In this raw and honest episode, I’m laying it all out — the top 5 mistakes I made (and maybe you’ve made too) while trying to help my addicted teen. From trying to fix everything, to letting guilt call the shots, to losing myself completely — I’ve been there. This isn’t about shame. It’s about recognizing the patterns that keep us stuck so we can start to break free. If you’re parenting a child struggling with addiction or mental illness, this one’s for you. You are not alone.

There’s a moment—one you never forget—when you realize your child isn’t just experimenting, acting out, or going through a phase. It’s the moment when denial starts to slip away, and reality settles in: They need help, and this is bigger than you ever imagined.

As a mother, nothing prepares you for this. The late-night worry turns into fear, the excuses you once made don’t hold up anymore, and the person standing in front of you feels like a stranger. Addiction and drug-induced mental illness don’t just take hold overnight—it creeps in, little by little, until suddenly, you can’t ignore it anymore.

In this episode, I’m taking you back to the beginning—the moment I knew my child needed help. The signs I missed, the excuses I made, and the fear that came with stepping out of denial and into the unknown. If you’re in this place, feeling lost and overwhelmed, you are not alone.

Let’s talk about what happens when you first face the truth, how to navigate those early stages of acceptance, and why the most important thing you can do is start taking care of yourself too.

Denial is one of the biggest roadblocks to an addict’s recovery, and when one parent refuses to see the reality of their child’s addiction, it creates an even more painful and complicated struggle. I know this firsthand. When one parent is fighting to get their child the help they need while the other minimizes, excuses, or outright denies the problem, it can delay treatment and make the journey even harder.

In this episode, I’ll talk about the emotional toll of dealing with a partner who won’t accept the truth and how that denial—whether out of fear, guilt, or misplaced hope—can prolong the chaos. But more importantly, I’ll share ways to handle the situation, from setting firm boundaries to having difficult but necessary conversations. How we navigate this dynamic can directly impact how soon our child gets help. Ignoring the problem won’t make it go away, but facing it together—no matter how hard—can be the first step toward healing.