Love Over Addiction

When a loved one struggles with addiction, their actions and behaviors can lead you to feel hurt or angry sometimes, right? And it's easy to stay stuck in those feelings. This is why it's so important to learn how to love from a distance. But what does that look like (especially if you're staying with them)? In this week's new episode, you'll hear a very personal story where I recently had to do t...

Boundaries. You've probably heard that term before, and to be honest, it's one of my favorite subjects to talk about. But it can be a little confusing sometimes figuring out what your boundaries should be, right? And not only that, how do you determine what a good boundary vs. a bad one is when you love someone struggling with addiction? Tune in to this new episode, where I share why boundaries ar...

Today, I want to talk about something that's important for your healing: having more fun in your life. Yep, you heard me correctly. You may be asking, 'How in the world can I have more fun when I'm constantly dealing with my loved one's addiction?'  Take a listen to this week's new episode, where I'll explain how having fun is a key element to moving forward with your healing (along with some lovi...

When you love someone struggling with addiction, trust (or rather, a lack of trust) can be a common issue. Your loved one may have broken that trust. Or maybe you went into your relationship with prior trust issues. And just know, I can completely relate. Tune in to this week's episode where I share an 'a-ha' moment I had recently regarding trust with my current husband. And if you've already move...

As you've heard me say before, my ex-husband is a good man who struggles with addiction, but unfortunately, addiction turned him into a different person. There were also many red flags that I missed (or didn't want to believe) during our relationship. Have you ever wondered if your partner really is (or isn't) a good person? Tune in to this week's episode, where I dive into a list of red flags tha...

If you've decided that leaving your partner who struggles with addiction is best for your situation, you might then be asking, "What's next in moving forward with my healing?" Or another big question: "What steps should I take so that I don't end up in another unhealthy relationship in the future?" Tune in to this week's episode where I answer these questions (and more), as well as asking you some...

Loving someone struggling with addiction can sometimes make things feel out of control in your relationship and your life. And when you start feeling that way, it's normal to want to control everything because it's hard to let go, right? Letting go can feel a little scary, or like everything may fall apart if you do. So I reached out to the women in our Secret Facebook Group and asked, "what's som...

Thinking about whether you should stay in or leave your relationship with your loved one struggling with addiction can be hard, right? It might give you little pangs of anxiety (which is completely normal). But just know that you're not alone in this journey (and there's never any judgment on what you decide to do). Tune in to this week's episode where I share some red flags and warning signs I ha...

When you love someone suffering from addiction, you've maybe wondered: why am I not good enough for them to get sober? Or thinking that if your partner would just get sober, you'd finally be able to feel happy again. This can then start a downward spiral with how you're feeling. But the loving truth is that basing your mood on how others are feeling (or what they're doing) is not healthy. So how d...

When you think about the relationship you have with your loved one that suffers from addiction, you're more than likely the one who does all of the giving and gets nothing - or very little - in return. Does this sound familiar? But here's the thing: that's not a normal relationship because addiction is not normal. Tune into this week's episode to hear why you might be experiencing some trauma beca...

When you love someone struggling with addiction, you want so badly to help them get healthy and be the person they were before addiction took over. Can you relate? But the loving truth is that their addiction is not your battle to fight. It's time to release that back to them because you deserve to have comfort in your mind, body, and spirit. You're in charge of protecting your peace, and you need...

Feeling anger, fear, or sadness when you love someone struggling with addiction is normal (even if you're no longer with them). And it's also understandable if you've felt all three at the same time. You've gone through a lot because of their actions and behaviors. That's why it's so important to let yourself mourn: for what used to be good in your relationship and for what you had always envision...

Feeling distrust in your relationship when you love someone struggling with addiction can be quite common. But there is some real danger in that. Because addiction doesn't like to tell the truth (and it wants to stay in control), it decides to tell lies. Maybe they've denied drinking or taking pills or texting other people that they shouldn't. When the lies start, this is how distrust forms. Tune...

Whether your loved one suffers from addiction or not, having trust in your relationship is essential. Right? Because without it, you'll most likely start to feel frustrated or even stuck. But if you entered this relationship with any trust issues from your past, it's important to make your healing a priority. And you're not going to be able to do that if you're looking to your partner to help you...

Have you ever gone back and forth on a decision you needed to make while loving someone suffering from addiction? Maybe there have been days you're ready to pack your bags and leave, only to decide you're not quite ready yet. And guess what? That's okay. Because here's the deal: you reserve the right to change your mind at any time (and as often as you need). But when you find yourself struggling...

When you love someone suffering from addiction, have you ever felt angry at some point? Maybe your loved one lied to you (again). Or spent every dime in your bank account that you needed for bills. After getting angry, did you feel ashamed or even embarrassed? If so, please give yourself lots of grace. Anger is actually your body's way of saying that something is not okay with what's going on arou...

At some point, you've probably felt embarrassed about your situation or something your loved one has done who suffers from addiction. Or maybe you're worried about being judged by others. Does this sound familiar? But here's the thing: you're not alone with what you're going through (even if it feels that way sometimes). By feeling humiliation or shame, you're giving away your power to addiction. ...

Have you ever thought that your loved one who suffers from addiction might be cheating on you? It's not something you want to think about, right? So it's normal if you're in denial. But the loving truth is that cheating happens more often than you may think. And look, no judgment at all - it happened to me when I was married to my ex-husband. Tune in to this week's episode where I share a personal...

Have you ever wanted to throw your hands up and scream from the chaos and dysfunction that sometimes happens when you love someone suffering from addiction? Maybe you've felt helpless and angry or wondering how to make things better when so much feels out of control. Can you relate?  Tune in to this week's episode where I'll walk you through ways to cope when you're feeling this way, as well as so...

When you love someone with addiction, it can be easy to forget what you want to accomplish in your life because the focus is usually on them. Does that sound familiar? You're not alone. But with the new year quickly approaching, it's a great time to do some self-reflection and take back your power against this disease. To step away from the chaos and drama that their addiction (and the holidays) c...

If your loved one's addiction is marijuana, do they try to justify using it by saying it's safe because it's 'all-natural'? Or that it's not as harmful compared to other drugs? If you are struggling with boundaries around marijuana, trust me; you're not alone. But remember: you're not powerless. Educating yourself and understanding the effects of marijuana will help you decide what you are (or are...

When you love a good person suffering from addiction, it can sometimes feel like the light or sparkliness that's inside you has dimmed. Can you relate? This can happen when the cloak of addiction covers things up around you and your loved one struggling with addiction. And with the holiday season right around the corner, it can be incredibly stressful. But here's the thing: you're not powerless. A...

Has the thought ever crossed your mind that you should change who you are just because things aren't going as planned with your loved one who suffers from addiction?  Something similar happened recently with my daughter (whose story you'll hear in this episode), and I'm so incredibly proud of her for staying true to herself. Instead, she's changing the expectations she had for this situation. Tune...

You've probably heard the expression, "Let go and let God." And at times it can be a helpful mantra. But I disagree with this saying when you love someone suffering from addiction (or even with unhealthy relationships with friends or family).  In our community, we believe that it's 100% OK to take control of your own life and feelings. You're a grown, wonderful, smart adult who knows what's best f...

Earlier today, I was walking into the grocery store and then turned right back around to get in my car and record this podcast for you. This spur-of-the-moment episode has nothing to do with drugs or alcohol or addiction. And it's not about politics. But it's something I wanted to get to you right away. I hope you'll take a listen: https://loveoveraddiction.com/podcast/