Title : From one mother of an addict to another
Abstract:
I created a podcast because I wanted to share my experiences of having a son with addiction with other mothers, so they don’t feel so alone. my son’s an addict and suffers from drug induced Mental Illness. I needed help and felt alone, ashamed and didn’t know where to turn. I believe sharing my experiences with other parents will help to alleviate some shame and loneliness. I navigated through the process of seeking help the best way I could and I tried to learn as much as I could about addiction and mental illness.
Below, are some topics I will be discussing.
I will be addressing topics on self-care, self-esteem and admitting feelings of inadequacy when seeking help. I will share how I addressed them and discuss my thoughts on what I would have done differently 13 years ago.
I will be discussing how I approached topics like Identify/Communicate/Path.
I will be addressing the term “Hitting Rock Bottom” and I hope the audience walks away with a better understanding of why these words should not be addressed with a parent who’s in denial.
I will be sharing the importance of a “buddy system”. I will discuss how it can add on-going support, structure and break barriers in the stigma of both mental and addiction disorders. Professionals can take this approach back to their communities and share the impact a buddy system can have on supporting patients of all ages.
I will elaborate on the word DENIAL and my goal is for the audience to pick up some new methods in working with parents/family members that are in denial. Why sharing Podcast suggestions with your clients can offer them emotional support without shame.
I will be concluding with a brief discussion on how I believe the school system at an early age can play a huge role in changing the stigma of mental illness, depression and addiction.
