Colleen Schaeffel Dealing with her Parents' Addiction Finding her Path

Colleen Schaeffel Dealing with her Parents' Addiction Finding her Path

Author: Joanie Sigal December 29, 2023 Duration: 32:08

Colleen Schaeffel's childhood in Minnesota was upended when both of her parents became alcoholics. As her father's addiction escalated, he lost his job, home, and family bonds. But through it all, Colleen remained dedicated to helping him, making countless trips to detox and rehabilitation centers over nearly two decades. 

It was a painful journey that tested Colleen's own mental health and strength. But she persevered by setting healthy boundaries, practicing mindfulness, reframing negative thoughts, and leaning on the love of family. Her unwavering compassion and forgiveness toward her father never faltered, even when he hit rock bottom again and again. 

Despite the chaos at home, Colleen blossomed into a high achiever - earning advanced degrees, building a successful medical career, and raising three amazing kids. She found meaning by sharing her story through writing and counseling others struggling with addiction, including publishing a memoir called Do You Believe in Me: A Memoir of Addiction, Hope, and Family Bonds. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJL9SYGW

Colleen is living proof that with resilience, hope and loving bonds, you can triumph over even the most traumatic upbringings.

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Intro and Outro music by:

Decisions by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100756

Artist: http://incompetech.com/


Hosted by Joanie Sigal, The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return is a raw and necessary conversation about substance use and the path out of it. This isn't a clinical lecture, but a collection of real voices from the heart of the crisis. You'll hear from people who have lived through addiction to opioids, heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs, and fentanyl, sharing their journeys from dependence to recovery. The podcast also makes space for the families and loved ones whose lives are intertwined with this struggle, offering their perspectives on the chaos, the repeated attempts at rehab, and the strategies that finally made a difference. Each episode tackles the complex societal and personal issues surrounding addiction, all while grounding the discussion in tangible hope and practical recovery options. By focusing on these firsthand accounts, Joanie creates a podcast that serves as both a lifeline and a roadmap for anyone touched by this challenge-whether you're seeking help for yourself or striving to understand how to support someone else. Tune in for stories that don't shy away from the darkness but consistently point toward the light of resilience and regained control.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Addiction Podcast-Point of No Return
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