when life feels unfair: staying away from victim mentality when your child is misusing drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
Episode 64 brenda zane Episode 64 brenda zane

when life feels unfair: staying away from victim mentality when your child is misusing drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane

There's no doubt that life can feel very unfair when your days and nights become consumed with your child's substance use issues, whether they're just experimenting or in active addiction. We wonder what it would be like to not have a large portion of our hearts and heads filled with worry, doubt, concern and resentment.

This short, personal episode may help you reframe these feelings, while not discounting them or making you feel guilty for having them. You'll discover ways to honor the difficulties in your life while also keeping them in their place and finding joy and peace through the chaos.

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dear friends and family, this is what i need you to know; a shareable episode to open conversations, with Brenda Zane
Episode 60 brenda zane Episode 60 brenda zane

dear friends and family, this is what i need you to know; a shareable episode to open conversations, with Brenda Zane

It can be really hard to tell friends, family members, and co-workers about your situation if you have a child who's misusing substances - first, you're too exhausted to talk about it, also, they probably won't really understand the nuances and depth of the confusion, fear, and helplessness you feel. I created this episode as one you can share with those people in your life who need to know what's going on but you're having a hard time getting the words out.

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four counterintuitive things to do when you're overwhelmed by your child's substance use or emotional challenges, with Brenda Zane
Episode 58 brenda zane Episode 58 brenda zane

four counterintuitive things to do when you're overwhelmed by your child's substance use or emotional challenges, with Brenda Zane

In this solo episode, I share four counterintuitive things that can help when you get to the point where you don't know what to do and are paralyzed and feeling helpless. Getting yourself unstuck and encouraged is an important part of helping your son or daughter, so take a short break, dog walk or drive around the neighborhood and soak up some love and hope from today's show.

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what to do with the guilt and regret when your child is experimenting with or addicted to drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
Episode 54 brenda zane Episode 54 brenda zane

what to do with the guilt and regret when your child is experimenting with or addicted to drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane

There are some common emotions parents feel when they have a child who's misusing drugs or alcohol, and two of those are guilt and regret. This episode will provide you with a way to use these feelings to actually improve your current situation and your future. I'll share three steps to take when you're carrying the heavy burden of the past so you don't have to drag it around anymore.

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why your child’s substance use makes perfect sense and four helpful strategies when they’re not open to change, with Brenda Zane
Episode 52 brenda zane Episode 52 brenda zane

why your child’s substance use makes perfect sense and four helpful strategies when they’re not open to change, with Brenda Zane

This episode will give you an alternative view to your child's substance use that might create more space for empathy and an understanding of why they continue in high-risk behaviors. I'll share four helpful things you can do when your child isn't showing signs of wanting to change what they're doing and you're pulling your hair out.

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getting kids un-stuck from failure to launch mode with Mark McConville, Ph.D., author
Episode 51 brenda zane Episode 51 brenda zane

getting kids un-stuck from failure to launch mode with Mark McConville, Ph.D., author

If you're nodding your head at the term "failure to launch" this is the episode for you. Dr. Mark McConville is a psychologist and author of THE book "Failure to Launch, Why Your 20-Something Hasn't Grown Up and What To Do About It." His work over the course of 30 years has shown him that there are some common themes and traits that cause kids to stall or skid out as they move toward becoming independent, healthy, and well-adjusted young adults.

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the hidden goldmine of help for parents of kids with substance use disorder with The Partnership to End Addiction's Denise Mariano
Episode 50 brenda zane Episode 50 brenda zane

the hidden goldmine of help for parents of kids with substance use disorder with The Partnership to End Addiction's Denise Mariano

As the mom of a son who struggled with addiction, including eight relapses, Denise Mariano can empathize with parents at every step on the spectrum of having a child who's misusing drugs and alcohol. She’s the Director of Family Support and Advocacy at The Partnership to End Addiction where she and her team help tens of thousands of families each year with services like a parent help-line, online learning curriculum, in-depth guides and kits, parent-coaching, and online parent support groups. And did I mention it's all FREE?

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three formulas to neutralize negativity and foster motivation in teens with substance use issues, with Brenda Zane
Episode 49 brenda zane Episode 49 brenda zane

three formulas to neutralize negativity and foster motivation in teens with substance use issues, with Brenda Zane

You've probably been there - that moment when something unexpected or horrible happens and you feel yourself reacting in a highly emotional way. It might be finding the stash of weed or empty vodka bottles - whatever it is, it sets you into panic mode and you're not sure what to do. This episode is a short but practical one to help you in those exact moments when the "thing" has happened and you need to handle it, but don't know how.

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the wild recovery story helping make sober high school an option for teens, with Seth Welch
Episode 48 brenda zane Episode 48 brenda zane

the wild recovery story helping make sober high school an option for teens, with Seth Welch

Parenting a teen or young adult through substance use or addiction is a massive challenge, but layering on the complexity of a child who is questioning their sexual identity or openly part of the LGBTQ+ community makes it even more difficult. This episode is a must-listen for parents who are wondering how to approach their child with questions around sexuality and identity, or who have an openly gay or transgender child who’s also struggling with substance use. It’s complex, it’s confusing and it’s crucial to have this conversation.

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a quick way to gain control when crisis hits with Brenda Zane
Episode 47 brenda zane Episode 47 brenda zane

a quick way to gain control when crisis hits with Brenda Zane

You've probably been there - that moment when something unexpected or horrible happens and you feel yourself reacting in a highly emotional way. It might be finding the stash of weed or empty vodka bottles - whatever it is, it sets you into panic mode and you're not sure what to do. This episode is a short but practical one to help you in those exact moments when the "thing" has happened and you need to handle it, but don't know how.

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the marijuana episode: the real deal about teens, weed and addiction with Dr. Nzinga Harrison
Episode 46 brenda zane Episode 46 brenda zane

the marijuana episode: the real deal about teens, weed and addiction with Dr. Nzinga Harrison

If there's one topic that worries and frustrates parents everywhere, it's marijuana. Cannabis, weed, MJ, whatever you want to call it, when your teen or young adult child is using it, or using it too much, it's hard to know what to do. This episode is a MUST-LISTEN for parents who are concerned about their child's marijuana use because Dr. Nzinga Harrsion breaks down the real deal for you, giving practical advice and sharing some alarming information about what we may think of as an “ok” substance.

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adolescent substance use and recovery in the LGBTQ+ community, with Beck Gee-Cohen
Episode 45 brenda zane Episode 45 brenda zane

adolescent substance use and recovery in the LGBTQ+ community, with Beck Gee-Cohen

Parenting a teen or young adult through substance use or addiction is a massive challenge, but layering on the complexity of a child who is questioning their sexual identity or openly part of the LGBTQ+ community makes it even more difficult. This episode is a must-listen for parents who are wondering how to approach their child with questions around sexuality and identity, or who have an openly gay or transgender child who’s also struggling with substance use. It’s complex, it’s confusing and it’s crucial to have this conversation.

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a simple parenting tool that helped save my sanity and influenced my addicted son with Brenda Zane
Episode 44 brenda zane Episode 44 brenda zane

a simple parenting tool that helped save my sanity and influenced my addicted son with Brenda Zane

Every once in a while something comes along and works, and you're shocked because life can feel like an endless series of failures when your teen or young adult child is misusing substances. When I found the CRAFT method of parenting a child in addiction, I was skeptical because it seemed too simple - but sometimes simple is what you need. This episode will introduce you to one of the tools in the CRAFT method toolbox which is incredibly simple to incorporate into your day to day life and can significantly improve the overall tone and relationship with your son or daughter.

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why do they do what they do? answers on addiction from one who’s lived It, with Stacy Eakman (parts 1 & 2)
Episode 43 brenda zane Episode 43 brenda zane

why do they do what they do? answers on addiction from one who’s lived It, with Stacy Eakman (parts 1 & 2)

Nearly every parent of a child who’s living in addiction has the same questions, like, “why do they keep taking drugs or drinking alcohol when it’s ruining their life, making them sick, killing their family, and pretty much everything in their life?” or, “why do they do things that are so high risk, and obviously have bad outcomes?”

In this 2-part season opener, you’ll hear a mind-blowing story of an all-American baseball star who goes from imagining a Major League Baseball career to being broke, addicted to heroin and cocaine, and stealing anything he could from his loving and caring parents.

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how do you set boundaries and live with natural consequences when your child is abusing drugs or alcohol? Real talk with Julie Jarvis, Ph.D.
Episode 41 brenda zane Episode 41 brenda zane

how do you set boundaries and live with natural consequences when your child is abusing drugs or alcohol? Real talk with Julie Jarvis, Ph.D.

If you've spent any time learning ways to parent a child who's experimenting with drugs or alcohol, or who's in active addiction, you've likely heard about the concept of setting and holding boundaries, and about letting natural consequences happen. But how do you actually do those things when they feel confusing and hard? In this episode, I do a deep dive with Julie Jarvis, Ph.D. into these two specific strategies parents can use in their families.

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re-building communication with a child misusing drugs or alcohol: words matter, with Brenda Zane
Episode 40 brenda zane Episode 40 brenda zane

re-building communication with a child misusing drugs or alcohol: words matter, with Brenda Zane

If the communication with your son or daughter who's misusing drugs or alcohol has broken down significantly, or if you're just trying to understand them better and are getting shut down with your attempts at talking, this is your episode. Because our kids are stressing us out and living a dangerous lifestyle, we tend to focus all our communication on their problems and on trying to get them to change. Unfortunately, without some careful intention, we can actually shut down the chance that we'll have a healthy, productive conversation at all.

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launched & unraveled: what to do when substance use or emotional issues disrupt college plans with Joanna Lilley
Episode 39 brenda zane Episode 39 brenda zane

launched & unraveled: what to do when substance use or emotional issues disrupt college plans with Joanna Lilley

The transition from high school to college is never easy and some teens get to this phase in life and stall or "bomb out" with emotional challenges like anxiety and depression, or use substances to cope with the stress and demands of college life.

Parents can find themselves writing huge tuition checks for college semesters that may end up unfinished and questioning what to do with their young adult student who isn't thriving.

This episode will be a welcome dose of reality and hope for you if your student is unraveling as they leave high school, struggle in college or are just stalled altogether.

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how heavy is your glass? perspective and coping skills for parents of teens struggling with drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane
Episode 38 brenda zane Episode 38 brenda zane

how heavy is your glass? perspective and coping skills for parents of teens struggling with drugs or alcohol, with Brenda Zane

There are tens of thousands of moms and dads carrying an unimaginable weight every day, trying to figure out how to move ahead when their son or daughter is misusing substances to cope with life. Using a simple story and analogy of holding a glass of water, this episode will provide parents with a powerful way to recognize and approach the stress level in their life.

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