EP 110: Substance Abuse Disorder and Family Burnout: When You Can’t Sleep Anymore

NEW Announcement: Australian Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session with Paul King & Wendy Brewer. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. familyhopesupport.com (Australia Only)

Feeling completely worn down by your loved one's addiction? You're not alone — and you're not failing.

Sleepless nights, constant worry, and emotional exhaustion are painfully common for parents and carers of someone struggling with substance use. When you're running on empty, it's nearly impossible to support someone else — let alone take care of yourself. This episode dives deep into what burnout really looks like in addiction-affected families, and how to begin reclaiming your strength.

1. Hear honest, relatable stories of burnout from both hosts’ personal journeys.
2. Discover simple, practical ways to calm your nervous system and break the cycle of survival mode.
3. Learn why self-compassion, boundaries, and support from people who truly get it are essential — not selfish.

Tune in now to discover how even one small act of self-care can start restoring your energy and resilience.

🌱 Family Hope Support — Special Offer for Podcast Listeners (Australia Only)

Loving someone with a drug or alcohol problem can feel exhausting — the worry, the guilt, the fear, the sleepless nights. It wears you down.

At Family Hope Support, Wendy Brewer and Paul King offer combined one-to-one support sessions grounded in counselling insight and lived experience. Finally get the care & help you need to navigate a loved one's addiction. 🎉: Family Support Listeners Get 30% off every one-to-one support session — use code FAMILYHOPE at checkout.

👉 Claim your discount at familyhopesupport.com and start feeling less alone. You don’t have to do this by yourself

💛 Support the Podcast (Worldwide)

If our podcast has helped you feel a little less alone, you can now support our work through Ko-fi. Your contribution helps us keep creating this show and reach more families who need hope and guidance.

👉 https://ko-fi.com/familyhopesupport

This podcast provides practical guidance and support for families navigating the challenges of substance abuse disorder, offering insights from addiction recovery experts, family therapy, and support groups like Al-Anon and Family Drug Support, with a focus on understanding how to help and support loved ones dealing with addiction, including heroin addiction, through counselling and treatment options.

DISCLAIMER

Every family is different — if you’re supporting someone through addiction, please make decisions that are right for you, ideally in consultation with qualified professionals and appropriate support networks.