Today’s topic is a tough one—addiction. It can tear marriages and families apart and leave loved ones feeling helpless, desperate, and alone. The partners and families of those struggling with addiction can be left grasping for order in the chaos and knowledge in the unknown.
I know this because we have dealt with this in our own family. It’s overwhelming, disorienting, and can even feel hopeless at times. That’s why I’m so glad that Travis Thompson said yes to joining me for this episode.
Travis is a licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive experience in addiction therapy. He has worked at both long-term care and short-term treatment facilities, including intensive outpatient programs for mental health and substance addiction and outpatient clinics with a family-centered focus. His new book, To Those Left Behind: Helping Partners and Families Understand and Heal from Addiction, is a compassionate and practical guide for the partners and families of those struggling with addiction.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- Some reasons why people become addicted
- Why healthy boundaries are vital
- The best step you can take today to support your loved one
- And much more!
I pray this conversation gives you hope for the future!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- [BOOK] To Those Left Behind: Helping Partners and Families Understand and Heal from Addiction
- Connect with Travis on his Twitter, LinkedIn, or website
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) Create healthy boundaries. Rarely are those who struggle with addiction self-reliant. They always have someone offering them support that keeps them from falling entirely into ruin. While you do have a role to play in their recovery, we need to make sure the help we are offering is not enabling them. It is important to establish healthy boundaries that protect you and them.
2) Prioritize self-care. Addiction can take a toll on you as well as your loved one who is struggling with addiction. You will not be able to deal with their them well if you do not care for your own self. If you are feeling worn out, empty, and like you just can’t do this anymore, that is a sure sign that you need to take some time for what you need.
3) Find someone who has been through this before. This is a long journey. The best thing you can do today is to find someone who has lived through this before. This might be a professional counselor, therapist, or even a mature friend. Whoever they are, they need to be able to offer you sage advice, support, encouragement, and prayer as you walk through this.
About Travis:
Travis Thompson is a licensed marriage and family therapist with extensive experience in addiction therapy. He is also an author and his new book, To Those Left Behind, is a compassionate and practical guide for the partners and families of addicts. Travis is a Tennessee native. His clinical and academic work focuses on how addiction impacts systems of people from couples to families and to communities.
Would you like to be notified by email when a new No More Perfect Podcast episode releases? Just fill in your name and email and we’ll make sure you’re in the know!
