Peter and Arden O'Connor Sr., parents of Arden O'Connor, Founder, and CEO of O'Connor Professional Group, share their experiences navigating the behavioral health care system with their youngest son, Chris. Arden Sr. and Peter were surprised by the early onset and intensity of Chris' substance use. They join Diana to talk about the professionals they hired and how having financial resources was not the only solution to finding appropriate care for Chris. Arden Sr. reveals the helpful advice she received on their journey and which characteristics of the O'Connor family helped them survive and grow.
IN THIS EPISODE:
- [02:10] Peter and Arden Sr. were surprised about their youngest son's addiction problem.
- [11:45] Paying for professionals kept their son alive. However, throwing money at a problem won't fix it.
- [14:20] Helpful advice that Arden Sr. received as a mom of an addict.
- [20:20] How Chris prepared Arden for working with people who suffer from addiction.
- [26:30] The characteristics of the O'Connor family that helped them survive and grow.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- You can't just throw money at a problem and solve it.
- It's important to live in a community when finding sobriety, especially in early recovery.
- It may be best to give your loved one a wake-up call by removing them from your home.
- Forgiveness is a difficult step in the recovery process. However, it will be essential when it comes to navigating the disease of addiction.
LINKS MENTIONED:
O'Connor Professional Group
BIO:
Peter and Arden O'Connor Sr., parents of Arden O'Connor, Founder and CEO of O'Connor Professional Group, share their experiences navigating the behavioral health care system with their youngest son, Chris. A graduate of Holy Cross and Harvard Business School and successful real estate entrepreneur, Peter has a family history of alcoholism and is over thirty years sober himself. A dedicated and compassionate stay at home mom, Arden Sr. graduated from SUNY Stony Brook and worked as a probation officer, where she witnessed clients with an array of behavioral health issues.
Despite their personal and professional knowledge base, Arden Sr. and Peter were taken aback by the early onset and intensity of Chris' substance abuse. Over the course of fifteen years, Chris cycled through 15 different rehabilitation programs, was prescribed over 25 medications, and worked with approximately 30 different clinical professionals. After spending countless hours doing their own research, hiring family lawyers, and investing over half a million dollars in Chris' care, Arden Sr. and Peter were confused, exhausted and frustrated. Like many families, they couldn't believe the level of turmoil and tragedy that Chris' addiction caused in their otherwise harmonious, talented and blessed family.
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