The Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast

#78: When Willingness Isn’t Neat: The Messy Truth About Going to Rehab

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Unbreakable Boundaries podcast, I talk openly about what it looked like when I was actually willing to go to rehab—and why that willingness did not make things neat, calm, or straightforward. My second time in treatment was very different from my first. The first time, I was more cornered than committed. The second time, I was desperate and broken enough to try again. I did not know if I wanted to live, much less if I could stay clean. I remember leaving for rehab terrified, uncertain if I was capable of doing what recovery would ask of me. At the same time, there was real relief in knowing I was going somewhere safe, away from outside chaos, where I could breathe and try to clear my head. I was not happy about my life, but I was grateful for a chance to survive.

Early on, a major conflict arose between my mom and me. I was in a peer-run rehab, run by addicts for addicts, with no formal clinical or medical staff. My mom wanted me to transfer to a different program with more professional support and, just as importantly, to get me away from my then-husband and the environment she believed was unhealthy. From her perspective, my refusal to move looked like a red flag. From my perspective, it was the first real “no” I had ever said to her and a critical step toward taking ownership of my own life. I was not trying to hang on to a bad situation; I was trying to stop running. I felt a deep need to face the mess I had created instead of being “rescued” into a fresh start. I could not fully explain that at the time, but in hindsight I see it as one of the best decisions I made. What looked like resistance was actually a green flag rooted in responsibility.

That experience taught me how hard it is to read red flags and green flags in early treatment. A behavior that looks defiant can be a healthy boundary. Something that looks cooperative can be driven by avoidance or manipulation. No one knows how things will turn out, and that uncertainty makes this period emotionally intense for everyone. Inside, I was incredibly fragile. My brain felt damaged from the drugs. I struggled to form clear sentences. Every little thing could trigger tears, anger, or anxiety. I walked around with constant tension and burned off energy by doing chores like sweeping the facility over and over. My anger was not really at anyone else; it was bound up in facing who I had become and the destruction my addiction had caused.

This is the emotional reality for many people in rehab. Once the drugs are gone, you are forced to confront the person you became in addiction, the choices you made, and the lifestyle you built around using. The lifestyle itself is addictive, and there is real grief in letting it go, even when you want recovery. If you truly want to stay clean, rehab is often scarier, not easier, because you know that when you leave, you will have to build a life you do not know how to live and become a person you do not yet know how to be—without the substance that has helped you cope for so long.

The first six months of recovery are almost always messy. Mood swings can be extreme. Many of us look and feel “bipolar,” and sometimes we are labeled that way when, in reality, our brains and emotions are just recalibrating. Our emotional growth is often stunted at the age when we started using heavily, so families see flashes of adult insight next to reactions that look like a 10-year-old’s. Both can exist at the same time. This is one of the reasons I emphasize that families need their own support. In this season, what you think is a red flag might actually be a green flag in disguise, and what looks positive might be a warning sign when you see the full context. No one can predict the future, but you can learn how to interpret what you are seeing and how to respond in ways that are supportive without rescuing or enabling.

If you are walking through this with someone you love, you do not have to guess alone. At TheRecoveringFamily.org, you can find my contact information and schedule time to talk through what you are seeing, what worries you, and where you feel stuck in sorting out red flags and green flags. In the next series, I will be focusing on the transition from treatment into sober living: whether sober living is the right next step, whether returning home makes sense, and how to choose the environment that best supports long-term recovery. My core message is this: willingness to go to treatment is a powerful and hopeful sign, but it does not erase the chaos of early recovery. Treatment is not a finish line; it is the beginning of learning how to live and grow up without substances—for the person in recovery and for the family alongside them.

#77 Pocket Guide: When They Don’t Want to Be in Rehab: What Families Can Expect

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:00:00 -0400

In this Pocket Guide episode of the Unbreakable Boundaries podcast, I walk you through what to expect when your loved one goes to rehab and doesn’t really want to be there. I talk about how terrified and raw they often feel without drugs, and how their mindset going in—whether they asked for help or felt backed into a corner—shapes what happens next.

I explain the common tactics you might see: picking apart the rehab, saying it’s a scam, bargaining to come home early, making big promises about what they’ll do if you just let them leave, and then switching into anger and emotional manipulation when that doesn’t work. I highlight how they may use guilt, past mistakes, and “you don’t really love me” language to get you to change your mind.

I also share why I strongly recommend that your loved one not move back in with their parents after rehab, even if they stay clean. I talk about how the old parent–child dynamics get in the way of them growing up and taking responsibility, and why alternative living situations—like sober living or other transitional housing—are almost always healthier options.

I encourage you to minimize communication while they’re in treatment so you’re not constantly pulled into their emotional storm, and to remember that rehabs can’t defend themselves or tell you their side because of privacy laws. If you’re in the middle of this and need support, I hope you to reach out to me for a one-on-one call so we can talk through your specific situation.

#76 Karen Perlmutter: The Mountain: Reframing Addiction for Families

Mon, 25 May 2026 11:00:00 -0400

I want to speak directly to you as someone who may be walking alongside a loved one who is struggling with substance use. In a recent podcast conversation, I interviewed therapist Karen Perlmutter, who specializes in substance abuse and mental illness and has over a decade of experience working with families. Our discussion focused on her evidence-based curriculum designed specifically for families, available through her practice, Collaborative Counseling LLC. Karen’s work exists because she has seen how much pain families carry and how often they are left out of the treatment process, and she is committed to making sure you do not have to navigate this alone.

Karen shared how, early in her career, she focused almost entirely on the person with the addiction and realized later that she had a major blind spot: she was not fully seeing the mountain that families are climbing at the very same time. She uses “the mountain” as a central metaphor in her work. Addiction sits at the top, and on one side is the person who is using substances, struggling in their own way. On the other side is the family, scrambling to reach them, often exhausted, scared, and confused. Karen’s curriculum is about building a bridge between those two sides, helping families deeply understand what their loved one is facing while also honoring the very real and valid struggles families experience themselves.

In our conversation, Karen described what she calls a “desperation for restoration.” Families remember their loved one at their best and are desperate to get that version of them back. Out of that desperation, many of us try to fix, rescue, control, and manage every aspect of our loved one’s life. These efforts are loving and understandable, but as Karen points out, they often backfire or become counterproductive. In her course, she walks families through practical, step-by-step ways to move out of crisis-driven reactions and into more effective, compassionate responses that actually support change rather than unintentionally fueling the cycle.

Karen also talked about shame as one of the heaviest burdens families carry. You might find yourself asking where you went wrong, what you could have done differently, or why this is happening in your family. Karen emphasizes that addiction is a complex disease with biological, psychological, social, and spiritual components. It is rarely, if ever, about one person’s failure or one family’s flaw. She shared the story of a father who came to see that he was responsible for only a small piece of his child’s struggle, and how that realization allowed him to move out of paralyzing guilt and into a place where he could actually be helpful. Her curriculum is designed to help families untangle blame, understand the true complexity of addiction, and find support from other families so they no longer feel isolated or uniquely defective.

One of the most frightening issues Karen and I discussed is suicidal language. Many families hear statements like “I can’t do this anymore” or “Maybe it would be better if I weren’t here” and are thrown into terror. Karen explains that this kind of language can sometimes express overwhelming feelings, sometimes be used in a manipulative way, and sometimes signal real, imminent danger. In her course, she teaches a concept she calls “language precision” to help families listen more carefully to what is being communicated, respond thoughtfully rather than reactively, and know when and how to seek professional help. Her goal is for families to take all suicidal language seriously, but not to be held hostage by it.

Another core element of Karen’s approach is helping families set value-based boundaries. Many of us set boundaries in the heat of the moment: “If you ever do this again, you are out,” or “I’m done helping you forever.” These kinds of boundaries come from real pain, but they are often unsustainable and confusing for everyone. Karen instead encourages families to identify their core values, such as safety, honesty, respect, and kindness, and to create boundaries that flow from those values. That can translate into limits around money, substances in the home, behavior in shared spaces, or how communication is handled. When boundaries are rooted in values rather than raw emotion, they tend to be more consistent, clearer, and more likely to be upheld.

We also talked about the pressure families feel around “self-care.” Karen acknowledges that when you are in constant crisis, being told to take a bubble bath or relax can feel dismissive or impossible. In her experience, families first need help stabilizing the immediate chaos—understanding what is happening, putting some initial boundaries in place, and getting educated about the illness. Only after that groundwork is laid does self-care begin to feel possible. Throughout her course, she weaves in realistic, practical forms of self-care and emphasizes the importance of connecting with other families and supportive professionals. Karen is clear that families deserve support and that their well-being matters, not only for their own sake but because a more grounded, supported parent, partner, or sibling can show up more effectively for a loved one.

All of these insights are built into the family course Karen you can find at collaborativecounseling.podia.com. It is a structured, evidence-based guide for families navigating addiction, covering understanding the disease, using the mountain metaphor, working through shame and comparison, responding to suicidal language, setting value-based boundaries, and slowly reclaiming your own life and health in the process. The course is designed so you can move at your own pace, revisit key concepts, and use it as a shared framework for conversations within your family.

#75: Pocket Guide: What to Bring to Rehab

Mon, 18 May 2026 09:00:00 -0400

In this Pocket Guide episode of the Unbreakable Boundaries podcast, host Jennifer Maneely walks families through a practical but often overlooked question: how do you pack when your loved one is heading into treatment?

Jennifer starts with the basics: always use the treatment center’s official packing list as your primary guide. Space is limited, so bring a reasonable amount of clothing with layers appropriate to the season—think a range of jackets in winter or light layers for summer, especially since many facilities are heavily air-conditioned and temperature regulation can be difficult early in recovery.

She strongly cautions against packing anything expensive or sentimental that would be devastating to lose. Even non‑valuable but cherished items should stay home.

Instead, focus on comfort and emotional support items that are low‑risk but high‑value. One of Jennifer’s top recommendations is a good journal and pen. She shares how her own rehab journal, given to her by her mom over 20 years ago, became a meaningful way to process the experience and later reflect on how far she’d come.

Jennifer also addresses some “controversial” items that may or may not be allowed, depending on the facility:

- Candy and treats: While some people worry about sugar, Jennifer argues that, from someone who’s been through rehab multiple times, small comforts like candy or chocolate can provide a much-needed sense of normalcy and something to look forward to in an otherwise difficult environment—if the treatment center permits them.

- Recreational reading: Many centers prefer that clients focus solely on recovery material, but if allowed, Jennifer suggests sending one good, healthy, non-recovery book at a time. For people dealing with intense shame and mental overload in early recovery, a little “healthy escape” can be grounding. She recommends balancing this by not overloading them with books—let them finish one, maybe take a short break, and then send another.

Some things are almost always off-limits: over‑the‑counter medications like Tylenol or Advil. Treatment staff will handle and dispense needed medications themselves.

Jennifer also suggests sending a small backpack or tote so your loved one can easily carry essentials like their journal and book around the facility.

Finally, she encourages families to plan on sending at least one care package after their loved one has settled in. Once they’re there, they’ll have a clearer idea of what they need, and receiving a package is often a powerful emotional reminder that they’re loved and not forgotten—even if they don’t always show it.

Jennifer invites listeners to reach out with questions at info@therecoveringfamily.org or via therecoveringfamily.org, and she previews the next episodes: what to expect in the first few days after drop‑off, especially when someone doesn’t really want to be in treatment, followed by an episode on what the journey looks like when someone does want to be there.

#74: The Power of Having Them Call the Rehab

Mon, 11 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this Pocket Guide episode of the Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast, host Jennifer Maneely walks parents and caregivers through the crucial step of having a loved one personally call rehab centers. Building on the previous episode about narrowing options down to three facilities, Jennifer explains why it’s essential that the person seeking treatment—not their family—makes the actual calls.

She breaks down how this process helps your loved one build “skin in the game,” advocate for themselves, and practice asking for help—skills that are vital for long-term recovery. Jennifer also shares why having the addicted person speak directly with rehabs can lead to better financial support or scholarships and reduce the risk of centers simply leaning on parents for higher out-of-pocket payments.

The episode addresses the emotional challenge of “letting go” as a parent, how to know if your loved one is truly ready for rehab based on their willingness to make those calls, and why forcing treatment can backfire and damage their long-term mindset about recovery. Jennifer closes by inviting listeners to reach out for individualized support and previews the next Pocket Guide episode on what to expect once your loved one is actually in rehab.

#73: Pocket Guide: How to Quickly Vet Rehab Centers Online

Mon, 04 May 2026 12:00:00 -0400

In this “pocket guide” episode of the Unbreakable Boundaries podcast, host Jennifer Maneely shares how she quickly evaluates rehab centers when all she has is a website to go on. Speaking to families who are overwhelmed by endless Google results, she explains the simple criteria she uses to narrow options down to three solid choices.

#72: Beyond the Brochure: What to Look for in a Treatment Program

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Choosing a treatment center can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re scared, exhausted, and trying to do the “right” thing for someone you love. In this episode of The Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast, we break down how to navigate this decision with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

We start by unpacking what “the right fit” really means. It’s not just about a glossy website or a quick admission date—it’s about matching your loved one’s needs with the appropriate level of care, philosophy, and support. We talk about how to avoid panic-driven decisions and instead move toward thoughtful, informed choices.

Next, we zoom out from the crisis moment. Recovery isn’t a 30-day event; it’s a long-term process. We explore how treatment centers fit into the bigger picture of ongoing care, relapse prevention, and rebuilding a life. You’ll hear why families should think past “getting them in somewhere” and focus on what comes after discharge.

Not everyone needs or benefits from the same level of care. We break down PHP and IOP—what they are, who they’re for, and how they differ from residential treatment. We discuss how these programs support step-down care, help maintain progress, and can be powerful tools in a continuum of treatment, especially for people balancing work, school, or family responsibilities.

Here we get specific about what should be non-negotiable when choosing a program. We cover essentials like evidence-based treatment, licensed clinicians, medical oversight, individualized care plans, family involvement, and ethical marketing and billing practices. We also talk about red flags—high-pressure sales tactics, vague clinical information, or promises that sound too good to be true—and how to spot them.

We close by focusing on you—the family. Recovery isn’t just about the person entering treatment; it’s a family process. We discuss how families can participate in treatment in healthy ways, support without enabling, and get their own help through therapy, support groups, and education. You’ll learn why your healing matters just as much, and how an effective treatment center will include and support the family as part of the plan.

By the end of the episode, you’ll be better equipped to ask the right questions, recognize quality care, and choose a treatment center that supports real, sustainable recovery for your loved one—and for your family as a whole.

#71: Announcing The Recovering Family and the 5 Principles

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 00:00:00 -0400

In this podcast, Jen announces the rebranding of her podcast from Maneely Consulting to The Recovering Family, focusing on helping families with substance abuse issues. She outlines five principles for creating unbreakable boundaries: the Exchange Principle, emphasizing equal exchanges in financial, time, and energy; the Action Principle, stressing the importance of actions over words; the Present Principle, urging focus on the here and now; the Love Principle, advocating for loving communication; and the Joy Principle, highlighting the need for self-care and joy. She also promotes her nonprofit's donation-based services and encourages listeners to visit therecoveringfamily.org for more information.

#70: Katie and Barb Kocher: The Importance of Grace and Understanding

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the podcast, host Jen Maneely welcomes Katie Kocher and her mother, Barb Kocher, to share their heartfelt journey through addiction and recovery. Katie opens up about her feelings of isolation and misunderstanding during her youth, despite excelling academically and athletically. Barb reflects on her unawareness of the signs of Katie's struggles and acknowledges the effects of their strict parenting approach. As Katie's addiction worsened, it led to serious consequences, including expulsion from sports teams and a car accident. After 15 tumultuous years, Katie found hope in rehab, discovering the healing power of art therapy. Now five years clean, she and Barb discuss the importance of grace and understanding in their relationship, highlighting the joy of reconnecting and the lessons learned along the way. This insightful conversation sheds light on the complexities of addiction and the strength found in family support.

#69 Reddit: What Was Dating In Recovery Like For You?

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 11:00:00 -0400

Another Reddit Story/Question. What was dating in recovery like for you?

#68: Reddit Story: AITA for refusing to forgive my drug addict BIL

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 13:00:00 -0400

Another Reddit Story for you. This one is AITA for refusing to forgive my drug addict BIL.

#67 Reddit Story: Parents of live-in adult children struggling with addiction - how do you cope?

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 11:00:00 -0400

I share my perspective on how to cope with a loved one's addiction, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries.

#66 Real Conversations with Mothers and Daughters

Tue, 02 May 2023 08:00:00 -0400

What happens when mothers and daughters have to “adult” together? In this episode, My mom, Lynn Carnes and myself, along with another mother Christine Dickson and her daughter Lauren Martinson got together and talked about the challenges, the experiences, the memories, and some hard conversations we've experienced and how we navigated them, as well as the healing journey we've taken to mend, repair, grow, and thrive in our relationship with one another.

We did something different with this podcast and invited people to listen in LIVE. So we put together a 2 hour event to really be able to dive deep into this conversation.

#65: Let's Talk About that Dirty Word Called SHAME

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 08:00:00 -0400

Are you willing to dive into some of the things that are coming up for you in order to be the support person that your loved one needs?

#64 Caroline Holke: How to Deal with Resistance When We're Trying to Make Changes.

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 07:00:00 -0500

Caroline Holke works with Type A, high performing women who drink more than they intend to sometimes. It wouldn't be classified as a drinking problem, but they have a problem with using it as a crutch and want to get their control back.

They hire her to get rid of the shitty parts of drinking (and this doesn't necessarily mean all drinking) and this enables them to build a life that they enjoy so much that they don't want to numb out of it.

Most people focus on what to DO to cut back on their drinking, Caroline helps her clients tease out what is "driving them to drink" in the first place. Addressing these underlying, root causes helps her clients create sustainable change in their relationship with drinking.

#63: Chelsea Curtis: The Power of Sharing From the Heart

Fri, 16 Dec 2022 06:00:00 -0500

Chelsea is a Narcotics Unit Paralegal Specialist with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and a member of Silent No More. Addiction has rattled just about every one of her family members, ultimately claiming the lives of her two oldest brothers Steven and Scott. Steven passed away from a heroin overdose in 2009 and Scott passed away from an overdose attributed to a mixture of Fentanyl and a new synthetic opioid called Isotonitrazene. Her stepdad passed away from cirrhosis of the liver caused by his decades long alcohol addiction. Chelsea's birth mother has been an addict for years, falling victim to heroin, crack, and other drugs.

Her youngest brother has been on opiates since he was about 13 or 14 and is now 30. She wants to share her story and have these uncomfortable conversations to end the stigma associated with addiction. Chelsea wants to keep Steven and Scott's stories alive, and she wants to be an example that your circumstances today do not warrant your path tomorrow. She wants her story to spread hope to those personally battling addiction and those affected by watching their loved one’s battle addiction. Together, we can fight this.

Topics:

The power of sharing from the heart and the power of stories.
What was the turning point in your life?
My mom’s overdose in front of me.
Was there a significant change in the way you saw your mom in that moment?
Growing up in foster care and the military
Why did you never go down the drug abuse road?
Never felt the need to escape from addiction.
Bobby’s brother dies from addiction.
You have a choice to see the negative or the positive in life.
Mental health isn’t going to get fixed overnight.

#62 Michel O'Hare: Breaking the Cycle

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Michel has lived through absolute hell and can smile on the other side of the abyss.

Her life's work is to facilitate healing and to guide people back to the knowingness of their own inner strength and to not just survive, but to live their lives fully.

Outline:

What does it mean to live in absolute hell?
At the time that you are experiencing this, what were some of the beliefs that you had about your life and why?
The day she met her son’s father.
Looking at the problem from different angles and different ways.
What were some of the layers that came up when she was looking at it from different angles?
What is body talk? What does it mean?
What is EMDR? How does it work?
Six sessions is a good time to feel like you’re getting a sense of who you are working with.

Website: https://www.bodytalkwithmichel.com/

Email: Michel@bodytalkwithmichel.com

#61 Tanya D: Finding Peace in Recovery

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

Tanya D. is a Certified meditation instructor (C.MI™), Usui/Holy Fire® III Karuna Reiki® Master, Sound Vibrational Reiki Healing Practitioner, Animal Reiki practitioner, Certified spiritual life coach, and Yoga4Sobriety Teacher Ambassador / Student Liason.

She uses her experience, strength, hope, intuition, and teacher trainings to help people find peace and serenity in recovery from addiction.

In recovery herself, she offers a unique holistic approach to finding freedom in recovery through trauma-sensitive chakra/12-step focused meditation, chakra energy healing, and spiritual life coaching.

#60: Freida Macdonald: You Gotta Know Hope

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Know Hope North Carolina's mission is to remember those we have lost, support those in recovery and give hope to those still struggling. Create memorial banner and billboards with faces of those lost to addiction in NC. Refer clients to detox and treatment centers. Facilitate grief groups.

Outline of Podcast Topics
· The power of creating a space to honor your feelings in a safe way. 8:17

· Grief doesn’t always have to be a direct result of a loss. 15:24

· Don’t go down the road of “enabling”. 21:53

· “They weren’t my answers to find.”. 24:11

· What are some of the regrets that you have? 33:40

· Life goes on, we don’t move on. 37:07

· Don’t quit! Find your something! 43:11

· What would you tell your loved ones that are still going through this?

Website: https://www.knowhopenorthcarolina.com/

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4283060278435570

#59: Tracy Redfearn: Finding Your Voice

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Tracy and I get into a great conversation about what do kids need and how that translates later in life. Safety, Security, and Love are three important things and in that, creating a safe place to be heard and how important connection is.

Tracy Redfearn is a Licensed Psychoeducational Specialist who is certified by the SC Board of Education as a School Psychologist II, the National Association of School Psychologists as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, and the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional. Tracy founded Child and Family Resource Center in 2012 because she was concerned with the need in Hartsville for effective intervention services to help provide children and adolescents with successful educational experiences. Tracy has been instrumental in helping many children who struggle to meet their potential in the classroom through her expertise in assessments, learning differences, and knowledge of SC Special Education practices and procedures.

Her educational intervention recommendations focus on the unique social, emotional, behavioral and academic needs of each student she sees. For optimal results, she collaborates closely with parents, educators and other professionals to help create supportive learning environments while strengthening connections between home, school and the community. Tracy understands special education laws and is passionate about the rights of students with special needs. She educates parents on their rights and serves as an advocate at 504 and IEP meetings.

As a psychologist in the school system for over a decade, Tracy saw firsthand how grief, loss and trauma can interfere with learning. To help hurting families cope, she has been offering grief camps ( All Seasons Grief Camp ). Through therapeutic activities that include art, horseback riding, music, movement and breathing, and classes on grief and emotional support, families are able to push past their pain. Family members memorialize their loved ones in a ceremony at the conclusion.

#58 What to Expect When They Get Out of Rehab

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 06:00:00 -0400

It can be a really confusing time when your loved one gets out of rehab. It can be confusing for you as well as them. It's emotional, it's a little chaotic and not at all what you would expect it to look like. In this next podcast, I share a little bit about what you can expect. This is generalization, so if you have questions about your own loved one, please reach out to me.

jennifermconsulting@gmail.com

maneelyconsulting.com

#57 Michele Rogers: A Mother's Pledge

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 14:00:00 -0400

In this episode, Michele Rogers shares with us her journey of losing her son. This was a powerful conversation about what happens next as well as her experience. The biggest take away from this conversation is, this is not a parenting problem.

Here is just a little of Michele's story and what she has to say:

I grew up in Tidewater Virginia and later attended Saint Leo College in Florida. I had two sons, Clayton (1989) and Bradley (1992). When I divorced in 1996 I moved with my young sons to Waynesville, NC. I worked in hospitality and marketing. I met my husband in 1999 and was remarried in 2003. I became a Real Estate Broker in 2005 and worked in sales until buying a Property Management Company in 2010.

My husband and I are both NC Real Estate Brokers and together with our small staff, we manage over 400 long term rental properties for our company Select Homes.

When my oldest son, Clay, was in her very early 20s he had a sinus surgery and was over-prescribed pain pills. He became addicted to the pain pills and entered treatment for the first time in 2012. His pain pill addiction turned into a heroin addiction around 2015. From 2012-2018 Clay cycled in nd out of rehab, being substance free, relapsing and back to rehab. In September of 2018 after being substance free for 11 months, Clay relapsed and last his life to fentanyl.

After losing my son, I knew I wanted to do something to help other family members navigate the lonely journey of having a loved one with SUD and the even lonelier grief journey after losing someone to Substance Passing. I met Lisa Falbo and we learned that we had this in common and together we started the 501(c)3 - The SHARE Project. SHARE stands for Spreading Hope and Awareness and Removing the Epidemic Stigma. We hold events including quarterly workshops to bring awareness and education of the drug epidemic. We sit on several drug awareness and prevention coalitions throughout our county and region. We facilitate two monthly support groups - SMART RECOVERY FAMILY & FRIENDS for those who have loved ones struggling with SUD and GRASP - Grief Recovery After Substance Passing. We host an annual Drug Awareness Walk and Event as well as an annual International Overdose Awareness Event. This past may we had almost 300 people attend out Annual Walk and Awareness Event.

When I'm not working at my property management company or with The SHARE Project, I enjoy traveling with my husband, Rick and spending time with my two grandsons, Elijah (8) and Wyatt (4).

Additional Links
The Share Project
A Mother's Pledge

#56 Lisa Falbo: Facing Every Parent's Worst Nightmare

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Lisa grew up having a great family life with 3 brothers. She moved from Ohio to NC when she was twelve 12. She has two sons from first marriage and divorced after 9 years of marriage. Lisa raised her boys as a single mom and home schooled them until they entered high school. Their high school years were full of struggles, some normal, some not. Both boys started using drugs in their mid-teens. Sam (oldest son) escalated to IV drug use and meth. He was "in recovery" on MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment) for several years into his 20's where he relapsed. He found himself in and out of trouble. Ultimately, he overdosed and passed at the age of 27. Troy (youngest son) has been in and out of active drug use for over 10 years. Currently incarcerated. Lisa remarried in 2015 and currently works as a certified personal trainer. She is an independent small "business" owner and Co-founder of The SHARE Project, an awareness/support/educational organization with the goal of de-stigmatizing addiction so it is looked at as a treatable disorder.

#55 Pamela O'Leary: A new year's resolution that actually stuck

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

My next episode includes a guest that made a new year's resolution to get sober and 4 years later, she is still sober. She talks with us about her journey into sobriety and how she did it. It wasn't the typical path, and it has shown to be successful for her. She writes openly about it in her blog titled "Wishes from the Bottom"

This was her first time speaking about and I am honored to have had her as a guest on this podcast.

Pamela O’Leary is the Founder and CEO of Blossom Badass, an empowerment company. Previously, her background includes roles in management consulting, tech, the nonprofit sector and higher education, including work on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations.

#54 What does "Letting Go" really mean?

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0500

You hear it all the time with people who have loved ones with substance abuse issues. The "Letting go". But what does that really mean. Sometimes we have a misconception on what "Letting Go" really means. It's more about letting go of our ideas of what should be or shouldn't be. This is what this podcast explores.

#53 The Key is a Mother's Love

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Linda Sue Key is my next guest on the Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast. She is a Mother of a son who has been in his addiction for over 25 yrs. She worked for over 20 years as a substance abuse counselor, including working in a men's prison. Recently, she started a new ministry called "The Key to Recovery is a Mother's Love." She loves the Lord with all her heart and God has called her to help moms of addicted adult children overcome the chaos, confusion, and brokenness that substance abuse can bring by finding balance, compassion and hope through prayer, education, and support.

Facebook Group: Moms Helping Moms of Adult Children Struggling with Addiction
Email: Linda.Sue.Key@gmail.com

#52 People Can't Give You What They Don't Have

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 09:00:00 -0500

When we go out to get support and our emotional needs met, we have to be careful and make sure we are going to people that can give us what we need. Some people just can't give you what you are asking for. Within that, we have to be clear about what we are asking for and who we are going to. Otherwise, we end up in a worse space going to the wrong people.

#51 The Exchange Principle

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0500

The Exchange Principle is something I use to navigate a lot of my decisions when it comes time to help someone. I want to make sure I am helping, and that means I can't put more energy into something that the other person is willing to. When people ask for favors, help, or anything that involves putting my energy or money into the equation, I run through this thought process first.

Ep #50 Dr. Susan Birne-Stone: How to See, Hear, and Listen to Yourself

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:00:00 -0500

Creating unbreakable boundaries is really about honoring yourself and others. In this episode, Dr. Susan and I get into some really great conversations about creating awareness around the question that Dr. Susan loves to ask, "Why does this make sense?" Having a loved one with substance abuse is complex, challenging, and it's important that we can honor ourselves and really see ourselves, hear ourselves and be willing to listen to ourselves.

About Dr. Susan
For over 35 years Dr. Susan has successfully worked in the field of psychological, emotional and relationship health in a variety of settings and roles. She has helped thousands of individuals and families to improve their relationships in all aspects of their lives and achieve their goals. Dr. Susan is a therapist, international coach, professor, mentor and thought leader. In addition to regularly being quoted in the media, Dr. Susan is the producer and host of the television talk show Your Voice with Dr. Susan.

To learn more go to drsusanbirnestone.com

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/susan-birne-stone-brooklyn-ny/300230

or contact her at drsusanbirnestone@gmail.com

#49 What to look for in choosing a rehab for your loved one

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I go through some different things I look for when I sit down at a computer and look into a rehab. This is just to start narrowing down all the different options you have.
*How long have they been open
*How many people per room
*Family Program
*Detox management
*Holistic Approach
*Accreditations
*Rehab story

Reach out and ask more questions: www.maneelyconsulting.com
Email: Jennifer@maneelyconsulting.com

#48 Mental Health does NOT Equal Mental Illness

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0500

Working on our mental health is preventative like working on our physical health. Sometimes though, we hear mental health and we think about anxiety, depression, bi-polar, addiction, etc. It is just as important for you to work on your mental health as it is for your physical health. All that chatter in our brains if we don't learn how to quiet the chatter is like if we were waking up and eating chocolate cake for breakfast. Your mental health dealing with someone that has mental illness is so important and we don't do it alone. Reach out and get help!

#47 Live as if your prayers have already been answered

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 08:00:00 -0400

"Live as if your prayers have already been answered" -Tony Robbins

What would happen to your life if you started living as if your prayers had already been answered? Would you be sleeping better? Eating better? Enjoying doing the things you love more? Connecting better to your other friends, family members, etc? That's the idea behind this quote. You can have all those things NOW. Often times we get caught up into the idea that if XYZ would happen THEN I would be ok. IF this person just got better, I would be better. We don't need to wait for the external things to fall into place. When the internal things fall into place, the external things follow.

Your prayers have already been answered!

www.maneelyconsulting.com

Email: Jennifer@maneelyconsulting.com

#46: Opening the Can of Worms

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:00:00 -0400

In this podcast, I discuss the can of worms. What gets in our way of "going there with ourselves?" What do we need in order to go to the depths of ourselves that we need to go to? We need people in order to help us go there so we don't fall into our own shame spirals. I discuss some about my new project in order to help people feel like they can open that can of worms. This is a great place to start.

https://theyanaconnection.square.site/

#45 The 4 Non-Negotiables of Recovery

Sun, 19 Sep 2021 13:00:00 -0400

In this episode, I talk about why I took a step back from recording podcasts for a minute and what you can expect moving forward.

I also go into the 4 non-negotiables of recovery.

My Website is https://www.maneelyconsulting.com/

Ep #44 Adam Gunton: Tell Your Story

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Adam Gunton is helping other people in recovery to tell their story. In this episode, we talk a bit about how he is doing that and why.

Adam Vibe Gunton delivers a powerful message of hope for any audience. His story of overcoming homelessness and drug addiction to becoming a 7 figure business owner, bestselling author, and coach for other recovered addicts to write and publish their stories – in only two years – motivates every audience that hears him speak to take massive decisive action in their own lives. His compassion for the difficult times in life, coupled with his passionate delivery to overcome these times to become the person you have always wanted to be, is what makes his message so powerful for the audiences he serves. With confidence in his belief that anyone, anywhere, at any time, can change their life in an instant with decision and action, he drives home practical steps for any audience to take immediately to change the course of their life forever.

To learn more about Adam, check out his website: https://recoveredonpurpose.org/

His book: From Chains To Saved: One Man’s Journey Through The Spiritual Realm of Addiction.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07ZY5XW15/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B07ZY5XW15&linkCode=as2&tag=treatalk-20&linkId=53b44d7d58fad14436efc5171d444ce1

#43 Training for the Obstacle Course of Addiction

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 11:00:00 -0400

When it comes being a family member with a loved one in addiction/substance abuse issues, we have to come at it like we are training for a obstacle course where we don't exactly know what the obstacle course is going to look like, so we need to be prepared for anything. How do we do that? One, we don't do it alone. If I had to actually train for a marathon or obstacle course, I'd have to find people to help me. This is important for self care, so when the event happens that we don't know about yet, we are going to be prepared for whatever situation it is. We may stumble still, but we will be more prepared to handle the situation.

#42 Allison Livingston: Remembering to Connect with Yourself in Chaos

Tue, 04 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

I met Allison as part of my Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown Book Club. Wholehearted living is so important for people who are dealing with loved ones in addiction. Through the situations we find ourselves in during this time period, it's important to connect with yourself and with others. Allison has a 5 steps to connect process to help people come back to center in the chaos.

Contact Allison
www.5stepstoconnect.com
There are two ways to work with Allison:
1. A membership with classes + LifeSaving Listening sessions
2. 1:1 coaching with a free 15 min discovery session.

#41: Nicole talks recovery for the families; we all have our journey

Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0400

In this conversation we talk a lot about the family dynamic of what it means to grow up with an alcoholic parent. Family has a big influence over our lives, it can be both positive and negative as in Nicole's case. Having grown up in a home with an alcoholic, she spent many years comparing herself to her family member and deciding she couldn't have a problem because "she wasn't that bad." Only, as it goes with Substance Use Disorder, it progressively gets worse. She found her way into a fellowship and got the help she needed, largely due to the family member she watched for all these years.

Now, Nicole is in recovery for 2 years and is very active in the recovery community and working with the McShin foundation and glorious recovery as well. She is passionate about showing people what happens when you put down the drink or drug

McShin Foundation: https://mcshin.org/
Glorious Recovery: Website: https://gloriousrecovery.org/
Glorious Recovery Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/gloriousrecovery

#40 Nick and Kaitlin: Sometimes you just want to punch them in the face.

Tue, 30 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

I sincerely doubt I will ever find another opportunity to get to interview a couple like this again. Nick is a person in recovery, his wife Kaitlin is what we often will refer to as a "Normy", meaning someone who does not has substance use disorder. What makes this so unique is Kaitlin has witnessed the very beginning of the progression Nick made along his addiction journey. Meeting in High School, and riding the ups and downs presents a opportunity to us that will be hard to come by ever again. Listen as I interview this couple about their journey together.

We talk about their life today, which is not all about their challenges but more about what they are focused on in their careers, their lives with one another, and their kids together. Below is the link to their passions that give them a life beyond addiction.

Nick's Links
https://dochelm.com/
https://www.brokenhelm.com/
@dochelmsauce

Kaitlin's Links:
https://oneoakmarket.com/
@oneoakmarket

This is the first episode I ever turned into a video podcast. You can go watch this on youtube at
https://youtu.be/WQrMlE-NU_E

#39 Jeff Jones: We are changing the conversation about addiction.

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 08:00:00 -0400

Jeff Jones is a licensed therapist, addiction counselor, interventionist and family recovery coach. He has a mission to change the conversation about addiction in the addiction/recovery space with family members and professionals alike. To that end, he’s in the process of writing a book that reframes the family member’s dilemma as looping. Through his years of experience working with families with a loved one at various stages of addiction or recovery, he’s created a 3 phase process for families to learn and practice over and over. The goal is for families to understand how to get out of the looping, and how they can best create an awesome life. Together.

Website: https://thefamilyrecoverysolution.com/
Email: jeff@thefamilyrecoverysolution.com

#38 Dr. Rhoberta Shaler gives tips on how to save your sanity

Tue, 16 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0400

Dr. Rhoberta Shaler, PhD, The Relationship Help Doctor, provides urgent and ongoing care for relationships in crisis. She helps people on the journey from recognizing to recovering and rebuilding after toxic relationships. Even the United States Marines have sought her help!
Dr. Shaler empowers the partners, exes, adult children, and co-workers of the relentlessly difficult, toxic people she calls Hijackals® to recognize emotional abuse, realize the effects, heal, and transform.

She helps them see clearly, stop the crazy-making, and save their sanity.
Widely published and author of sixteen books including Escaping the Hijackal Trap and Stop! That’s Crazy-Making, she is the host of the internationally popular podcast: Save Your Sanity: Help for Toxic Relationships. Her YouTube channel, ForRelationshipHelp, has reached over a half million views.

WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA:

Website and Blog: ForRelationshipHelp.com
Podcast: SaveYourSanityPodcast.com
Facebook: @RelationshipHelpDoctor

Twitter: @RhobertaShaler

LinkedIn: @RhobertaShaler

Pinterest: @RhobertaShaler

Instagram: @DrRhobertaShaler

Clubhouse: @DrShaler

#37 James Brown: Steven Spielberg can't even make this stuff up

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

James Brown, struggled with sobriety his whole life He came from a partying family, he was abused as a child, traveled quite a bit. He had numerous DWIs, lost a home due to a fire, was stabbed by ex wife, which is the story we dive into right away. He spent 19 months in Alaskan prison for DWI and got sober and active in recovery for nearly 12 years.

He had a relapse due to pain and surgeries, got 2 more DWIs and finally made his way back to sobriety. When we are in active addiction, crazy things seem to follow us. In this episode we talk a lot about this crazy and you can go read more in his autobiography "The Lines On My Face"

You can get his book on Amazon Here "The Lines On My Face"

#36 Brittany Brown: Recovery is NOT a Straight Line, for the Addicts or Their Families

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Recovery is messy, it can be awkward, weird, and totally worth it. It doesn't look the same for everyone and every family will have a different experience. In this episode, Brittany and I discuss, and not in a straight line, a lot of challenges and triumphs recovery has. Passion and finding joy for ourselves as part of our recovery is incredibly important and Brittany has found hers in podcasting and specifically her podcast called NiteCap: A podcast about true crime. I invite you to def check out her podcast.

Brittany Brown is a thirty-something single mom, trying her best in Portland, OR. When she isn't watching The Office, wrangling her two children, or rescuing cats, she’s chatting on her weekly podcast Nitecap True Crime. Brittany also continues to help fight the stigma of addiction and mental health by sharing her struggles and triumphs.

Enjoy this fantastic episode.

Podcast: linktr.ee/nitecaptruecrime
Instagram: @brittanywontshutup

#35 Jared Diehl is Fighting the Stigma of Mental Health

Tue, 23 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Jared Diehl is from La Verne, California and has been dealing with mental illness his whole life but has spent the last 15 years managing bipolar depression and anxiety. He also has been a suicide survivor. Out of the suffering has come a message. A message of hope for those that feel like they are alone. Jared works with the National Alliance of Mental Illness as a speaker. He helps reduce stigma by sharing his own story and how he copes with mental illness. He also has a podcast on mental health called Louder Now. For fun, he likes movies, hockey, and writing poetry.

Additional Links
https://linktr.ee/loudernowmhjareddiehl

Podcast website:
https://www.podpage.com/jared-diehl-the-louder-now-podcast/

#34 Sean Loves his Recovery Life

Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:00:00 -0500

In this next episode I am interviewing a gentleman named Sean Owens. He currently has almost 7 years clean and he loves his recovery lifestyle. In this episode, we discuss how he got to where he is at today.

Sean had a rough childhood growing up with a father who was addicted to drugs. His mom worked 3 jobs to raise three kids and moved around 21 times before he was 18.

I moved around a lot myself and I know the impacts it had on me as a kid but I can’t imagine 21 moves.

Sean also had a brother who was verbally and physically abusive to him and sean did the only thing he knew to do, turn to drugs at the young age of 11. By the time he turned 21 he was drinking daily, using cocaine and spent his time in bars.

He was whoever you wanted him to be, the chameleon effect we do so well that leaves us empty and disconnected. SO the deeper he went into his drug addiction and he evolved into opiates and was completely addicted by 22.

Beaten and desperate at 25 he turned himself into jail and from there, he went to a state funded called the men’s extension for homeless men that suffer with addiction. He stayed there for a year, he did everything they asked of him and he stayed clean.

Once he got out of there, he started his own journey of becoming and addiction counselor, worked at several facilities and found a mentor he learned a great deal from. After a while, he began to receive promotions and better job opportunities and even found himself in business development for a big treatment center.

Now, he started his own coaching and consulting business called all heart consulting and coaching which you can find at allheartconsultingandcoaching.com

In this episode, you can hear how much Sean loves recovery and loves what he is doing with his life now.

Contact Information:
Website: https://allheartconsultingandcoaching.com/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/AllHeartRecovery/
Instagram- @seanowen8
Phone Number: 770-912-4699

#33 Polly Shares with Us Her Journey into Recovery

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 07:00:00 -0500

Polly Jessen is a person in long term recovery. She was born and raised in Kingsport, TN and currently works in Johnson City, TN at Frontier Health as a Recovery Navigator for Crisis Services. She struggled through active addiction for 8 years of her life and Is grateful to say that today she has over 8 years of consecutive recovery time. She was one of the first Tennessee Recovery Navigators since the program began in 2018 and her day consists of meeting with and assessing overdose victims in area hospitals and those who are seeking substance use and mental health resources. She enjoys actively finding ways to help decrease the stigma of addiction in her community and helping others to meet their individual goals and define what recovery means for themselves. She is blessed to also have an amazing wife and 2 wonderful children who always keep her motivated and humble. If you are looking for resources for your loved one, check out Frontier Health.

#32 Stacy shares with us the wild ride she put her family through

Tue, 26 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Stacy is a 37 year old person in long term recovery. In this episode we talk about how she was born and raised in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia where she fumbled through life the best way she knew how. Her family was along for the ride. After many years of doing everything they could to try to curb the behaviors and the substance use, they were left with no other option but to let go and live their lives waiting for the day that the phone would ring or someone one would come to the door to let them know that Stacy had lost her battle with the disease.

Today Stacy is a person in long term recovery, a wife, and a mother to two incredible, yet challenging, children. She is still perfectly capable of living an unmanageable life, but those moments of unmanageability are much fewer and farther between as we discuss.

#31 Andrew shares his journey as an adult child of an alcoholic

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Andrew found out his mom was an alcoholic when he was around 12. In this episode we talked about how he has been affected by his mom's addiction, and some of the resources he uses to cope.

He has some great coping strategies and resources he shared with us in this episode that will benefit a lot of other families out there that are experiencing having loved ones with substance abuse issues.

But he is more than just an adult child of an alcoholic. He is also a mechanical engineer working in the medical device industry. He leads a sober lifestyle, and attends weekly Al-Anon support groups for family members of alcoholics. He is also an avid rock climber and ice hockey player

#30 Bekah Shares With Us Her Journey And What She Is Doing To Give Back

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

In her late 20’s, Bekah could not stand to look in the mirror. She couldn’t stand to look her loved ones in the eye and see their disappointment. After nearly ten years of being broken with addiction, she had the sudden revelation that if she continued the way she was going, her life would surely end. She had destroyed her relationships with her family, and shamefully avoided all her friends that mattered most.

She went into a wilderness therapeutic program for just shy of 90 days. At around two weeks in, she began to love the things that once brought her joy. These things were hard to discover, because they had been gone for so long. Her sober living aftercare protected all that she learned in treatment.

Since 2010, she has been sober and getting back what addiction took away from her. She has worked in the recovery field in many areas, including direct care at multiple primary treatment programs, bedside in a psychiatric unit as a certified nursing assistant, and more recently working with clients and families as an admissions counselor for a young adult program.

Her life now is something she would have only dreamed of having years ago. The rewards of her recovery keep coming daily. She now shares her wisdom and supports young women finding their own path of recovery through Ember Lodge.

Learn more about Ember Lodge Here

#29 Dr. Linville Meadows; an award winning physician ends up in rehab; but lives to tell his story

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 06:00:00 -0500

Dr. Meadows is an Honors graduate of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine and studied at Duke University. He later held faculty positions at both institutions. He was recognized internationally for his work in cancer research, receiving both grants and awards; he authored numerous scientific articles. He was designated a Clinical Investigator of the National Cancer Institute.

His recovery from addiction to drugs and alcohol began May 7, 1997. Since then, he has counseled a large number of addicts and alcoholics striving to get clean and sober. His observations and study over the last 20+ years form the basis for A SPIRITUAL PATHWAY TO RECOVERY FROM ADDICTION, A PHYSICIAN'S JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY.

“I woke up on my 49th birthday and realized that I was addicted to drugs and alcohol and that my life was spinning wildly out of control. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t stop. Some days I wanted passionately to quit and some days I just didn't care. I had reached a point where I could no longer use and live. It was either quit or die, and then something happened. I found recovery.”

He and his wife live on a hobby farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. In the barnyard, you will find 2 sheep, 3 alpacas, 1 donkey, and numerous birds including turkeys, ducks, geese, and a bunch of chickens. An organic garden sits nearby. He is an avid photographer and plays bluegrass guitar.

Website devoted to Lin's book

https://www.spiritualpathwaytorecovery.com/

Lin's blog

https://www.spiritualpathwaytorecovery.com/lins-recovery-blog

Lin's website devoted to addiction and its treatment

https://www.theanswerisrecovery.com/

SOCIAL

https://www.linkedin.com/company/67681585/admin/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/linville-m-meadows-m-d-46006715/

https://www.facebook.com/linville.meadows.5

https://www.facebook.com/LinsRecoveryBlog/?modal=admin_todo_tour

https://www.instagram.com/linville_meadows/

https://twitter.com/meadowslin

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjTOgcSK5C64fHigTGHCthg?reload=9&view_as=subscriber

#28 Kawan; A survivor of three brain surgeries, substance abuse, and suicidal ideations

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Kawan Glover is a Survivor because he has lived through a stroke and three brain surgeries. He also dealt with suicidal ideations, one attempt, opioid addiction, depression, and been $1.2 million in medical debt. Despite these hardships, he has started his own company called Overcome Adversity, which leverages his ordeal to help others, as the name says, Overcome their Adversity no matter the shape or form. He is also a writer, public speaker, and a self-published author of a memoir entitled “Favor: How Stroke Struggle and Surgery Helped Me Find My Life’s Purpose”

In this episode, we talked about he overcame his struggles into a new way of life

Book link: http://bit.ly/Favorthebook

Social Links:

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OvercomeAdversityWithKawan
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/kawanglover - @kawanglover
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/kawan_glover - @kawan_glover
LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/kawanaglover

Calendar link to schedule free consultation:

https://calendly.com/overcomeadversitytoday

#27 Alison reminds the families out there how important it is to put yourself first

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

Alison Jane Ryan spends her days empowering mamas to step into the fullest expression of who they are and who they’re meant to be by creating a Morning Practice. She’s passionate about supporting you through the foggy seasons of motherhood so you can emerge as the woman and mama that feels true and nourishing for you! Alison is an example of what's possible when mothers put themselves FIRST and intentionally make time to prioritize their needs, dreams & desires.

Many members of my audience struggle with remembering their own dreams and ambitions as their loved ones dive deeper into their substance abuse. But remembering to put yourself first is essential for your well-being and your loved ones.

As the founder of the Mornings for Mamas Movement, Alison supports mothers as they bravely step into the fullest expression of who they are, show up confidently in all areas of their life, put themselves FIRST and hold strong boundaries within themselves & with others to create a life they truly desire. She provides the help you’ve been looking for to not just survive as a mama but to thrive!

Quote: “Create space and time for YOU to reconnect with who you are & what you want so you can build a life you desire!” - Alison Jane Ryan

Links:

Facebook @AlisonJane Ryan (https://www.facebook.com/alison.j.ryan.1)

Instagram: @iamalisonryan (https://www.instagram.com/iamalisonryan/)

Website: www.morningsformamas.com

Email: info@alisonjaneryan.com

Podcast: http://www.morningsformamaspodcast.com/

#26 Jason's tragic loss sent him spiraling out of control, how did he get his life back?

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

This one goes out to all the dads out there. Jason Palmer was raising his wife's younger sister alongside his sons as their child, him and his wife watched her as she fought a battle against a nasty disease HLH. When she lost her fight, Jason picked up a whiskey bottle and dove in. He swam around the bottom of a bottle for a while until he realized it was time for to sober up. It's been 4 years since his last drink. This episode goes into details about how he got his life back. As a foster and adoptive family him and his have grown and become better humans after finding a better path to be on.

#25 Helen Hannah shares with us some healthy coping strategies

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

When families are in the chaos of helping their loved ones, we can often find ourselves in unhealthy patterns such as drinking a little too much ourselves. Not alcoholically but enough to impact our minds, our sleep patterns, and so much more. In this episode, I brought on Helen Hanna, a Transformation coach helping overwhelmed women and no one is more overwhelmed than a mother who fears losing their child.

www.helenhannahcoaching.com

#24 Marcus Shumate tells us about his ideas on who is successful in recovery

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 06:00:00 -0500

In this episode, I discussed with a good friend of mine, Marcus Shumate, what he notices in the recovery community of who "makes it" versus those who don't seem to do so well with the recovery journey. Marcus Shumate did his undergraduate studies in Philosophy and Psychology and completed a masters degree in mental health counseling. He previously worked his way through a residential co-occurring disorders program until he was tasked with developing a program specifically for young men. In that role he grew to really enjoy networking and collaborating with other programs. This eventually led him into getting offered a marketing role with the Green Hill Recovery Team.

They are a clinically-driven transitional living program in Raleigh, NC and a Community-Based Outpatient Program. They work with 18-27 year old males that are seeking help with their addiction and mental health issues and are looking at getting extra clinical emphasis on building out their lives. Their clients are focused on trying to complete school and/or launch into a meaningful professional pursuits. They put a lot of emphasis on individual care that is designed to help a client develop skills that let them cultivate a truly meaningful life instead of setting artificially low-expectations for what they can accomplish. They want their guys to come out of programs ready to be independent and able to direct their lives in a way that cultivates flourishing. A lot of their clinical curriculum is focused on tasks of being a successful adult. Go check out this great resource at https://greenhillrecovery.com/

#23: The Early Recovery Series: Sharon tell us about her journey

Mon, 23 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

Parents want to protect their kids and many times they do this by not telling them everything. The parents maybe waiting for the kids to become more emotionally mature to handle certain information. Maybe parents fail to realize it is important information. We don't often get to know how the information will impact our lives. For Sharon, her family kept a secret and she found out. It started making her realize a few things about herself, about her life, and about her family's secrets. Find out what they hid from her for so many years until she found out.

#22 The Early Recovery Series: Rhett shares with us his journey

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

We are whoever we need to be while we are in active addiction. We don't often know how to be anything else other than a chameleon. Rhett shares with us about his journey into finding himself and being comfortable with who he really is. He also continues to help other recovering addicts working in a great rehab in North Carolina. To hear a great story of overcoming obstacles, challenges and finding oneself, listen to this episode now.

I've also put something together from this series. Throughout this series, one thing became clear. Early recovery is messy and confusing. So I have started focusing on the needs for both the families and their loved ones who may be either in early recovery or thinking about starting this journey into a new way of life. There is a big leap of faith that has to happen when thinking about entering into early recovery. It’s scary. Mostly because we don’t know what to expect and how to navigate through it. But what if you did know what to expect and what if someone told you how to navigate through it. That’s why I put together the early recovery program. It’s a program that lays out the expectations and what you are going to be experiencing. It goes through things like how do you deal with triggers, the overwhelming emotions, the complicated family dynamics, and so much more. If you want to learn more about the program go to www.theearlyrecoveryprogram.com

#21 The Early Recovery Series: Jamie shares with us her journey

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

The desire for us to fit in somewhere is so strong that we will almost destroy ourselves to find our place in the world. Jamie shares with us the challenges she faced long before the drug abuse and how she coped with the world around her. Growing up, she always felt a little different than the rest of her family. Later, she found out why and it was surprising. She felt like she had been living a lie for her whole life. Find out what her family was hiding from her in this episode.

#20: The Early Recovery Series: Sarah shares with us her journey and how her family supported her

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 08:00:00 -0500

Sarah's journey through recovery is both the same and different than most. She came from a good family, two loving parents, two siblings...it seems like the American Dream, and yet, Sarah battled with her own addiction. What would make her turn to drugs? And how did her family handle it? Find out in this episode.

#19 The Early Recovery Series: Natasha P. Tells Us What Boundaries Her Family Set Out for Her

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 07:00:00 -0400

Every family is different in what works, what boundaries to lay out, and the experience they have with their loved ones battling addiction. Natasha P. tells us what some of the boundaries her family laid out for her. She also goes deep into the mindset of what was going on behind the scenes and informs us of some of the red flags to watch out for.

#18 Bonus Episode: How Bilinda Uncovered Important Patterns

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:00:00 -0400

As humans, we all have unconscious patterns that impact our relationships around us. For Bilinda, a mother with two kids with substance abuse issues, the patterns she uncovered will forever change her relationship with her kids. She discusses a exercise that is part of my Unbreakable Boundaries Program that helps unlock these patterns. If nothing changes, then nothing changes. For the families, we need things to change. If you have a loved one in addiction, this exercise could be life changing for you and your loved one.

#17 The Early Recovery Series: Mike Fills Us In on his Powerful Journey

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0400

Very quickly, Mike begins by telling us about all the different masks he put on. We often do this where we are whoever you need us to be. The challenge is when we are ready to be ourselves, we don't know who that is because we have been hiding ourselves for so long. Mike shares with us how he began to break free of his masks. He also goes into the story of how he got clean, which wasn't totally normal. He ended up in the hospital with a traumatic brain injury that forced him to learn how to talk, walk, read, write all over again. We also talk about his experience with MAT (Medically Assisted Treatment such as Methadone, Suboxone, Etc.)

Here is the link to the We Are Warriors magazine as mentioned in episode.

#16: The Early Recovery Series: Amanda Shares her Journey with Us

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 17:00:00 -0400

Growing up in a good home, how did a person like Amanda find herself hiding her drug use from her parents for so long? A good girl that didn't like to get in trouble turns to using some of the hardest drugs out there. Where did she start finding herself? What were the things she put her family through. Amanda shares with us her story and some helpful advice for the families out there.

#15 The Early Recovery Series: Travis tells us what his experience was and how he found himself a new way of life

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 05:00:00 -0400

Recovery is never a straight line. People dealing with substance abuse issues can often find themselves living a life they never imagined for themselves. That was Travis. He found himself in situations he never imagined and being a person he never saw himself being. He came from a good loving home, but even that is not enough to battle someone who goes down the road of addiction. Travis eventually found himself in a community of people that had similar interests as he did. Travis will tell you, if he can do it, anyone can do it.

#14: The Early Recovery Series: Luanne gives us some insight about her journey

Wed, 30 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Alcohol is insidious. Being so much more socially acceptable to drink alcohol, one can find themselves being able to justify and rationalize their behaviors easily, until it is undeniable that there is a problem. Even once a problem is acknowledged, it doesn't make it easy to make the decision to quit. Luanne talks in this episode about how she constantly felt like the world was out to get her and the victimhood that entails, and more importantly, she talks about how she broke free of the mental prison alcohol had her in. It was uncomfortable, but it is worth it.

On a side note, you may hear some feedback in the audio, I am still learning myself on technical aspects of doing this.

#13 The Early Recovery Series: Eddie tells us the difference between abstinence and recovery

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400

There is a difference between someone who is simply abstaining from drugs/alcohol and what it means to be in recovery. For years, Eddie would be able to abstain from drugs and alcohol on his own. He has been a practicing buddhist for multiple decades, so yoga and meditation practices are deeply ingrained in his daily life, but that simply wasn't enough. He felt like there was still a missing piece to getting him to the next level of self-care, and that was through the community of recovery. Now, he dedicates his life to helping others really understand and rewire old thought patterns and beliefs to help them break free from the prison of addiction through mindfulness.

You can find out more about him and what he does at amindfulemergence.com

#12 The Early Recovery Series: Abbie Gives Us Some Insights About Her Journey

Mon, 21 Sep 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Early Recovery is difficult. There are often misconceptions about addiction and parents choosing drugs over their kids, but in this episode, Abbie shares a different perspective about what is really going on. As challenging as recovery can be, Abbie shares with us her triumphs, challenges, failures, and so much more. Recovery is possible, no matter what.

#11: The Early Recovery Series: Lizzy tells us what it was like for her.

Tue, 15 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Every person has a different journey through addiction and through the early recovery process. Lizzy's journey is no different. She tells us what she has done to get to where she is at, and we get to hear her triumphs and her downfalls. There are a lot of different ways to be successful in abstaining from alcohol and drug use, Lizzy shares with us her secrets to success.

#10: The Early Recovery Series: Steve Knows all too well how Addiction is a Family Disease

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 00:00:00 -0400

Steve talks to us about his journey through early recovery and also his family upbringing. Addiction is a family disease and growing up with it, it's easy to see where addiction would just be a normal way of life. But that didn't stop him from turning things around for himself. He decided he wanted a better life and he made it happen. It wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't a straight path, but in this episode, listen to how Steve has turns his life around, endures the challenges that early recovery brings, and becomes the success he is today. And listen to what it is like for him experiencing others he cares about going through the struggles as well.

#9: The Early Recovery Series: Tara Tells Us About Her Journey

Wed, 02 Sep 2020 10:00:00 -0400

Early recovery is challenging. It can be hard to know what to expect. Families often don't understand what a person goes through during the early stages. The questions we are asking ourselves, the challenges we face, learning how to live a normal life again. Tara knows all to well the challenges she faced during her early recovery. She experienced early recovery more than once and each time was a little different. She also had her husband have to sit back and watch her go downhill and was powerless to do anything about it. Listen to her journey.

#8: Amber tells us about her journey through early recovery

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 16:00:00 -0400

Early recovery is challenging. We go through a lot but we don't always know how to articulate our experience around it. It's emotional, it's challenging, we have a hard time coping with what we have done. Families struggle with knowing what to do and how to help their loved ones. I am doing a early recovery series in hopes that it will help families understand what we go through when we first get into recovery.

#7: Why do they manipulate and how do they manipulate

Thu, 23 Jul 2020 08:00:00 -0400

When you have a loved one with substance abuse issues, manipulation is something you are going to come across frequently. It's hard to understand substance abuse and why they do some of the things they do, but there are things you can do about manipulation. If you can understand the why's and the how's of manipulation, then you can be aware of it and it can stop working. They also work on 4 main emotions. Find out what they are in this podcast.

#6: The Saga Continues: The Journey of a Mother and Daughter

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 08:00:00 -0400

Two episodes ago, we heard from a mother, Bilinda. She gave us some great insights to what she was experiencing as she was dealing with both her son and her daughter through addiction. The last episode, her daughter, Marilyn, had a very open conversation with me about her experiences through addiction and coming out the other side. It was eye opening for both the mother and the daughter to hear from each other. So I wanted to do something special, and that was to invite both of them to come onto my podcast and have us hear what their insights were together.

#5: Guest Episode: Marilyn: A daughter's story of addiction

Thu, 21 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Last week, we had Bilinda Blume on, a mother of two kids that dealt with addiction. I had the privilege of following things up with her daughter this week, Marilyn. Marilyn dives deep into her own story of her side of things and what were some helpful things her family did, but also shares with us what were some of the things that were not so helpful. Her story is going to help and impact so many people.

Caution: This is a real conversation between two people in a very raw way. It can be hard to listen to.

#4: Guest Episode: Bilinda Blume: A Mother's Journey Through Her Kids Addiction.

Tue, 12 May 2020 12:00:00 -0400

An incredible interview with a woman who has experience with having loved ones dealing with substance abuse. Bilinda is a mother of three; two of her children have struggled with substance abuse, beginning in their teens and into young adulthood.

She has been supportive and loving to her children in a healthy way, despite how painful and uncertain addiction can be. Helping others rise above their life's challenges is her passion, life's work, and addiction is one of the driving forces.

We talk about what it was like for her, finding herself through having 2 children dealing with addiction. A powerful interview every parent needs to listen to.

#3: The Coronavirus and Our Boundaries: Do They Still Apply?

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:00:00 -0400

During this time, I have seen many people bending, or breaking their own boundaries because of the extenuating circumstances. However, it is important to continue to apply the principles of boundary setting even in today's world because there are no extenuating circumstances under which the principles of boundary settings do not apply.

#2: Guest Episode: Lynn Carnes AKA My Mother

Thu, 09 Apr 2020 07:00:00 -0400

This episode was originally under the End the Stigma Podcast, it was an interview with my mom, Lynn Carnes. It was a great interview about boundaries and some of the things she did for me while in my addiction that helped me.

#1: I am scrapping "End The Stigma" and going to "The Unbreakable Boundaries" Podcast

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 15:00:00 -0400

It was a hard decision, but I had to go with my heart. I am scrapping end the stigma podcast but replacing it with something even better. The Unbreakable Boundaries Podcast. You will learn the reason why in this latest episode. Enjoy the new format!