Bookends of Recovery: Addiction, Betrayal Trauma & Healing

Tired of self-care tips that don’t actually help when you're deep in recovery or healing from betrayal trauma? In this episode, I share five real-life self-care tools that go beyond the basics and actually stick. Because staying emotionally sober takes more than just lighting a candle. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note...

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Why am I still struggling when I’m not even using anymore?" this episode's for you. I’m breaking down what emotional sobriety really means, how it connects to your mental health, and why feeling your feelings doesn’t mean drowning in them. You’ll get practical tools, signs of growth, and a few “been-there” stories I wish someone told me sooner. If you have...

Are you feeling stuck or off-balance in your recovery journey or while supporting someone else’s? The Life Wheel is a simple yet powerful tool that helps you assess where you are emotionally, mentally, and relationally. In this episode, I'll walk through how to use it, what it reveals, and how it can guide your next steps. Click the link  for a downloadable form and example.  If you have any...

In this episode, we explore how affirmations support healing, emotional sobriety, and connection, whether you're in recovery yourself or loving someone who is. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a trained professiona...

Loving someone in addiction can be challenging. In this episode, I unpack how to support them without crossing into enabling or accidentally pushing them away. Learn what actually helps, what to avoid, and how to care without losing yourself in the process. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education on...

In this episode, we explore the Japanese art of Kintsugi and how it beautifully parallels the recovery journey. You are not broken! Your cracks tell a story of resilience, growth, and healing. Learn how embracing imperfections, reframing pain, and letting go of perfection can help you rebuild your self-worth and strengthen your mindset. Whether you're in recovery or healing from trauma, this...

Learn how betrayal trauma impacts your instincts and how to rebuild trust in yourself with real tools, insights, and encouragement. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a trained professional for your specific situation. He...

Learn how to receive compliments and use fingerholds for emotional balance. Two powerful recovery tools for boosting self-worth and reducing stress. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a trained professional for your speci...

Struggling with triggers? Try these five unique tools to stay grounded in your recovery or healing journey. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a trained professional for your specific situation. Here are some resources to...

Ready to build your personal stress relief blueprint? In this episode, Laura walks you through the Stress Management in Recovery & Healing workbook—step by step. Learn how to identify stress triggers, practice emotional regulation, and use real tools to protect your sobriety and peace. Download your free copy at bookendsofrecovery.com and follow along. If you have any questions, please let me...

Stress doesn’t stop when recovery starts—but you can manage it. In this episode, Laura breaks down real-life stress triggers (like PAWS, HALT, and relationship strain) and shares practical tools to protect your emotional sobriety. Includes a free worksheet to help you build your own stress relief plan. 🎧 Grab it now at bookendsofrecovery.com If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sendin...

In this guided walkthrough of a brand-new workbook, I teach urge surfing, a mindfulness-based technique used to manage cravings, emotional triggers, and trauma responses. Perfect for anyone in addiction recovery or emotional healing. Download your free workbook at bookendsofrecovery.com . If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note:...

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s a guided reflection using my Emotional Sobriety Companion Workbook . No pen needed, so sit back and relax and we dive into learning more about emotional sobriety. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest...

It’s time we stopped pretending that mental health is gendered. It’s time we gave men the space to feel, hurt, heal, and grow without judgment. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a trained professional for your specific s...

Creating healthy boundaries is a crucial form of self-care, especially if you’re in a relationship with someone struggling with addiction. Boundaries are about emotional security, not control. Learn how to create healthy emotional boundaries, what a written boundary is, and tips for using one in today's episode. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healt...

Ever feel like a broken record when offering support? You share your best tools, open your heart, provide honest advice, and then the same questions pop up. It’s not that people aren’t listening. It’s that recovery, healing, and emotional growth aren’t linear. Sometimes it takes hearing something five (or fifteen) times before it sticks. This episode discusses how to keep showing up for others whe...

You may be asking yourself, “Is my partner an addict, or does he enjoy a lot of pornography and Instagram models?” It’s a valid question to ask, and it can be challenging to answer without talking to a professional, particularly because pornography and sex addiction aren’t in the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) as this goes live. Here's Carne's POTHOS test....

Today’s episode is a little different. It’s a guided reflection and workbook session designed to support loved ones of those struggling with addiction. It's a companion to last week's episode. If you haven’t already, grab a journal, some paper, or open a blank doc on your phone—whatever works. You might want to find a quiet space where you can reflect without interruption. If you have an...

Ever find yourself Googling "How to recover from someone else’s addiction" at 2 a.m. while eating handfuls of Goldfish? Yeah, me too. I didn’t quite give up the Goldfish, but I did give up the Googling. Eventually. Today we're talking about hypervigilance, the emotions you may experience as the loved one of an addict, and the early signs of relational trauma . This post isn’t just f...

This guided workbook will help you identify warning signs, manage setbacks, and build a strong support system to keep your recovery on track. Use it as a personal guide to strengthen your awareness and develop a proactive relapse prevention plan. It is the exercise portion to today's podcast. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Plea...

Relapse isn’t a failure. It’s a reminder that you’re human and still growing. Whether you’re newly sober or have been rockin' your recovery for years, relapse prevention is a lifelong practice. In today’s episode, we’re diving into real-world strategies, building solid support systems, spotting red flags before they flare up, handling setbacks with resilience, and staying on track no matter w...

If you’re in recovery, you already know that communication is crucial. If you’re the loved one of someone in recovery, you know how important communication is for healing—not just for them but for you, too. Today I share about communicating in a healthy way, using HEAL check-in conversations, and ask you questions to get you thinking. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyo...

In this bonus episode, I share a quick meditation for moments you feel angry or overwhelmed. It perfectly complements my previous podcast, Managing Triggers When You're Angry. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podcast is for education only and is not a replacement for therapy. I suggest you seek the help of a tra...

What do you do when anger flares up? How do you keep it from dragging you down a path you’ve worked so hard to leave behind? That’s what we’re talking about today: real, practical ways to manage anger and its triggers, whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone happy and healthy vibes, Laura Please note: This podc...

It’s easy to forget how you're actually feeling until your emotions are like adding Mentos to a bottle of Coke—they explode. That’s where an emotional check-in comes in—it’s like hitting “pause” on life to see what’s really going on inside. Listen to learn how to self-check in and for thought-provoking questions at the end. If you have any questions, please let me know .  Sending everyone hap...