and Travis were suddenly siblings when their parents married. Little did they suspect that they would help each other find and deepen the recovery they share today.

Dr. Gigi Langer talks about her recovery both from her own addiction and as a family member, and what this taught her about being her most loving self. She shares some of those insights, including removing roadblocks to being your most loving self.

How to survive and even thrive during the holidays whether you are recovering from your own addiction or someone else's. Chock full of ideas and tips to get through this time of year.

Author Ashleigh Nowakowski talks about how she was affected by her brother's addiction, recovery, and relapse, finding her own recovery in the process, setting boundaries, and how she has grown as a result. Her book "The Shadow Child" brings all this together, including many helpful ideas for other family members affected by a loved one's addiction. Special Guest: Ashleigh Nowakowski.

Casey talks about why spirituality is important to many people in recovery, where it's hard, and how to get through some of the challenges. He shares insights from his new book, "Spirituality for People Who Hate Spirituality".

Erika Unberhagen talks about how families of first responders and veterans are impacted by addiction and mental health issues, how The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch helps, and her own experiences that led her to do this work. Special Guest: Erika Unberhagen, LMSW.

Erika Unberhagen talks about The Guardian Initiative at Windmill Wellness Ranch, a program for first responders and veterans, and her own experiences in law enforcement and addiction that led her to do this work. Special Guest: Erika Unberhagen, LMSW.

A wide-ranging conversation about philosophy, spirituality, and recovery with author Peg O'Connor, We talk about what these ideas mean for both people with addiction and those who love them. Peg talks about her new book "Higher and Friendly Powers" and how it comes out of her work and her own recovery. Special Guest: Dr. Peg O'Connor.

Lisa Davidson, Clinical Director at Windmill Wellness Ranch, talks about her personal and professional journey of recovery using SMART Recovery, one of the major alternatives or adjuncts to 12 Step recovery. She gives examples of the tools of SMART and how they work on a practical level to help people with addiciton and those they love recover. Special Guest: Lisa Davidson, LCDC.

We interview two innovators in addiction treatment: Dr. Heather Ingram and Shannon Malish, LCSW. Each talks about how she works directly with people's brains to help them recover. Special Guests: Heather Ingram, PsyD and Shannon Malish, LCSW-S.