Married to Addiction

Can you love your alcoholic spouse and still protect your peace?

Yes. But it takes intention—and it starts with you.

In this heartfelt and practical episode, we’ll explore:

• Why the line between love and self-neglect gets blurry in addiction

• How to love your husband without losing your identity or sanity

• 3 powerful ways to care for yourself while still showing up with compassion

If you’ve been feeling drained, lost, or unsure how to keep going, this episode will help you reclaim your strength, your voice, and your daily peace.

💛 You’ll also hear about:
→ How healthy boundaries can help (not hurt) your relationship
→ Daily spiritual tools to refill your soul
→ Where to find the right support and healing path for you

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of setting boundaries with your alcoholic spouse?

You’re not alone, and good news.....you don’t have to change everything overnight.

In fact, you can start with just *one* small change.

In this episode we’ll walk through:

• What a micro-boundary is (and why it’s so powerful)

• How to choose one small boundary that protects your peace

• A simple 3-step plan to actually follow through—without confrontation or fear

If you’ve been longing to feel more empowered, more grounded, and more aligned with God’s desire for your healing, this episode will give you the clarity and courage to take that first small but mighty step.

You know those times when you're so overwhelmed that you don't even know what feeling you're feeling??

Or you are just so over it that you feel completely numb?

Maybe you're just experiencing SO many emotions at one time that you can't even *begin* to start processing through your feelings?

That's a tough place to be, and unfortunately as wives of alcoholics we find ourselves experiencing those things a lot.

In this episode I'll share with you a really powerful practice to employ during those times. And I've even put together a free resource to get you started.

Please tune in to learn more.

You know the feeling, right?

You hear a bottle crack open and think 'Oh, heeeeere we go!'

That thought might also be accompanied by sweaty palms, an increased heart rate, or anger rising up in your chest.

You're triggered.

In this episode we will talk about what is actually happening to us when we feel this way.

And I'll help you put together a Personal Response Plan to use so it doesn't suck the air out of your lungs going forward.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

I'm sure you've heard the term 'new year, new you', right?

It implies that the beginning of a new year is a chance to better ourselves and/or our situation.

Except that's not usually what happens, is it?

Instead we set some intentions and maybe even make some changes for a while, but nothing ends up changing long-term.

So in today's episode I'm giving you just *two* things to focus on right now as we move into a new year.

Two things that if you are intentional about them will go a LONG way towards getting you closer to the positive long-term changes you're so desperately wanting.

Tune in to find out what they are.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

I felt like I was married to *both* of them.

One was nice. The other not so much.

But actually they both irritated me, if I'm being honest.

In this episode we will talk about the two personalities our husbands sometimes seem to take on due to their drinking.

I'll also give you some guidance around how to navigate each of them. _______________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

In this episode I am speaking with one of my Secret Sisters Circle members about her journey as the wife of an alcoholic.

I think you will find SO many relatable shares in this episode.

I hope it encourages you and helps you feel less alone, knowing that others can relate to *so* many of the things that you are going through.

Are you unknowingly setting yourself up for more pain, heartache and frustration as the wife of an alcoholic?

Sometimes along this journey we end up inadvertently doing things that actually make it even harder for us.

In this episode I will share with you three things you might be doing to set yourself up, and we will talk about how they might be harming you.

If you are currently doing any of these things please know that you are not alone! I did literally all of them when my husband was deep in addiction.

But my hope with this episode is that it will shed some light for you and spare you some additional heartache going forward.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Sure wish I could've found someone to give me a dollar every time I said that back when my husband was deep in addiction! I would be rolling in the dough.

It seemed so obvious to me back then. Most of my problems stemmed from my husband's drinking. Therefore if he stopped drinking so would my problems.

In this episode we will talk about the BIG problem with this way of thinking.

I'll also give you some important shifts you can make towards a mindset that will serve you much better.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Obviously we focus mostly on alcoholism here on the podcast because that is the type of addiction that I walked through personally with my husband.

But what about other types of addiction?

How do they differ and how are they the same?

Is there anything that we as wives need to do differently depending on what our husband is addicted to?

We'll talk about all of that in this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Triggers. As wives of alcoholics we experience them daily. Sometimes even multiple times a day.

They affect us to or core: emotionally, mentally, and many times even physically. (Ever felt sick to your stomach when you realize your husband has been drinking?)

They also affect what we *do*. And sometimes we do things that are not in our best interest because of our triggers.

So in this episode I will give you some best practices for dealing with your triggers.

This is important guidance for every wife of an alcoholic.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Staying stuck in the negativity of being married to an alcoholic is a place where most wives stay, at least for a while.

I mean, it's understandable....this is a really hard thing to go through. And it's hard not to find yourself drowning in the difficulty of it all.

Problem is that when we stay there it *poisons* us. And the longer you stay there the worse it gets.

But HOW can we not stay stuck in negativity when most everything in our lives feels negative due to our husband's drinking.

I'll offer you some tips on how to do just that in this episode. ---------------------------------------------------------

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Let's talk about silence.

When is it good? When is it bad?

And how can we know the difference?

In this episode I'll talk about the value...and danger...of intentionally using silence in your relationship with your alcoholic husband.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

It can feel like the last thing we are concerned about as the wife of an alcoholic....caring for ourselves.

We are usually so caught up in our husband's life that we feel like we just *don't* have the time or energy to worry about us.

But as a result we fall deeper and deeper into a pit of neglect, ending up a shell of our former selves.

And when you add that to all of the emotional trauma we are experiencing in our day-to-day lives it is truly a recipe for disaster.

In this episode we will talk about what 'making yourself a priority' means, what it *is* and what it *isn't*, and I'll give you three simple steps to get you started.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Hope.

It feels like all we have sometimes as wives of alcoholics.

And sometimes we don't even have that.

In this episode I will share a shift that you need to make where hope is concerned.

And it's a *really* important one.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

That 'stuck' feeling is the worst, isn't it?

You're not happy where you are, but you don't feel like you can do anything about it.

But what if I told you that's not the case?

In this episode I'll talk about why we feel stuck, where those feeling really come from, and exactly what you can do about it.

Does your head feel really loud right now?

Does it seem that the more you look for answers the more confused you get?

In this episode I will talk about how our search for clarity as wives of alcoholics can actually make us more confused instead.

I'll also give you some direction on a different way to approach things that will likely feel SO much better than what you have been doing.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Should you just 'wait it out' in your marriage if you don't feel like you have clear direction from God?

Not always.

In this episode I talk about five different scenarios in which you should strongly consider a change.

In these cases there is too much at stake, so it is probably best to make a change first, and then wait for divine direction from there.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

In this third part of our three-part series on how we have to navigate our way through this a bit differently as Christian wives of alcoholics we are talking about the shame and isolation that can make its way into our lives.

We can begin to feel like we have nowhere to turn, and that we can't even talk to anyone at our church in a lot of cases, which keeps us in hiding.

Because of this we often feel like there is no support system for us as Christian wives of alcoholics.

So please tune in as I discuss how this plays out, and what we can do about it.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This is the second episode in a three-part series about how this journey as the wife of an alcoholic is different for us as women of faith.

In this episode I talk about how we can encounter some confusion around our faith.

I'll also discuss the other types of difficult feelings we can come up against where our faith is concerned, and what to do with those feelings.

This is an important one. Please tune in.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This episode begins a three-part series on navigating your husband's addiction as a Christian wife.

I feel that we come up against some additional challenges when we are in this position as a woman of faith, and I think it's important to talk about those challenges.

In this episode I will discuss balancing forgiveness and empathy with boundaries.

This can be a tricky line to walk, so I hope this episode sheds some helpful light on the subject for you.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Oh, the holidays. They can seem pretty lackluster as the wife of an alcoholic.

For some of us they are the most difficult time of the whole year.

And for many of us, no one even knows what we are going through which can make it all seem that much harder.

So first of all....I SEE YOU. I know firsthand how hard this time of year can be.

But I also want you to know that the holiday season doesn't have to be just another casualty of your husband's addiction. There are ways to make it feel a lot easier.

Trust me when I say that you can still experience peace, and even joy, this season. Even now, in the midst of what you're going through.

In this episode we will talk about how to do just that.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

You hear it on airplanes all the time: 'Put your mask on first'.

But what does that mean for us as as the wife of an alcoholic?

In this episode we talk about why 'putting our mask on first' is so important, how it can help us and those around us, and ways you can start.

If you don't feel like you can breathe right now then please listen to this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

So your husband has decided to attempt sobriety.

You thought you'd be blissfully happy when this time came, but are instead finding parts of it challenging, or even annoying.

In this episode we will talk about things we need to keep in mind if our husband is trying to stop drinking.

It's important for every wife to give this one a listen, even if your husband isn't currently at this point.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

When my husband was addicted I became such a good detective that I bet the Scooby Doo gang would've hired me in an instant.

I worked hard to figure out all his drinking habits.

I thought I was 'good' at it, and walked around with a smug sense of pride and superiority because of it.

It hurts my heart to say that now.

Because looking back it only made things worse.

In this episode we'll talk about how we fall into playing detective, why it's so harmful, and what to do instead.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

You've heard it before, I'm sure: An alcoholic has to 'be ready' for recovery.

But what does that mean exactly?

And how do they get there?

Is there anything we can do to hurry it along?

In this episode I will share an analogy with you that I think will really help you understand the concept of 'being ready' for recovery.

Thanks for tuning in.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This is a scenario I hear about a lot.

Many of our husbands' early (or even late) attempts at sobriety will be trying to do it on their own.

Is that ever successful?

What are the challenges around that?

What things can make it actually possible?

We'll talk about all of that in this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

It's probably been about everyone but you for a while now, hasn't it?

I get it. I was in the same position when my husband was addicted.

But here's the thing...

If you keep ignoring YOU, then you will keep sinking deeper and deeper into a pit of despair.

And that, dear sister, is no way to live.

It's time to make room for you. It's time to focus on your recovery.

I'll give you some tips on how to do just that in this episode, plus a new free resource to get you started.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Nothing changes if nothing changes.

If we feel like we are being prompted to make a shift then we need to listen to that.

It can be difficult because change often feels uncomfortable, but God knows where He is trying to lead us so we need to trust that He will never steer us wrong.

In this episode we will talk about a shift that is coming for Married to Addiction, and also the possibility that it might be time for you to make a shift as well.

Will you join me?

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Have you heard the term 'dry drunk'?

What does that mean?

Is your husband considered a dry drunk now?

Why does it occur?

And what can we do if our husband is exhibiting 'dry drunk' behaviors?

We will tackle all of that in this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Hopefully you know by now that working on our own recovery as wives of alcoholics is vitally important.

It can help us get our lives back. It can help us get ourselves back.

But what about the ripple effect?

How does prioritizing our own personal recovery affect our other relationships, or even other parts of our lives?

We will talk about all of that in this episode.

Please listen. The effects are probably FAR more far-reaching than you think.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

'I'm sorry. I love you.'

We've heard it all before. Usually after a fight with our husbands about their drinking.

Have you started just tuning it out?

Do you feel like those words are empty at this point?

Then this episode is for you.

And it might just change your mind....

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Our head can be a VERY noisy place when we're the wife of an alcoholic.

'What do I do?!'

'How much has my husband had to drink today??'

'Will he be drunk when I get home?!'

'I can't take it anymore!!!'

Sound familiar?

In this episode we will talk about the dangers of staying stuck in a toxic thinking pattern...which might be a lot further reaching than you think.

I'll also share some specific ways that getting out of your head can change things in your life.

It is truly one of the most important things we can learn to do.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This is something I get asked about on occasion, so I thought I would tackle it in a podcast episode.

Is an intervention a good idea?

Is there ever a time when it might be a bad idea?

What types of things do you need to consider before staging one?

I will discuss all of that in this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Boundaries.

It's a word we are all too familiar with as wives of alcoholics.

But it also might be a word that you find really confusing.

What exactly *are* boundaries?

And why do we need them?

We'll slice right through some of that confusion in this episode.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This is one of those 'tough love' episodes.

But I only bring you tough love topics when I know they are things that I really needed to hear (and take heed of) back when my husband was addicted.

In this episode we will be talking about addiction as an idol.

The Bible warns us about having idols in our lives, so this is something we need to be aware of if it's happening.

I'll tell you how to tell if it has become an idol in your life, and what to do about it if it has.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

In this episode I am speaking with Dr. Higgins from 'Wired for Addiction'.

Her work is both fascinating and incredibly important, so I wanted to make sure you knew about it.

Dr. Higgins uses genetic data to both determine someone's pre-disposition for addiction, and also treat it in a way that will be the most effective for that specific individual.

This is ground-breaking information that could completely change the way we view both addiction and mental health struggles.

Please don't miss this one!

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Did you know that alcoholism can look a lot of different ways?

What are those ways?

Are some worse than others?

Is there ever a time when drinking is not a concern?

How does our husband's drinking compare to others?

Will it change over time?

I will answer ALL of those questions for you in this episode.

Be sure to tune in.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

I remember feeling like I didn't have a life anymore. I had lost myself, along with every single one of my passions, hopes, and dreams.

My life was centered around my husband's addiction, leaving me feeling powerless, hopeless, and stuck.

In this episode I'll talk about getting out from under feeling 'stuck'.

I'll give you some encouragement around this, plus specific ideas of how you can get unstuck beginning today.

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'A-ha!! I knew it! Look what I found!'

And so it began....yet another fight about how my husband had hidden alcohol, and how I found it, and yadda yadda....

Does that sound familiar? Does your husband hide alcohol too?

If so, this one's for you.

We will talk about why it's a problem if your husband is hiding alcohol.

But it might not be for the reason you think....

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Surrendering when our husband is an alcoholic honestly sounds terrifying.

That's like taking your hands off the wheel when your car is about to crash, right?

I get it. I used to feel the same way.

But in this episode I will explain how surrendering actually makes things easier on us, not harder.

We'll talk about why to do it, how to do it, and the part we still have to play in this even after we do it.

Please listen to this one. I have a feeling you might really need to hear it.

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One of the things that made the absolute biggest difference for me in my own recovery was learning what things were like for my addicted husband.

It not only made me see him in a different light, but it drastically changed the things that were spinning around in my own head on the regular and making me feel crazy.

If you don't yet believe that understanding more about addiction can help your situation then this is a MUST listen for you.

And if you already grasp that concept there are still some nuggets in here for you as well.

Basically every wife of an alcoholic needs to listen to this one....

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

This is the follow-up to Episode 59: Answering Your Questions.

In this episode I will be answering more of the questions that were sent in by wives of alcoholics.

Pretty sure that you have asked yourself at least one of these, so you might want to give this a listen.

I hope it helps you. 

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

In this episode I'm speaking with Mariah Rohne, a certified drug and alcohol counselor.

She has worked extensively with both addicts and alcoholics and brings to the table a valuable perspective about what things are like on the 'other side'.

We discuss what wives need to know about their husband's addiciton, how wives can best help their addicted spouse, and what to do if your husband says he is ready to get help.

Don't miss this one.

Raise your hand if you're a fixer.

*raises hand*

When my husband became addicted I swooped in to 'help'.

Problem was that my 'helping' soon became fixing, and it did more harm than good....for both of us.

In this episode we will talk about how fixing can be damaging, how to stop doing it, and what to do instead.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Peace can feel SO elusive as the wife of an alcoholic. 

And a new year can bring up so much anxiety about what the future might hold.

In this episode I will give you five ways to experience more peace in 2023. 

I'll also talk about why chasing peace is so critical...especially right now.

I hope you will join me for this one. 

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Welcome to Season 4 of the Married to Addiction podcast! 

This episode is a bit different in that I am 'pulling back the curtain' on what is essentially the Life Manual for wives of alcoholics that I have created.

What is it? Tune in to find out, and hear allll the details!

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.

Faith. It is vital in our lives as Christian women.

But is there ever a time when faith is not enough?

In this episode we will explore that question, and I will share with you how it can sometimes look when there is more for us to do than just having faith.

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorded, so not all offers mentioned/listed will be currently available.