Coming Up for Air — A Toolkit to Help with Your Loved One's Recovery from Addiction & Mental Illness

Annie and Laurie dive into the power of recovery slogans, sharing personal anecdotes that highlight their meaning during tough times. They discuss the importance of staying present, avoiding catastrophic thinking, and embracing progress over perfection in communication. The duo also challenges common myths about addiction readiness and encourages a compassionate response to others' pain. Through shared experiences, they foster hope, reminding caregivers that change starts from within and that ongoing support is vital in the recovery journey.

Laurie and Annie compare support group experiences as well as what is helpful when you first find out, or if you're going through it alone. Coming Up for Air brings together two inspiring moms, for thoughtful discussion of topics pertaining to addiction in the family. Both Annie Highwater and Laurie MacDougall have adult sons in recovery from opiate addiction. They also consider themselves to be in recovery, and have made self-care a central goal of their lives. Both use the CRAFT approach for addiction in the family. Allies in Recovery has made these podcasts available to the public in the hopes that you will relate to the experiences described by Laurie and Annie, that you will learn from them and be reminded that you are not alone. AlliesInRecovery.net is the online home for families dealing with a loved one's addiction. We teach the CRAFT method of intervention, based on communication techniques, self-awareness and bridge-building with your addicted loved one. http://alliesinrecovery.net/ #addiction #SupportGroups #opioidCrisis

The hosts delve into the evolving goals of family members coping with addiction. They share personal stories of panic-driven decisions and the harsh realities of treatment. Emphasizing self-care, they highlight the importance of focusing on what one can control and accepting that recovery is an ongoing journey. Listeners learn that shame and coercive tactics often backfire, while healthy boundaries can foster better support. The discussion underlines that addiction is a disease, and managing expectations is crucial for both the individual and their loved ones.

Forgiveness takes center stage as hosts examine its significance in the context of addiction recovery. They discuss the complexities of forgiving loved ones while also reflecting on personal experiences of self-forgiveness. Insights on how childhood dynamics shape adult relationships are shared, highlighting the importance of setting boundaries. The conversation emphasizes viewing addiction as a disease to ease personal blame and the detrimental effects of grudges. Ultimately, the hosts inspire listeners to engage in a continuous practice of forgiveness for healing.

Annie and Laurie open up about parallel issues that can arise through the worst of times.  As they managed their homes with their sons' addiction raging, they also had to deal with what was going on on other fronts: crisis, chaos, conflicts, the good, the bad and the unexpected that happened alongside the central struggle. Join us today to take advantage of the numerous benefits of being an Allies in Recovery member. Learn more at http://alliesinrecovery.net/ #OpioidCrisis #Chaos #addiction #conflict #WorstofTimes

In this episode, Laurie and Annie briefly introduce themselves and discuss backgrounds, family dynamics and open up about their lives leading up to and through their experience with the national opiate crisis entering their lives. Two very different paths leading to the same journey of recovery. Their compelling stories validate the idea that addiction is a disease and it’s a family disease that can happen to any family in any community. We must recover together. Coming Up for Air brings together two inspiring moms, for thoughtful discussion of topics pertaining to addiction in the family. Both Annie Highwater and Laurie MacDougall have adult sons in recovery from opiate addiction. They also consider themselves to be in recovery, and have made self-care a central goal of their lives. Both use the CRAFT approach for addiction in the family. Allies in Recovery has made these podcasts available to the public in the hopes that you will relate to the experiences described by Laurie and Annie, that you will learn from them and be reminded that you are not alone. AlliesInRecovery.net is the online home for families dealing with a loved one's addiction. We teach the CRAFT method of intervention, based on communication techniques, self-awareness and bridge-building with your addicted loved one. http://alliesinrecovery.net/ #AddictionisaDisease #opioidCrisis, #familystories #addiction #Drugs