Join the Free Workshop "Three essential steps to support your Loved One through Addiction or Recovery (without losing yourself in the process)

Happening on 14th/15th November

If you can’t make it live, the replay will be available (register to get this in your inbox after the event)

Register here

In this episode I explore what it means to shift the focus away from your loved one and back onto yourself. To shift the focus away from their addiction or behaviour or recovery and onto your own behaviour and life.

When someone close to us is struggling, it’s easy to become consumed by their behaviours, moods, and actions. We might find ourselves trying to control situations or continually adjusting our lives to manage their ups and downs. But over time, this focus on someone else’s journey can leave us feeling exhausted, disconnected from our own needs, and unsure of who we are beyond the role of caretaker or partner or a loved one of someone struggling with addiction.

This episode dives into how essential it is to reclaim your own focus, emphasising that shifting your attention back to you isn’t selfish – it’s necessary to make your life better and that in doing this, it truly benefits you, your relationship, your loved one and your family.

Through some gentle encouragement and a little bit of tough love, this episode offers a path to regain control of your life. This shift doesn’t mean turning away from your loved one; it’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself that might have been put on hold. By nurturing your own life and happiness, you not only strengthen yourself but also create a healthier, more balanced foundation for supporting those you care about.

If you want your life to change for the better, it is you my dear friend who will change it.

This episode is for anyone feeling the weight of a loved one’s struggles, offering a perspective that brings hope, empathy, and resilience. Tune in, take a breath, and some small action, knowing that you are not alone here.

Show Notes:

If you'd like to implement what have been learning on the podcast ...

Be the first to know when the doors open to the Kind and Evidenced based program for loved ones and spouses of those struggling with addiction or in recovery - The three month Pathway to Wellness Program. Drop your details here.

I love getting mail! Send me an email here or amanda@addictionmakesthree.com

Are we Instagram friends?

Book in a friendly chat about your situation and how it can be better: Click here to find a time

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into a fear that many face in the journey of supporting a loved one with addiction: relapse.

Whether your loved one has relapsed before, or you’re constantly worried it might happen, this conversation is here to bring clarity, strength, and hope.

Relapse can feel like a devastating setback, leaving you questioning if all the hard work and progress have been wasted. But it doesn’t have to mean starting from zero. In this episode, we explore the difference between a lapse and a relapse—a crucial distinction that can completely change the way you approach your loved one’s journey and your own response.

We’ll talk about the mindset shift needed in how we view setbacks and stumbles and see them as part of change rather than its end, with a few practical analogies that help reframe these moments.

What You’ll Learn:

• The key difference between a lapse and a relapse and why it matters
• How to reframe setbacks with compassion and understanding for both of you
• Practical steps to support your loved one and yourself in a positive way during challenging times
• Tools to help you helpfully navigate your emotions, thoughts, and responses
• Why language matters here.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• I had a lapse of my own in January 2024 - listen to Episode 10 of the podcast
• Pathway to Wellness Program: Dive deeper into understanding addiction and effective strategies to support yourself and your loved one.

This episode is for anyone feeling the weight of a loved one’s struggles, offering a perspective that brings hope, empathy, and resilience. Tune in, take a breath, and know that you are not alone in this journey.

Show Notes:

If you'd like to implement what have been learning on the podcast ...

Be the first to know when the doors open to the Kind and Evidenced based program for loved ones and spouses of those struggling with addiction or in recovery - The three month Pathway to Wellness Program. Drop your details here.

I love getting mail! Send me an email here or amanda@addictionmakesthree.com

Are we Instagram friends?

Book in a friendly chat about your situation and how it can be better: Click here to find a time

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I chat about the concept of "addiction autopilot"—a term I’ve coined to describe the ingrained, habitual behaviours many of us adopt when living with a loved one struggling with addiction. I discuss how these automatic responses and reactions, like checking a loved ones phone, snooping, yelling or walking on eggshells, may feel necessary but often do more harm than good.

I explain how these behaviours develop gradually over time and become so ingrained that we don’t even notice them, much like other life habits like brushing our teeth or putting our seatbelt on when we get in the car.

The key to breaking out of this cycle is awareness. By recognising these addiction autopilot habits, we can begin the process of unlearning them and replacing them with healthier, more constructive behaviours. While it’s easy to justify these actions in the moment, we need to ask ourselves if they’re truly helping us, our loved ones, or our relationships. I encourage you to show yourself compassion and take responsibility for your own well-being by cultivating new, healthy habits—just as we hope our loved ones will do in their own recovery and wellbeing journeys.

Tune in to learn how to identify and shift out of addiction autopilot and regain control of your life and see the ripple effect in those around you.

Show Notes:

If you'd like to implement what have been learning on the podcast ...

Be the first to know when the doors open to the Kind and Evidenced based program for loved ones and spouses of those struggling with addiction or in recovery - The three month Pathway to Wellness Program. Drop your details here.

I love getting mail! Send me an email here or amanda@addictionmakesthree.com

Are we Instagram friends?

Book in a friendly chat about your situation and how it can be better: Click here to find a time

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.