199: Lessons From The Mother Of An Addicted Son With Lynn Rothenberg

Lynn Rothenberg is a former social worker, writer and photographer whose son struggled with addiction from a young age. Lynn and her husband split up when her son was only 3 years old and she noticed the effects of the loss early on. Her son’s addiction began with Marijuana then progressed and at each phase she just wanted the drugs to stop. Words like addiction began to surface from professionals but she knew her son, that wasn’t him. He was her sweet boy. It was just a phase and once he was able to stop the substances they could go back to the way things had been before. There were rehabs and detox and with each came the promise that things would be different. He would feel so clear about everything but it was only a matter of time before they were in the same place again, but this time things had moved on to heroin. Her son was eventually arrested and sent to prison for 6 years and Lynn was forced to live an even lonelier existence than she had as the parent of someone in addiction. Each time she visited it was like leaving her son in a war zone where she could never be certain of his safety. Today her son is sober with a job and a family and she has done incredible work in healing from the experience. She is back to working in photography and is in the last phases of her manuscript about her experience. Journey Through Addiction and Recovery: Follow the powerful narrative of Lynn Rothenberg, a former social worker, writer, and photographer, as she navigates her son's addiction journey from early signs to eventual recovery. Addiction Progression and Denial: Explore the harrowing progression of her son's addiction, starting with marijuana and escalating to heroin, while unraveling the emotional complexities of denial within families facing addiction. Challenges of Incarceration and Redemption: Learn about Lynn's unique experiences as her son faces incarceration for six years, the emotional toll it takes on her, and the ultimate redemption story as her son achieves sobriety, gains employment, and starts a family. Healing through Art and Writing: Discover how Lynn Rothenberg's return to photography and her manuscript about her experience serve as therapeutic outlets, providing valuable insights and hope to others dealing with addiction-related challenges. To find other similar episodes by topic, click here. Connect with Lynn Facebook | @lynn.rothenberg Ready to Begin Your Recovery Journey? Complete this form to speak confidentially with an admissions counselor for help and guidance or take the self assessment to evaluate your own substance use. Already in recovery, find an online support community. Connect with The Courage to Change Podcast Website | lionrock.life/couragetochangepodcast Podcast Instagram | @couragetochange_podcast YouTube | The Courage to Change Podcast TikTok | @ashleyloebblassingame Podcast Facebook | @thecouragetochangepodcast Lionrock Resources Lionrock Life Mobile App | lionrock.life/mobile-app Support Group Meeting Schedule | lionrock.life/meetings