Hopestream for parenting kids through drug use and addiction

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Henry Maxwell began drinking and smoking marijuana at 12 and by 17, was an IV heroin & cocaine user. Not long afterward, his experimentation expanded to nearly every scheduled drug he could find, from Xanax to amphetamines and highly unregulated substances like ‘spice'. His teen years were largely spent among serious drug users twice his age, and involved many of the traumatic experiences common in that high-risk lifestyle.At the age of 17, Henry was hospitalized for a cocaine overdose that mimicked the symptoms of a heart attack, leaving him afraid for his own life. When an attending nurse asked if he was interested in treatment, he knew he had to say yes, or he wouldn't make it to see his 21st birthday.To this day, Henry has only worked in one field: addiction and recovery. He now has a BA in psychology and certifications in mediation, intervention, and addiction.  Through Maxwell Recovery Services, he has dedicated his professional life to helping families where a young person is struggling with substance misuse or addiction.In this episode, we discuss the complexities of topics like intervention and return to use, how parents can craft longer-term strategies that look beyond daily crises, and the importance of support systems for the entire family.EPISODE RESOURCES:Maxwell Recovery Services websiteMan's Search For Meaning on Amazon This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:In this episode, I offer what might feel like slightly brutal truths if you're parenting a young person who struggles with substances and mental health challenges. I emphasize the importance of self-preservation for parents, noting that while you cannot force lasting change in your child or children, you can create the best conditions to foster it. I discuss the "self-preservation continuum" - the balance between being fully (overly) involved in your child's recovery and maintaining personal health and sanity. I also provide practical tools you can focus on when you have no idea what to do, and highlight the destructive impact of fear when it dominates. EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream episode 8: Don't Let Your Child's Addiction Kill Your Dreams and PassionsHopestream episode 58: Four Counterintuitive Things To Do When You're Overwhelmed By Your Child's Substance Use or Emotional ChallengesInsight Timer meditation: Your Special RoomThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:We're back with another episode of the ‘Cathy & Brenda Show', and this week we tackle a topic we see recurring in our community and the parents we work with…achievement-oriented parenting. As two recovering perfectionists ourselves, Cathy and I both share examples of what it looks like to be achievement-focused when your child (or children) struggle with substances and mental health. We talk about the tendency some of us have to want everything on the outside to look a certain way, even when that's doing damage to our kids, and how it can feel scary to apply self-compassion in fear of getting ‘weak' or ‘soft.'We discuss the internal battles many of us face about wishing our kids would just “get it together” and how the Invitation To Change approach can help us instead look at them with compassionate curiosity to understand their behavior instead of punishing it. We also tap into two of our favorite authors and researchers, Dr. Kristin Neff and Jessica Lahey.If you identify as a problem solver, list-checker, task doer, results-focused person…this is your episode. We even go on a tangent or two, but promise you'll be able to relate.EPISODE RESOURCES:Dr.Kristin Neff's websiteJessica Lahey's website and Hopestream podcast episode #163This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:It's that day, mama. The one filled with many hopes, expectations and potentially big, deep, sad feelings. Wherever you are today, if you're parenting a young person through substance misuse, addiction, and mental health problems, I see you. This short episode is my Mother's Day gift to you - to let you know the things you do are seen, the feelings you feel are valid, and you are beautiful and loved.Enjoy and please be so very good to yourself today, and every day.This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Jen Murphy was working with a group of therapeutic outfitters when she had the idea to offer “on the grid” 4-5 day family intensives.  The program was already providing family therapy on 10-day backcountry expeditions - which can be a great option for some. But she noticed a need for families to receive the same intensive therapeutic service in a shorter timeframe, and in a more private and comfortable setting.As a therapist, this unique model made perfect sense to her and she felt it may lead to more sustainable outcomes. After all, the work of rebuilding trust and repairing family dynamics is often uncomfortable. Why not have a physically comfortable environment to do it in?In response to the demand, Jen created Altitude Family Coaching where she does individual and family coaching and intensives. While the family is usually based in an AirBnb or vacation home, the days are full of experiences that involve natural beauty and supportive experiential-based activities that create opportunities for healing, understanding, on-the-spot coaching and ultimately, growth.In this episode, Jen and I discuss how family intensives work, the biggest issues her clients face, the sticky work of rebuilding trust and why “over-functioning” makes for an unhealthy family dynamic.EPISODE RESOURCES:Jen's website:Phone and email: 970-871-1231, jmurphyfamcoach@gmail.comH.O.M.E. Strategies for Making Home a Success During and After Treatment - buy hereThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:In this intimate episode, I open up about the hard-earned wisdom I've gathered since 2013 when my son's high-risk lifestyle and substance use changed the trajectory of our family forever. I share the words I desperately needed to hear during those nights when I stared at the ceiling, shame keeping me silent and isolation feeling safer than participation. These are the gentle truths that eventually found their way to me through pain, heartbreak, celebrations, and an enormous amount of trial and error.If you're feeling broken, scared, or wondering if you've somehow failed as a parent, this episode is my heartfelt message to you: You are not alone. From questioning every parenting decision to finding resilience when you feel most broken, I hope these reflections offer you a sense of connection and the reassurance that healing begins when we realize we never had to face this journey alone. Remember to be gentle with yourself today, strong, SEAL-team parent. You're doing everything you know how, and it's enough.This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:The worst day of Barbara's life came just before spring break of her son's 4th grade year, which he spent in a psychiatric ward. At age 12, he began using marijuana, and the familiar cycle of problems only continued from there – multiple schools, multiple treatment programs, sleepless nights, and ostracization from many of the parents she thought were friends.Barbara had zero experience with substance misuse or addiction, and like many parents, she was suddenly thrown into uncharted territory. The friends who stuck with her naturally talked about the positive life paths their kids were taking. Hearing about the colleges they'd been accepted to and the jobs they'd taken was difficult, and her son felt left behind by his peers as well. The constant stress eventually manifested in Barbara's body as an autoimmune disorder, complicating her life even more.Eventually, she came across a meditation I had recorded years earlier on Insight Timer, and from there, she discovered The Stream Community. In this family story episode, Barbara explains the power of hearing the stories of other parents going through similar experiences, her most effective mantras, and why both she and her son are now helping other parents believe that there is still hope and a path to recovery.EPISODE RESOURCES:InsightTimer meditation - A Gift Of Sleep For Parents Of Addicted ChildrenThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:Eight years ago a miracle happened. Today's episode is one from the vault - originally published in 2021, which I'm resharing today in honor of my son's eight year anniversary of starting a new life.While it's longer than my usual episodes, this series of story chapters allows you to drop into the ICU with me, among other places, as our family hung onto hope that my son Enzo would not be one of the statistics you read about in the news. You'll be along for the excruciatingly long ride to the hospital, through hushed conversations with doctors, unexpected laughter with nurses and more as we spent 30+ days in some very dark places.Lace up for a long walk or listen chapter by chapter during your busy days this week - and remember, if they are alive, there is always, always hope.EPISODE RESOURCES:Get in touch with Enzo Narciso, mentor with Not Therapy, email: enzo@nottherapycoaching.comYou can read the written version of this story hereThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

In this snack-sized episode, I share three concepts to help parents navigate the stormy waters of having a teen or young adult child who struggles with substance misuse and mental health issues. I emphasize the importance of self-care and separation from external chaos to maintain emotional stability and effectively support (and not drive crazy) those closest to you. I share three key points: visualizing personal boundaries to keep chaos out, understanding that every storm will eventually pass, and recognizing the harm caused by neglecting self-care. There's even a little bit of woo-woo included for those willing to experiment.Some practical tips and a personal story underscore the necessity of prioritizing your well-being for the benefit of your entire family.00:00 Introduction: Weathering the Storm00:39 Welcome to Hope Stream02:14 Taking Care of Yourself03:07 Maintaining Your Vessel's Integrity06:38 Every Storm Runs Out of Rain14:44 The Greatest Harm: Not Taking Care of Yourself17:52 Conclusion and ResourcesThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:As Patrina's daughter began her college life, their relationship and communication remained strong.  They met weekly, usually grabbing a bite to eat or going to a sporting event while talking about life.Even so, Patrina was starting to notice some things that were a little off: her daughter would map out semester coursework, then end up dropping out. She sent odd texts at night, or called crying. On at least one occasion, her daughter's boyfriend called to tell Patrina that her daughter was out driving drunk after a fight they'd just had.Having gone to night school while working full time, Patrina wasn't certain if this was “typical” college behavior or how serious her daughter's drinking was. The message she got was this is what everyone else in college is doing - it's normal. Sadly, it may not have been much of an exaggeration.In this family story episode, Patrina takes us through her daughter's alcohol misuse and recovery, a journey that involved nine treatment facilities over the course of several years.  We discuss her search for a community of moms who truly understood what she was going through, the mantra and coping mechanisms that kept her grounded, the qualities she sought out in a mentor, and much more. This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:In this deeply personal episode, Cathy and I peel back the layers of what parent support looks like during your child's long-term recovery, sharing some intimate "what if" questions that continue to echo in our minds. Drawing from our own experiences with three kids in recovery, we explore the nuanced emotional landscape of supporting our kids, and ourselves, through the challenges of substance misuse and mental health issues.We answer questions like, "What's my role when when my child is 5+ years into recovery? "How do you balance vigilance with trust and letting go of control?" We dive into raw, honest conversations about:Questioning our past parenting decisionsUnderstanding unique recovery journeysMaintaining our own personal recovery practicesRecognizing the unexpected gifts within challenging experiencesYou'll even hear a kayaking analogy that might act as a powerful metaphor for your recovery, learn why there's no "normal" path to healing, and discover how parents can find hope and resilience when supporting children through their unhealthy substance use and into sustained recovery.EPISODE RESOURCES:The Chinese Farmer Episode with Dina Cannizzaro (#173)Episode #251 with Enzo Narciso (Brenda's son)This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:As a two-time NCAA champion, Janice's son was steeped in macho culture. But over time, the identity he developed there became increasingly at odds with the truth of his privately held, and personally rejected homosexuality. And while Janice, self-admitted “cool mom” was perfectly fine with her son's sexuality, her casual acceptance overlooked the intense inner struggle he was facing.When he moved home from college during the pandemic, she noticed that he looked terrible, sometimes slept all day, and never seemed to have any of the money he earned at his job. Eventually, she found a bag of crystal meth in his belongings, and her strengths as a no-nonsense New York executive took over. She would, and could, solve the problem.In this family story episode, Janice explains why the attitudes that help you succeed in business are the very attitudes you must let go of, how she finally figured out what it means to “do the work”, and why sobriety is not a panacea for the issues that drive young people to using substances in the first place.EPISODE RESOURCES:Intent Clinical (formerly O'Connor Professional Group - Diana Clark)This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODEIn this episode, I delve into the concept of allowing natural consequences as a form of 'invisible intervention' in parenting teens and young adults struggling with substance misuse and mental health issues. I share real-life examples and experiences on the benefits of stepping back to let reality teach essential lessons, emphasizing the need for patience and rock solid boundaries. I highlight the challenges parents face in resisting the urge to fix everything and discuss how this approach can profoundly impact a child's journey towards recovery - creating change sooner than later. EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream podcast episode 174 with Brenda and Cathy on boundariesChecklist: Ten Parenting Patterns That May Prolong Your Child's Struggle with Substances, And What To Do InsteadThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Lynne's first clue that her son might be using substances was finding a Google search: “marijuana for anxiety.”Outwardly, there was nothing particularly concerning about his behavior - at first. He had always made good grades, even as an elite athlete headed for college play. But inside, the looming life changes were causing a lot of anxiety. The first time he tried marijuana, he knew it was exactly what he had been looking for and it worked…for a while.Once he got to college, his use of marijuana was compounded by other substances, his grades plummeted, and Lynne's family had to make the difficult decision of no longer paying for school. After a psychotic episode and an automobile accident, Lynne's son was finally able to embrace treatment and sustain recovery.Meanwhile, Lynne demonstrated the resilience innate to her personality and became certified as a Mayo Clinic Health and Wellness Coach, Invitation to Change parent coach, and meditation instructor. In this family story episode, she shares her process of learning how to see the journey without regard for the outcome, the benefits of learning to set boundaries, and shares the key to her strength to help her son recover his life.EPISODE RESOURCES:The Stream CommunityThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Consider this your wakeup call: In 2023, the number of people using marijuana products daily surpassed those who use alcohol daily - even though three times as many people drink. Young people aged 18-25 make up the largest group of those daily users.As president of the Partnership to End Addiction for five years, Fred Muench, Ph.D. provided recovery information and resources about all substances, from alcohol to heroin. But when his team looked over their own helpline data, they noticed that calls about marijuana far outpaced every other substance. Most were calls from parents, and they weren't simply discovering that their children had begun using high-potency marijuana. Many were detailing their kids dropping out of school after daily use, or even showing frightening signs of cannabis-induced psychosis.Today, Fred is the founder and CEO of Clear30, a community-centered support app that invites people to change their relationship to weed. The app isn't just a repository of information, but a personalized, interactive support system for withdrawal and recovery. Clear30 invites daily users to take a 30-day break, examine their own symptoms, and find encouragement from others who are finding that high-potency marijuana isn't all it was promised to be.In this episode, Fred and I talk about the inception of Clear30, the specific support systems it can provide, the difference between male and female withdrawal symptoms, and the questionable marketing of marijuana products.EPISODE RESOURCES:The Clear 30 websiteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:In this episode, I explore how Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) complements CRAFT and Motivational Interviewing (MI) to form a powerful approach to influencing positive change in struggling teens and young adults. I explain key ACT principles, such as psychological flexibility and mindfulness practices, and offer three practical tools you can experiment with to start paying more attention to your experience during the Roller Coaster Ride. This episode encourages you to transform your own responses to create better conditions for those you care about while also emphasizing the importance of self-awareness and emotional well-being. EPISODE RESOURCES:PDF download: The Stream Community (for moms and female caregivers)Episode 256: Double Punch: Using CRAFT and MIHopestream on YouTubeThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When Stefan Bate began his third stay at an inpatient treatment center, he was told that he was a "treatment-resistant alcoholic" prone to chronic relapse. Stefan felt deep shame at this realization, but as he would later learn, this is not as uncommon as you might think: Research by Dr. John Kelly at Harvard Medical School finds that, on average, it takes eight years and eight treatment episodes for someone to find sustained remission. But why?Stefan Bate, the Chief Clinical Officer at Jaywalker Lodge, has a few ideas about that. He graduated from Jaywalker's inpatient program himself in 2007 and saw the incredible difference it made not only to his own life but to the lives of countless other men who had previously been resistant to treatment. After the financial crisis of 2008 made his banking career less attractive, Stefan went back to graduate school, earning a Master's in Applied Psychology and his license as an addiction counselor, eventually returning to Jaywalker in a leadership role.In this episode, Stefan and I discuss the concept of "recovery capital," why some individuals do so well in 28-day containment-style treatment but fail in the real world, and how community-based recovery is shifting the landscape of treatment for the better.EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream's Recovery Captial downloadable PDFJaywalker Lodge websiteJaywalker Admissions: 1 (866) 445-1269John F. Kelly, PhD - HarvardThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Welcome to the first episode of our Hopestream family recovery series! Hearing the trials, failures, and successes of families just like yours will give insight into how other parents are navigating their child's substance misuse, as well as offering you the wisdom they picked up along the way. This series will highlight the importance of core family issues: parent self-care, boundaries, the need for community, and positive communication skills with kids who are often at their worst. Sarah's story is an excellent place to start. She's the kind of mom who took the initiative when she learned her daughter wasn't just smoking weed - she was addicted to fentanyl-laced Percocet pills. Sarah immersed herself in research and anything that might help save her daughter's life, including, in 2020, a relatively new podcast, Hopestream. Today, Sarah's family is healthy, her daughter is in recovery, and she continues to be an incredible resource for other parents in The Stream.In this episode, we discuss the journey of understanding that substance use makes sense, the brutal reality of potentially losing your child, finding windows of opportunity for connection, and much more.EPISODE RESOURCES:Partnership to End Addiction websiteBeyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change book and workbook for families and friendsNET Device information: Isaiah House (provides NET treatment), Hopestream episodes #83, #86, #113, #246The Final Fix - NET documentary on Amazon PrimeThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When Dr. David Wiss got out of jail the second time, he was determined to change his life.  But he had no fancy treatment program to take him out of his environment, no medication, and very little therapy. Instead, his recovery was realized through a dedication to healthy eating, exercise, and sunlight.Today, David is the founder of Nutrition in Recovery - a group that specializes in treating eating and substance use disorders - as well as the developer of a specialized nutrition curriculum that has been incorporated at more than 50 treatment centers around the world.  His years of study bring together the biological, psychological, and social aspects of nutrition for a truly holistic understanding of its role and importance in recovery and healthy living.  David has spent more than 10,000 hours in one-on-one nutrition counseling, and today we all get to benefit from that incredible knowledge.In this episode, we discuss why healthy, principled eating is so important to the recovery process, how it provides meaning for young people looking to belong, why kids who misuse substances are often drawn to conspiracy theories, and how understanding the actual conspiracies of food and drug corporations can be a step in the right direction. EPISODE RESOURCES:Dr. David Wiss's websiteAlice Baker, MSRD CEDS-C LMHC LPC LD/N websiteAlice Baker on Hopestream ep. 221This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:In this episode, I explore the integration of Motivational Interviewing (MI) into the Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) approach for helping a child (or anyone) struggling with substance misuse. I share personal experiences, explain both methods' foundations and principles, and highlight their synergy in fostering effective communication and supporting positive change. I also share when MI will be useful for parents and how to use it, underlining the importance of empathy, creating a non-judgmental space, and building confidence in your child's ability to change. There are also tips on how to get to that empathic and compassionate place if you're not there today.EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream Ep. 160 with Dr. Emily KlineDr. Emily Kline's website & book, "The School of Hard Talks"Motivational Interviewing For Loved Ones free e-course by Dr. KlineCRAFT efficacy researchMI and CRAFT researchMI Addiction Treatment Outcome EvaluationThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram hereFind us on YouTube hereDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Over the five years of doing this podcast and participating in hundreds of calls and groups in The Stream, our online community for moms, Cathy and I have seen patterns emerge and today we're talking about a few of them. We're sharing three things we see come up over and over which have a great impact on parents when they have a child or children who struggle with mental health and substance misuse. The good news is that there are simple (not easy) and practical ways you can modify your behavior and thinking that can radically improve the difficult season of life you're in. Join us as we share these three important topics that can have a major influence on your family.EPISODE RESOURCES:Episode 174 on boundaries, with Brenda & CathayNancy Landrum episode on boundaries, #245Mary Crocker Cook on episode #223Bill Guy on episode #137This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:From the age of 12, Dr. Judy Grisel loved every drug she tried immediately. Over the next decade of intensive use, she found herself kicked out of high school and two colleges, homeless, and contracted hepatitis C from a dirty needle. At the age of 22, she was told she would die unless she stopped drugs entirely.Judy rejected the idea of abstinence, but she developed a plan to stop using just long enough to survive. Against all odds, her experimental period of sobriety led Judy to a career as a renowned neuroscientist studying the role of the brain in addiction. She's been in recovery for over 38 years.In today's episode, we discuss a wide range of topics, including the most important things parents should understand about marijuana dependence and withdrawal, the critical role of risky behavior in teens, and why so much substance use centers around our kids' sense of meaning.EPISODE RESOURCES:TED Ed: How does alcohol make you drunk?TEDx Talk: Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of AddictionJudy's Journey - Bucknell Univ. ArticleNever Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction (Dr. Grisel's Book)This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When Steven Petrow's mother died in 2017, he decided to take up a practice that he'd heard about but never tried: gratitude journaling. As an award-winning journalist for the New York Times and Washington Post and author of several books, he was intimately familiar with writing. But finding joy amidst such an immense sense of loss seemed impossible and a gratitude practice seemed a little woo-woo.Within a year of beginning, his father also died, his marriage was crumbling, and his sister was diagnosed with cancer. So when the pandemic hit in 2020, Steven began intense research into the accumulated data and wisdom surrounding joy and happiness. His in-depth work has now culminated in a new book, The Joy You Make: Find the Silver Linings -- Even on Your Darkest Days.In this episode, Steven and I discuss how everything he learned helped him through his most challenging season of life, the important difference between happiness and joy, and what happened when he decided to honestly answer a stranger who asked, "How are you?"EPISODE RESOURCES:Steven Petrow's website & booksSteven on InstagramThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:The tradition continues! Each year, I share a “Golden Nuggets” episode with segments from some of the best of the year. This year, you'll hear from me, along with Kristina Kuzmič, Mary Crocker Cook, Dr. Amy Hoyt, and Jared Murray. Be sure to head to the show notes and download the PDF with links to each of the full episodes. EPISODE RESOURCES:Download the episode PDF with links to all episodesACES - Adverse Childhood Experiences questionsAssoc. Of Recovery High SchoolsAfraid To Let Go - Mary Crocker Cook's bookKristina Kuzmič - ep. 244I Can Fix This - Kristina Kuzmić's bookBrenda Zane on How to Use CRAFT, ep. 239Dr. Mary Crocker Cook, ep. 223Brenda Zane - Mother's Day Tribute, ep. 218Dr. Amy Hoyt, ep. 236The Body Keeps The Score by Bessel van der Kolk, Ph.D.Brenda Zane on the state of the treatment industry, ep. 203Jared Murray, ep. 243This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:In this personal episode, I sat down with my son Enzo Narciso to discuss his journey of recovery, personal growth, and transformation. Enzo shares candid insights into managing ADHD, maintaining sobriety, and working with adolescent boys struggling with substance misuse. Drawing from his own experiences of overcoming a high-risk lifestyle and addiction and having to rebuild his health after a life-threatening overdose, Enzo provides hope and practical strategies for parents navigating their child's recovery journey. The conversation covers topics including setting boundaries, managing triggers, and the importance of consistency in supporting young people through challenging times. I feel so fortunate to be able to have a conversation like this with my son - I hope it brings you peace and encouragement no matter where you are on your path.EPISODE RESOURCES:Narciso Life Strategies Mentoring: call, WhatsApp or text: 619.534.8520 This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:A significant number of parents in the Hopestream community find themselves facing three major issues with their kids: ‘unfinished' adolescence brains, heavy use of marijuana, and ADHD. That probably shouldn't be surprising; kids with ADHD are more likely to use substances earlier and more dangerously than neurotypical kids. Fortunately, though, my guest today has studied the intersection of substance use and ADHD for years.  In addition to her academic knowledge, Dr. Mariely Hernandez brings a lot of personal ADHD experience to the table: her own diagnosis, parenting a son who has been diagnosed, and a business practice that helps adults with ADHD recognize and play to their strengths.In this episode, Mariely gives a wide-ranging explanation of all these issues, including the symptoms and experience of kids with ADHD who use, the catch-22 that makes it hard for them to get treatment, specific issues faced by girls, structural supports parents can offer, and why messages of delaying substance use can be more powerful than messages of abstinence.  If your child is experimenting with substances and you suspect - or know- they have ADHD, do not miss this enlightening episode!EPISODE RESOURCES:Twitter & Instagram: @DrMarielyhFlare Calmer Ear BudsDr. Hernandez Researchgate profileMarijuana & psychosis article - Child Mind InstituteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Matt Lebris spent his early college years on the Dean's honor list, putting on a suit and smoking weed every morning. But after a minor traffic accident, mixing marijuana and muscle relaxers sent him to the hospital in an intense panic attack.Since then, Matt has embarked on a mission to share not only the joys of sobriety but the incredible benefits of therapeutic self-work that have helped him come to terms with the emotional deficits of his youth. Matt is currently the host of the "Decoding Success Podcast", where he invites leaders in various fields to share their inner journeys -- especially how they've used their challenging life experiences to fuel massive success.In this episode, Matt and I discuss marijuana use and addiction, what it's like to be "doing the work" on yourself as a male in modern society, and the hidden power of being a black sheep.EPISODE RESOURCES:Matt's websiteMatt's podcast, Decoding SuccessMatt on InstagramThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

This Thanksgiving, join me for a heartfelt exploration of life's most challenging moments. When our carefully constructed and curated expectations shatter like dishes crashing from a flipped table, how can you find grace, gratitude, and grounding? In this short solo episode, I draw from a deeply personal reflection sparked by loss and uncertainty. This episode speaks directly to anyone feeling untethered—parents struggling with family challenges, individuals navigating unexpected life transitions, or anyone wrestling with the gap between what is and what we thought life (or Thanksgiving) would be. Gift yourself 15 minutes and find ways to embrace your current journey compassionately, sit with discomfort, and discover that being "okay" looks different for everyone.This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Kyle Robinson first represented someone in court at the age of 18 years old. He was representing himself, defending against charges of assault, disorderly conduct and disturbing the peace – for a fight that hadn't even happened. If that's not foreshadowing I don't know what is.Kyle had certainly been in a few fights before this particular arrest. The physical and emotional abuse he'd endured from his stepfather since the age of four had driven him to rebellion, fighting, misusing substances, and a 1.0 high school GPA. But he had checked himself into rehab at the age of 17, and was trying his best to stay out of trouble as a legal adult.Kyle's courtroom defense was successful. The acquittal made him feel as though he was putting himself on the right track. But when he was accepted to college against all odds, everything changed again.In this recovery episode, Kyle shares the journey laid out in his new memoir, “Wandering Spark.” You'll hear how he went from a jail cell to law school, how writing the book made him come to terms with the reasons he had used substances in the first place and the incredible importance of adults who take the time to encourage young people who are struggling. This episode is another great reminder that there is always hope!EPISODE RESOURCES:Kyle's websiteWandering Spark on AmazonNo Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz (IFS)This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:In 2020, a documentary film titled "The Final Fix" introduced the public to a new treatment for opioid use disorder.  The claims of the neuroelectric therapy (NET) device are bold: opiate detox in 3-5 days with little or no withdrawal symptoms, discomfort, or cravings. Since the film's release, I have personally known three people who acquired NET treatment for their kids, including two from the Hopestream community. All have had great experiences.In 2021, double-blind trials of more than 100 people experiencing opioid use disorder began and the NET Device for OUD treatment was approved by the FDA in May of this year.In this episode, I spoke with Jeff Lott, director of communications at NET Recovery. We discussed the surprising origins of this medical technology, how NET was accidentally discovered by a Scottish surgeon working in Hong Kong, the fact that its groundbreaking results are not a panacea for recovery, and plans for the future of the NET Device for widespread adoption and use in the treatment industry.EPISODE RESOURCES:A randomized, sham-controlled, quintuple-blinded trial to evaluate the NET device as an alternative to medication for promoting opioid abstinenceRevolutionary Kentucky-based opioid use disorder treatment device receives FDA approvalNET Recovery websiteIsiah House NET Recovery InformationThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When Nancy Landrum's son was hospitalized with congestive heart failure, doctors didn't expect him to live through the night. His misuse of amphetamines for more than a decade had left his heart double its normal size and generally wreaked total chaos on his life.Nancy's parents and other family members told her that her son's substance use was her fault. And for a while, she believed them. It's not surprising that she developed her own addictions to food and rescuing her son. But these dysfunctional coping mechanisms bred a resentment that plunged her into near-suicidal depression.Nancy is now a highly sought-after relationship coach with a master's degree in spiritual psychology and the author of eight books. In this episode, we look back over the 15 years she spent parenting a child misusing substances to share the most important truths she's taken away from the experience. We discuss the specific ways she learned to set and keep boundaries - without guilt - the relationship between resentment and depression, releasing the guilt parents often have about their child's behavior and more.EPISODE RESOURCES:Nancy's website and booksThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Kristina Kuzmič had harbored some denial about her oldest son's depression, anxiety and substance use. "Lots of kids have problems. Maybe everything will work itself out," she thought. That denial ended abruptly the night she had to call the police.Neighbors she hadn't even met yet stared from their driveways as her son was pushed into a police car, swearing loudly at her. Her three-word response to the shame and guilt she felt that night may just help change the way you view the world.Kristina went on to write the book "I Can Fix This: And Other Lies I've Told Myself While Parenting My Struggling Child". Her son, now in recovery, encouraged her to write every gritty detail of the family's struggles -- and wrote the final chapter himself.In this interview, Kristina brings the charm and humor that won Oprah's reality TV show to crucial issues facing parents with kids who are struggling. We discuss the power of shared experience in support groups, why she danced the night away as her son was in the psych ward, why the "good kids" in families often suffer in silence, and how parents can connect to them despite their sibling's struggles.  And so much more!EPISODE RESOURCES:Kristina's YouTube ChannelKristina's websiteKristina's FacebookKristina's InstagramThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:The chaos of Jared Murray's substance use got him expelled from the University of Alabama and banned from campus. How then, did he go on to eventually running the university's collegiate recovery program? You'll have to listen to find out.Jared now spends every day talking with young adults and their parents about addiction, mental health and sober life at Momentum Recovery in North Carolina. Many of those parents are in a position that you might be familiar with - desperately trying to convince their young adult child to pursue treatment and recovery.In this episode, Jared brings his personal and professional experiences to bear on considerations around when it's time to seek help, whether youth have to be open to treatment to realize benefits, whether relapse is inevitable, and why interventions don't have to look like anything you've seen on TV.EPISODE RESOURCES:Momentum Recovery websiteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

In an unplanned and heartfelt episode, I decided to share some thoughts on the importance of acceptance in the face of life's challenges. I discuss how resisting difficult experiences can hinder personal growth and highlight the beauty of transformation that comes with accepting reality. You'll also hear a story of a life saved recently by one of our members, made possible by the support of Hopestream's scholarship fund. This episode takes place during our Seeds of Hope Giving Campaign for 2024, which you can learn more about at hopestreamcommunity.org/donate. If the Hopestream podcast has been helpful for you and your family, please consider a donation to our 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to keep it on air and, importantly, ad-free.EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream's Seeds of Hope Giving CampaignThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a highly effective but obscure treatment in psychiatry. It received its first FDA clearance for the treatment of depression in 2008 but has since proven itself to be effective for a host of other issues – depression, OCD, smoking cessation, bipolar, PTSD, cognitive impairment, and even autism. And a huge bonus? Side effects are practically non-existent.If that doesn't get your attention, consider this: The FDA recently cleared TMS for depression in adolescents aged 15 and up, with studies currently being conducted on efficacy for substance use disorders.In this episode, I speak with Dr. Martha Koo, president of the TMS society's board of directors. Martha received her degrees from Princeton and UCLA and is double-board-certified in psychiatry and addiction. She has also participated in the evolution of TMS for decades. She'll explain who TMS is for, how it works, what it's capable of, and why there may be an explosion of its use in the coming years.EPISODE RESOURCES:Neuro Wellness SpaYour Behavioral HealthClear Behavioral Health (Mental Health & Addiction Services)TMS Society (find a provider)This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:As a mom of four boys, I confess to knowing very little about raising girls. But my guests today have an intimate understanding of the specific emotional needs and experiences of adolescent girls, young women, and gender diverse individuals grounded in decades of therapeutic work.Dr. Marcy Russo and Sara Osbourne advocate for a whole-person approach to residential treatment for many of the most common mental and behavioral health issues -- anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders -- and the substance use disorders that sometimes result.In this episode we'll discuss the perfect storm of issues, from Covid to social media, that has left so many young women feeling they cannot navigate social expectations or develop healthy, supportive relationships. We also talk about the use of relational and somatic therapeutic tools to help girls find authenticity and self-understanding for long term wellness and recovery. EPISODE RESOURCES:Wellspring websiteAngelus House websiteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Community Reinforcement and Family Training (aka CRAFT) is a system for helping friends and family members change the way that they interact with someone they love who has an unhealthy and/or dangerous relationship with substances. CRAFT teaches family members how to stay connected, increase communication, and effectively encourage their loved one toward treatment, while taking care of themselves in the process.  This episode centers around what parents need to know about CRAFT to have the best possible chance at having their child accept help for their substance misuse. It's one where you may want a notebook to capture the steps and actions involved in this very important process.This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Even before he became a teenager, it seemed to Dr. Steedy Kantos that he was good at anything he tried to do - especially sports.  He shined in football, baseball, basketball, wrestling and track, and recruiters were starting to take notice. It seemed he was well on his way to becoming a professional athlete.But Steedy had also begun experimenting with marijuana and alcohol at the age of 12. When he was caught skipping class in high school, his coach informed him that he would be required to attend extra summer conditioning on top of the school's disciplinary program. He refused, giving up his promising career, and redirected his energies to drugs, alcohol and partying.In the years since he began his own recovery, Steedy has obtained a doctorate in clinical psychology, served as a collegiate recovery program coordinator, and a staff therapist at Division 1 school Georgia Tech. For the first time on the Hopestream podcast, Steedy walks us through the specific challenges and needs of student athletes in recovery.  We'll discuss the role that parents sometimes play in the intense and unhealthy pressure on D1 athletes, imposter syndrome at elite schools, and the academic benefits of collegiate recovery programs.EPISODE RESOURCES:InTown Psychology, Atlanta, GAAssoc. Of Recovery In Higher Education (Collegiate Recovery)Georgia Tech Collegiate Recovery ProgramThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Listeners of Hopestream get to hear from lots of amazing doctors, therapists, specialists, and academics. We can't underestimate how valuable their insights are, but we also need to listen to the voices of young people who have misused substances and come out the other side.That's why our recent guest speakers session for members of Hopestream Community featured an AMA (ask me anything) with three young people who are living healthy lives after facing extreme forms of substance misuse.  Each found their path in the 12-step program, which may be the most common treatment program in the country, but can also be totally unfamiliar to parents suddenly thrown into the world of addiction and recovery.In this conversation, they answer questions posed by the parents of the Hopestream community, including the controversial concept of "rock bottom", the power of peer support and parents' united front, and whether recovery can (or should) include nicotine use.EPISODE RESOURCES:Find an AA meeting hereFind a recovery high school hereConnect with Young People in Recovery hereSearch locally for an "Alternative Peer Group" in your cityThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:For those who haven't seen their child's life endangered by the misuse of substances, calling the experience "trauma" may sound like an exaggeration. But my guest today says that the effects on the body and mind are almost identical.    Dr. Amy Hoyt has been working in the field of trauma for 10 years, with studies ranging from genocide to addiction. But her understanding isn't just academic.  After suffering sexual abuse in her teens, Amy repressed the memories and began drinking before high school classes every morning. With the help of a good friend and parents who were willing to step in, she has been in recovery for many years.Over the course of her career, Amy has learned that toxic and vicarious stress mimic the effects of trauma in the body and mind. Constant stress changes our gene expression, and can even "turn on" experiences of pain, gut symptoms like IBS, autoimmune disorder, fibromyalgia, and serotonin issues.In this episode, Amy reviews some of the current research on stress and trauma relevant to kids using substances AND their parents, proven methods to down-regulate an overworked nervous system, and why psychological pain isn't "all in your head."EPISODE RESOURCES:The Mending Trauma PodcastDr. Hoyt's websiteDr. Hoyt on InstagramPeace After Trauma MembershipThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

Parents sometimes fall into patterns that can unintentionally prolong their child's struggle with substance use. In this eye-opening solo episode, Brenda Zane reveals ten common parenting pitfalls that might be keeping your family stuck on the Roller Coaster Ride. I emphasize that recognizing these behaviors doesn't make someone a bad parent but rather, presents opportunities for growth and positive change.In just 30 minutes, you'll discover practical strategies to shift your approach and create the conditions for positive change – without the guilt or shame. And many of them you can implement today!Key points covered in the episode:The importance of self-care and not running on fumesWhy shaming, blaming, or yelling is ineffectiveThe need for consistent parenting approaches between partnersUnderstanding addiction as a health issue, not a character flawMoving beyond the "rock bottom" mythAvoiding information overload and lecturingNot engaging when your child is under the influence (and two other times)Recognizing when "it's just a phase" thinking is harmfulThe dangers of being a "fixer" and preventing natural consequencesThe benefits of seeking support and community instead of isolatingJoin me for practical tips, resource recommendations, and encouragement. And don't miss the helpful PDF download in the show notes where you can dive deeper into each of the ten pitfalls and find links to resources.EPISODE RESOURCES:Click here to download this episode's free resource guideThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Everyone knows the experience of internal dialogue and conflict about who we are and how we will respond to the world around us. It can feel as if there are parts of us at war with each other. For kids using substances, these parts can become extremely polarized – for instance, part of them wants nothing more than to use, and another genuinely desires self-control. My guest today says that while their inner parts are engaged in this debate about use, it's hard for them to see the underlying cause of the substance use or addictive behavior, whether that be loneliness, anxiety, or shame.  Cece Sykes saw her first client almost 45 years ago, and since then has been doing incredible work with young people suffering from addiction and trauma. Cece is one of the first practitioners of Internal Family Systems (IFS), a framework for understanding the roles each of these parts are playing, discovering what role they play in our coping, and gaining a deeper understanding of our kids' needs and motivations.Interestingly, understanding IFS can change our relationship with ourselves as well. We all have these parts, and the self-examination that this framework provides can help us move beyond the unhealthy dynamics that often develop between parents and kids using substances. In this episode, Cece explains how that works, and how we can help our kids recoginze all the parts of them, without shame, and with more self-compassion.EPISODE RESOURCES:Cece Skyes, LCSW websiteIFS Therapy for Addictions“We All Have Parts,” by Colleen West“No Bad Parts,” by Dr. Richard SchwartzThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:After years of producing feature films and TV shows about family life like Cinderella Story, Perfect Man, Lizzy McGuire, and many others, Mark Rosman was forced to face the reality of problems in his own family.Mark and his wife spent some time in denial about their daughter's substance use. Even after two trips to the emergency room, they decided against professional advice to get her into treatment immediately.  They chalked everything up to ordinary teen rebellion and experimentation, sending her to a traditional boarding school instead. Less than one month later, she was in the emergency room again after downing a bottle of Listerine. Thus began the roller coaster we're all familiar with: periods of hope and sobriety, followed by lapses into chaos and returns to use.Like many parents, Mark instinctively rejected the notion of "self care", or any form of detachment from his daughter's behavior and state of mind at any given time. Finally, in what seemed like his 100th parent group meeting, he admitted to himself (and everyone else there) the utter hopelessness he was feeling. This was the beginning of the entire family's recovery.In this episode, Mark talks about how this realization helped him to learn to set boundaries and how – now five years into his daughter's recovery – he's making his own story into a feature film which, for the first time, focuses on the experiences of parents.EPISODE RESOURCES:Keep Coming Back FilmKeep Coming Back Instagram accountThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When Dr. Jarrell Myers took his first job out of grad school, he loved working with children suffering from anxiety disorders, as well as their families. It was a calling he'd already been pursuing for years. But there was a big problem: many kids who needed needed help for their anxiety couldn't become patients in his program because they were using substances.  While this made some clinical sense (for reasons Jarell will explain), it also failed to acknowledge that substance use was woven into their anxiety, often as a coping mechanism.  This is what finally led him to the Center for Motivational Change (CMC).CMC publishes the book I recommend more than any other to parents of kids struggling with substances – Beyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People Change. Today I finally have a chance to speak with Dr. Myers about some of the core principles it contains.In this episode, we discuss the nature of anxiety, why it makes sense that anxious kids to turn to substances, how parenting those kids may trigger our own fear and anxiety responses, and how to give our families the best fighting chance in the face of these realities.EPISODE RESOURCES:Center for Motivation and ChangeBeyond Addiction: How Science and Kindness Help People ChangeBeyond Addiction Workbook for Friends and FamilyThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Christopher O'Reilly says it's a mistake to think that we can just understand our way out of trauma. But he claims that healing—once we understand how to receive it—can bring intimacy and connection with other human beings in a way we might never know without those challenges.After surviving his own struggles with substance use, Christopher should know. When he discovered the power of mindfulness meditation to examine his own choices and motivations, Christopher chose the path of change. He has spent the past 20 years helping others do the same.After earning his master's degree, Christopher pursued certification in multiple forms of trauma and addiction counseling. He teaches mindfulness-based stress reduction classes at Brown University, but the center of his professional life is serving as Vice President of Clinical Services at Onsite's residential trauma treatment program, Milestones.In this episode, Christopher and I discuss the anxiety and trauma of parents who have kids misusing substances, why our children can be reluctant to talk about their own anxiety and trauma, and why substance use is sometimes their best option – for a while.EPISODE RESOURCES:Milestones websiteOnsite websiteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Upon returning from vacation, I started to notice a theme in our community and my friend groups - there are a lot of exhausted, brain-fried parents who are looking for an escape from the day-to-day strain of having a child who misuses or is addicted to substances. From spouse and partner relationships to our kids themselves, we sometimes need time to tap out and escape.This episode will give you six simple (not necessarily easy) things you can do when you're looking for an escape hatch to help navigate through difficulties. You'll also hear about our upcoming Signature Fall Retreat: Restoration Mom and an invitation to dads who may want an escape of their own.EPISODE RESOURCES:Episode 174 on boundaries with Cathy CiothOnsite retreats and intensivesEvoke IntensivesRestoration Mom retreat, Oct. 1-4, 2024This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:We all have more going on in our lives than just kids who are misusing substances. But Leah is currently facing an overload of grief and loss including caring for her father-in-law through in-home hospice, the loss of her first grandchild as a newborn, and now caring in-home for her mother and sister-in-law, both of whom are suffering from alzheimers and dementia. Her oldest son, who's been struggling with substance misuse for eight years, has recently been expressing suicidal ideation. All of this while Leah is working and raising her youngest, a 14 year old son.It's hard to overstate the stress and trauma this Hopestream mom has dealt with over the past year. Despite all of this, Leah moves forward with positivity and hope. Some days though, the anxiety pushes her to work herself to exhaustion to gain some control - any control - over a world that seems increasingly unpredictable and scary.In this episode, Leah and I discuss the best perspective she can take on this season of her life, the good it will bring about, how she wants to look back on it in the future, and why the loss of her newborn grandchild may have been a turning point for her oldest son.EPISODE RESOURCES:Hopestream CommunityThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:When AJ Diaz left his sober living home after a year-long stay, he got the same thing everyone else did - a sheet of paper that essentially said, "Here is your relapse prevention plan.We wish you the best."  AJ felt in his gut this was insufficient to support people in early recovery, and after years of working in the field, he now knows he was right.  AJ says staying sober within the four walls of treatment isn't all that hard. Individuals receive hot meals, supportive staff, structure and routine, and socialization with others facing the same challenges. It's when people - especially young people - leave treatment that the world hits them like a ton of bricks. They come face to face with relationships and complications that can disregulate everything they've been practicing, and without the buffer of substances to help them cope.Seeing a desperate need for continuing outpatient care, AJ and his business partner created a supportive early-recovery program called Accountable. In this episode, AJ and I discuss the most common issues families face with a young person in early recovery (many will sound very familiar), why Accountable removes the responsibility of drug testing from parents and spouses, and why fathers often find it difficult to participate in approaches like CRAFT.EPISODE RESOURCES:Accountable website and phone: 646-450-7641Read: Dear Opiates: A True Story Of How A “Harmless” Addiction Took Over My LifeThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Ken Guidroz's son hit a Los Angeles bicyclist while high on heroin, killing the man before his body hit the ground. Ken's son fled the scene but turned himself in less than 24 hours later.What followed this tragic accident was a long period of pain and loss not only for the widow of the deceased but for Ken's entire family, as his son was sentenced to years in prison. Ken had given much of his life to God, making sacrifices to serve nearly a decade as leader of congregations and raise his three sons in the best way he knew how. With an innocent man dead, one son in prison, and the other two making bad decisions, where was God now?In this episode, Ken and I discuss how a long period of brokenness and loss began to transform into forgiveness and healing, culminating in his memoir, Letters to My Son in Prison: How a father and son found forgiveness for an unforgivable crime. In this conversation, we discuss the art of blending quiet intuition with the voice of God, how Ken pulled through a crisis of both faith and confidence and a "near-hallucinogenic" experience of catharsis in his darkest hour.EPISODE RESOURCES:Ken's websiteLetters to My Son In Prison - Ken's BookSubscribe to Ken's Substack This podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Over 35 years of reporting on the terrible consequences of both drugs and the war on drugs, Pulitzer Prize finalist Paul Solotaroff developed deep contacts with DEA, Homeland Security, and other branches of law enforcement across the country.  Paul had already seen the deadly wave of fentanyl-spiked heroin in 2013-2014, so when a top official at the DOJ called him last year sounding more desperate than ever before, he knew there was a serious crisis.  Paul was informed that 5-10 children were dying every day from a new scourge: fake pharmaceuticals like Adderall and Oxycontin made from fentanyl.  Even more disturbing, he discovered that kids no longer even have to know a dealer to obtain the pills.  In his lengthy new article in Rolling Stone, Paul details how Snapchat - a platform designed for its content to disappear - has been helping dealers find kids who might otherwise have never bought illegal drugs.In this episode, he shares the terrifying truth about the latest fentanyl crisis, how social media companies have facilitated underage drug use, and the upcoming legal battles to hold them accountable.EPISODE RESOURCES:Rolling Stones articleSocial Media Victim's Law CenterKids Online Safety ActThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.

ABOUT THE EPISODE:Lara Okoloko wants parents to understand something important:The majority of treatment options were designed for older adults with severe substance use disorders. She says we shouldn't be surprised that young people with mild to moderate disorders are not interested in identifying with a permanent label of “addict” or “alcoholic” and swearing lifelong abstinence.The standardization of treatment for older adults has also led parents to believe that anyone with a substance use disorder is destined for jail, institutions and death unless they find sobriety. Lara says this just isn't true for kids and young adults.As a 15-year practitioner and teacher of the CRAFT approach, Lara should know. She has served as a licensed clinical social worker for kids who are at-risk, in foster care, and drug-dependent, and now works with parents and families as well.In this episode, we discuss in more detail why teens can be resistant to treatment, how the TV show “Intervention” changed our entire concept of treatment, the enduring myth that most kids are using substances, and why, despite its proven track record, CRAFT still isn't the standard approach recommended and used for helping a loved one.EPISODE RESOURCES:Lara's websiteList of CRAFT-trained therapists in WA StateWA State healthy use surveyFind a CRAFT-trained provider or organization at the Helping Families Help websiteThis podcast is part of a nonprofit called Hopestream CommunityLearn about The Stream, our private online community for momsLearn about The Woods, our private online community for dadsFind us on Instagram: @hopestreamcommunityDownload a free e-book, Worried Sick: A Compassionate Guide For Parents When Your Teen or Young Adult Child Misuses Drugs and AlcoholHopestream Community is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and an Amazon Associate. We may make a small commission if you purchase from our links.