NEW Announcement: Australian Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session with Paul King & Wendy Brewer. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. familyhopesupport.com (Australia Only)

Feeling completely worn down by your loved one's addiction? You're not alone — and you're not failing.

Sleepless nights, constant worry, and emotional exhaustion are painfully common for parents and carers of someone struggling with substance use. When you're running on empty, it's nearly impossible to support someone else — let alone take care of yourself. This episode dives deep into what burnout really looks like in addiction-affected families, and how to begin reclaiming your strength.

1. Hear honest, relatable stories of burnout from both hosts’ personal journeys.
2. Discover simple, practical ways to calm your nervous system and break the cycle of survival mode.
3. Learn why self-compassion, boundaries, and support from people who truly get it are essential — not selfish.

Tune in now to discover how even one small act of self-care can start restoring your energy and resilience.

🌱 Family Hope Support — Special Offer for Podcast Listeners (Australia Only)

Loving someone with a drug or alcohol problem can feel exhausting — the worry, the guilt, the fear, the sleepless nights. It wears you down.

At Family Hope Support, Wendy Brewer and Paul King offer combined one-to-one support sessions grounded in counselling insight and lived experience. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. 🎉: Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session — use code FAMILYHOPE at checkout.

👉 Claim your discount at familyhopesupport.com and start feeling less alone. You don’t have to do this by yourself

💛 Support the Podcast (Worldwide)

If our podcast has helped you feel a little less alone, you can now support our work through Ko-fi. Your contribution helps us keep creating this show and reach more families who need hope and guidance.

👉 https://ko-fi.com/familyhopesupport

This podcast provides practical guidance and support for families navigating the challenges of substance abuse disorder, offering insights from addiction recovery experts, family therapy, and support groups like Al-Anon and Family Drug Support, with a focus on understanding how to help and support loved ones dealing with addiction, including heroin addiction, through counselling and treatment options.

DISCLAIMER

Every family is different — if you’re supporting someone through addiction, please make decisions that are right for you, ideally in consultation with qualified professionals and appropriate support networks.

NEW Announcement: Australian Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session with Paul King & Wendy Brewer. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. familyhopesupport.com (Australia Only)

What if empathy — even when you're being blamed — could be the key to diffusing conflict with your loved one?

When families are caught in the chaos of addiction, conversations often become battlegrounds. This episode offers a new path: using empathy to soften tension, de-escalate arguments, and create the safety your loved one needs to truly open up. If you’ve ever walked away from a fight thinking, “There must be a better way,” this episode is for you.

1. Learn how to respond calmly when you're being blamed — without letting things spiral.
2. Discover how naming emotions can interrupt anger and create meaningful connection.
3. Hear real-life examples of how empathy can shift long-standing communication patterns.

Listen now to learn how empathy can transform even your most difficult moments into opportunities for healing.

🌱 Family Hope Support — Special Offer for Podcast Listeners (Australia Only)

Loving someone with a drug or alcohol problem can feel exhausting — the worry, the guilt, the fear, the sleepless nights. It wears you down.

At Family Hope Support, Wendy Brewer and Paul King offer combined one-to-one support sessions grounded in counselling insight and lived experience. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. 🎉: Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session — use code FAMILYHOPE at checkout.

👉 Claim your discount at familyhopesupport.com and start feeling less alone. You don’t have to do this by yourself

💛 Support the Podcast (Worldwide)

If our podcast has helped you feel a little less alone, you can now support our work through Ko-fi. Your contribution helps us keep creating this show and reach more families who need hope and guidance.

👉 https://ko-fi.com/familyhopesupport

This podcast provides practical guidance and support for families navigating the challenges of substance abuse disorder, offering insights from addiction recovery experts, family therapy, and support groups like Al-Anon and Family Drug Support, with a focus on understanding how to help and support loved ones dealing with addiction, including heroin addiction, through counselling and treatment options.

DISCLAIMER

Every family is different — if you’re supporting someone through addiction, please make decisions that are right for you, ideally in consultation with qualified professionals and appropriate support networks.

NEW Announcement: Australian Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session with Paul King & Wendy Brewer. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. familyhopesupport.com (Australia Only)

Are you actually listening—or just waiting for your turn to talk? Discover how one simple shift can transform your conversations with your child, especially during high-stress moments.

When your child is struggling—maybe with addiction, emotional overwhelm, or just pushing your buttons—it’s natural to want to jump in, fix things, or give advice. But what if the key to helping them isn’t what you say, but how deeply you listen? This episode introduces the counseling skill of active listening, and how it can give parents the tools to stay calm, connected, and present—even when things feel out of control.

1. Learn the true meaning of active listening and why it’s not just repeating back words.
2. Hear real stories of how staying silent and reflecting emotions helped build trust and open communication.
3. Get actionable tips on preparing yourself emotionally so you can respond with presence instead of panic.

Listen to this episode now and start practicing the skill that can instantly strengthen your relationship with your child—even in the toughest conversations.

🌱 Family Hope Support — Special Offer for Podcast Listeners (Australia Only)

Loving someone with a drug or alcohol problem can feel exhausting — the worry, the guilt, the fear, the sleepless nights. It wears you down.

At Family Hope Support, Wendy Brewer and Paul King offer combined one-to-one support sessions grounded in counselling insight and lived experience. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. 🎉: Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session — use code FAMILYHOPE at checkout.

👉 Claim your discount at familyhopesupport.com and start feeling less alone. You don’t have to do this by yourself

💛 Support the Podcast (Worldwide)

If our podcast has helped you feel a little less alone, you can now support our work through Ko-fi. Your contribution helps us keep creating this show and reach more families who need hope and guidance.

👉 https://ko-fi.com/familyhopesupport

This podcast provides practical guidance and support for families navigating the challenges of substance abuse disorder, offering insights from addiction recovery experts, family therapy, and support groups like Al-Anon and Family Drug Support, with a focus on understanding how to help and support loved ones dealing with addiction, including heroin addiction, through counselling and treatment options.

DISCLAIMER

Every family is different — if you’re supporting someone through addiction, please make decisions that are right for you, ideally in consultation with qualified professionals and appropriate support networks.