My brother's addiction: Learning how to be his sister—not mom

 I used to think it was normal—expected, even—for older siblings to step in as a “third parent,” especially when addiction takes hold of a brother or sister. But the deeper my brother’s addiction pulled him in, the more I realized that the real change had to start with me.

In this episode, I open up about my journey from being consumed by fear, anger, and shame to accepting uncertainty, practicing compassion, and learning to meet my brother where he is. If you’ve ever felt torn between detaching or staying connected, I’ll share the research and real-life stories that helped me redefine my role—not as a parent, but as a sibling—while strengthening our bond in the process.

Download our FREE, sibling e-book: 6 actions to help navigate a sibling’s substance use journey

Join our sibling-focused community: Siblings For Love of Recovery

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Episode resources:

• The Double Bind of Siblings in Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment

• TED Talk: “Everything you know about addiction is wrong” 

• Start With Hope campaign

Image credit: True Connections: Rat Park