How To Cope With The Dope
Navigating the challenges of loving someone with substance use disorder can feel overwhelming, but you're not alone. This podcast combines personal experiences, research, and my own recovery journey to offer understanding, hope, and practical tools for growth. With monthly interviews featuring inspiring stories of hope and expert insights, I aim to help you move from merely surviving to truly thriving in your own life.
Episodes
59 episodes
Interview with Jackie and Rick: Love on the Brink: A Couple’s Journey Through Addiction and Healing
Addiction doesn’t just impact the person struggling—it shakes the foundation of relationships, testing love, trust, and resilience. In this powerful episode, we hear from a couple who faced the devastating effects of substance use disorder in t...
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Season 1
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Episode 58
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1:07:05
Breaking Free from People-Pleasing: Reclaiming Your Peace
Do you find yourself constantly putting others’ needs ahead of your own, even at the expense of your well-being? People-pleasing can be exhausting, especially when dealing with a loved one who struggles with addiction. In this episode, we explo...
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Season 1
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Episode 57
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32:03
Releasing Resentment: How to Do a Resentment Inventory for Healing
Resentment can be a heavy burden, keeping us stuck in pain, blame, and frustration. In this episode, we dive into the power of a resentment inventory—what it is, why it matters, and how it can help you break free from old wounds. Whether you're...
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Season 1
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Episode 56
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22:25
High-Functioning Codependency: Are You Too Strong for Your Own Good?
Do you feel like you have to handle everything yourself? Are you the one everyone relies on, even when you're drowning in stress? In this episode, we dive into high-functioning codependency—what it looks like, how it impacts your health ...
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Season 1
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Episode 55
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27:05
Open vs. Closed Interventions: A Conversation with a Licensed Counselor
When a loved one struggles with addiction, the question of intervention often arises—but how do you know what approach is best? In this episode, we sit down with Chuck Montante, a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor and Licensed Mental Health C...
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Season 1
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Episode 54
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1:00:51
From Overwhelmed to Centered: Using Tapping to Calm Yourself
In this episode, we explore the powerful tool of tapping, also known as Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT), to help you find calm amidst the challenges of loving someone with addiction. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stuck in a...
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Season 1
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Episode 53
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17:28
Enabling: When Helping Hurts
Enabling is a common yet often misunderstood behavior among the loved ones of addicts. In this episode, we dive into what enabling looks like, why it happens, and how it impacts both the addict and their family or friends. Through personal stor...
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Season 1
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Episode 52
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25:08
Building Bridges: The Power of Positive Reinforcement in Supporting a Loved One with Addiction
In this episode, we explore the transformative power of positive reinforcement when supporting a loved one with addiction. Learn how small affirmations, encouragement, and focusing on progress—no matter how small—can foster trust, promote chang...
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Season 1
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Episode 51
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19:53
Interview with Kathy
In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, we sit down with Kathy, a woman whose journey through Al-Anon has transformed her life and relationships. She shares her story of finding hope, rediscovering herself, and learning how to navigate life wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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58:55
Reflect, Reset, Renew: SMART Goals for the New Year
As the year comes to a close, it's the perfect time to reflect on your journey and set yourself up for success in the months ahead. In this episode, we explore the power of looking back to move forward, unpack the SMART goal framework, and shar...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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16:46
From Reflection to Renewal: Wrapping Up the Year with Purpose
As another year comes to a close, it’s time to take a step back and reflect on the different areas of your life—relationships, work, health, personal growth, and more. In this episode, we’ll work through a holistic year-end review and a way to ...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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18:59
Step 12- Let's share the good stuff!
In this episode, we explore Step 12 from the Al-Anon perspective: “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to others, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.” What does...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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29:00
Addicted to More: Exploring Overconsumption in Everyday Life
In this episode, we dive into the idea that addiction goes beyond substances like drugs and alcohol. From social media scrolling to shopping sprees, binge-watching shows to overworking, we all grapple with behaviors rooted in overconsumption. W...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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21:01
Holiday Guide: Loving an Addict Without Losing Yourself
The holiday season can be a time of joy and connection, but for those with loved ones struggling with substance abuse, it often brings unique challenges. In this episode, we discuss practical strategies to protect your own peace and well-being ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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15:59
Step 11
Join us as we explore Step 11: 'Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.' In this episode, we dive deep i...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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27:56
Going Deeper: Truly Embracing Prayer and Meditation
In this episode, we explore a simple, compassionate guide to starting a prayer and meditation practice. When someone close to you struggles with substance abuse, feelings of helplessness, stress, and even anger can be overwhelming. Prayer a...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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18:27
Healing Through Action: Jacquelin’s Journey from Survival to Service
In this episode, we sit down with Jacquelin, who shares her powerful story of growing up in a household affected by alcohol use disorder. Jacquelin opens up about the impact it had on her and the resilience she built along the way. Now, as an a...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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47:55
Control
In this episode, we explore the complex issue of control when dealing with a loved one struggling with addiction. It's easy to feel helpless, and sometimes, controlling their actions seems like the only way to protect them—and yourself. But is ...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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15:38
Emotional Hangovers
In this episode, we explore the impact of emotional hangovers on those who love someone struggling with addiction. These emotional hangovers—feelings of overwhelm, guilt, or anxiety that persist long after a crisis has passed—can take a serious...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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16:36
Step 10 of the 12 Steps
In this episode, we focus on Step 10 of Al-Anon’s 12 Steps: 'Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.' We discuss how this vital step encourages ongoing self-reflection, honesty, and growth in the journ...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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21:45
Interview with Tom
In this powerful episode, I sit down with Tom, a former addict who has transformed his life through recovery and is involved in both Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Al-Anon. He shares his inspiring journey from the depths of addiction to fi...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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1:24:52
Thinking about the Chains of Addiction
Hello and thank you for tuning in this week. This episode is a bit introspective as I reflect on my Grandaughter, Ocean. I have been thinking about the family chains of addiction which led me down some unusual and eye opening paths....
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Season 1
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Episode 36
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27:50
Finding Light in the Darkness: The Healing Power of Laughter and Smiling
In this episode, we explore the unexpected yet powerful role that laughter and smiling can play in coping with the challenges of loving someone with an addiction. While addiction brings immense stress and emotional pain, we dive into how moment...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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13:54