Special Episode: The Impact of Addiction on Families – A Conversation with My Mom

In this special episode of The Sober and Happy Podcast, I had the privilege of sitting down with someone who has been through every step of my journey from addiction to recovery—my mom. We discussed the emotional toll addiction has on families and the ways they cope, support, and sometimes lose hope along the way.

We start by talking about her background and how her own experiences with sobriety shaped her response to my struggles. She shares candidly about her initial fears, self-blame, and the helplessness she felt as my addiction took hold. She recalls desperately searching for anything that might stop my downward spiral and the constant fear of “getting the call” that every parent dreads.

Together, we explored the mindset of holding on to hope even as my addiction grew worse. My mom describes the heartache of watching a loved one in the grips of addiction, feeling powerless to help, yet never fully giving up hope. She talks about the importance of having her own support system through friends and Al-Anon, which provided her with tools to cope and avoid losing herself in my struggles.

We also dive into the breakthrough moment—when I asked her to help me find a rehab. She describes the emotional journey from hopelessness to relief and the initial fears she faced when I moved back into her home after treatment. She shares the joy and cautious optimism of seeing me rebuild my life, step by step, and how it felt to see the weight of worry finally lifted as I grew stronger in my recovery.

For families with loved ones in active addiction, my mom offers a message of hope and resilience. Her advice? Hold on to hope, seek support, and understand that while the road may be long and painful, recovery is possible, both for the person struggling and for the family members by their side.

Make sure to listen to the full episode!