Addiction at Home, Pressure at Work: A Parent’s Hidden Struggle
Having a teen or adult child in active addiction is one of the most painful, confusing experiences a parent can face. It doesn’t just impact the individual struggling; it ripples through the entire family. And for many parents, the pain is carried silently, tucked behind a smile and a professional appearance.
I know that hidden struggle all too well. When my son was in active addiction, I was a full-time Realtor trying to keep everything afloat. I remember clearly the day a loan officer called about a challenging file. Normally I would’ve handled it with confidence, but instead, I fell apart. That call was the breaking point—I realized I wasn’t functioning emotionally, even though I kept showing up like everything was fine. I made the decision to take a leave of absence because pretending was becoming more painful than the truth.
“Making the decision to have a child—it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.” - Elizabeth Stone (Author)
That’s exactly what it feels like when your child is struggling. Your heart is out there hurting, and no matter how strong you try to be, it tears you apart.
I spent the next six months in the fetal position in my bed, hiding when no one was looking. The grief, fear, and helplessness were overwhelming. While my public life looked "put together," my private world was falling apart.
“The good times of today are the sad thoughts of tomorrow.” - Bob Marley (Musician)
Back then, addiction wasn’t openly talked about. Parents didn’t have safe spaces to speak about what they were going through, and the silence was emotionally and physically damaging.
I never imagined I’d be doing the work I do now. But through years of navigating my son’s addiction and recovery, my purpose found me. My business grew organically from my pain, I became a Certified Recovery Support Worker, Family Recovery Strategist, and energy healer.
Today, I help other parents reclaim their lives by teaching them the difference between codependency and being a supportive parent, how to love their child without losing themselves, and how to stop fixing and start healing. I guide them to stop cleaning up the consequences of addiction and start focusing on their own growth, strength, and peace.
The truth is, many parents are silently suffering under the weight of addiction at home while trying to lead, build, and grow in their careers.
There’s no shame in admitting that it’s hard. Your pain is real. Your healing matters. And it’s possible to carry love for your child and take care of yourself at the same time.