The Hidden Struggles You Can't Name: Navigating Grief and Hyper-vigilance When Your Child Struggles With Addiction, Part One, with Cathy Cioth

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

Sometimes, the hardest parts of our journey are the feelings we can't quite put our finger on, when you can tell something feels off but can't really articulate exactly what's wrong. In this two-part episode, Cathy and I dive deep into four of those sneaky, often invisible struggles that so many of us experience when parenting through substance use and mental health challenges.

PART ONE:

In part one, we cover the kind of grief that doesn't get a funeral, the common response of hypervigilance and the exhaustion it creates, we share personal stories about the physical toll this emotional marathon has taken on us, and the importance of giving yourself permission to feel it all.

Key Takeaways:

• You're not crazy, wrong, or alone in experiencing these hidden struggles
• Grief for dreams and expectations is real grief, even when your child is alive
• The difference between helpful vigilance and exhausting hypervigilance
• Practical strategies for managing overwhelming emotions without numbing them
• Why your nervous system needs intentional care and how to provide it

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