Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself: Healing from the Inside Out

Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself: Healing from the Inside Out

What happens when loving someone through addiction begins to destroy you? This episode explores how recovery reshaped one's understanding of codependency and boundaries. Learn about the importance of self love and self care while navigating relationships and building healthy relationships, especially during addiction recovery.

In this powerful episode of Happiness On Tap, host Leann Herron sits down with Candace Plattor, therapist, speaker, and award-winning author of Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself: The Top 10 Survival Tips for Loving Someone with an Addiction.

We discuss the difficult but necessary truth:

• Candace shares her personal journey with Crohn’s Disease (IBD), prescription drug dependency, marijuana, alcohol, and over 15 years of substance abuse before beginning her recovery in 1987.

• With more than 30 years as an addictions therapist, she now works primarily with families affected by addiction.

• Leann shares her own story of being both the child of an addict and the spouse of an addict, highlighting the generational impact of addiction.

• Discussion on the challenges of working with counselors who lack training or background in addiction.

• Exploration of suffering on both sides—the addict and the family.

• Introduction to Candace’s program, Love With Boundaries, and how it helps families learn:

  • The difference between helping vs enabling

  • How to set healthy boundaries

• Candace explains why loving an addict without boundaries becomes a “lose-lose” situation.

• Practical insights into the difference between enabling and helping—including the principle: If nothing changes, nothing changes.

• Options available for both addicts and families navigating recovery.

• Real-world examples of how boundaries can support both the addict’s healing and the loved ones’ well-being.

• Services at Love With Boundaries, including:

  • Audio recordings of sessions

  • 24/7 ongoing support

• Leann shares about discovering her own codependency and the journey of learning to love herself after ending a 20-year toxic marriage.

• Emphasis on the truth that we all have choices.

• Common mistakes families make when trying to help a loved one in addiction.

• Candace shares a few game-changing survival tips from her book, Loving an Addict, Loving Yourself.

• Resources available:

  • Free ebook: The Difference Between Helping and Enabling

  • Coaching offerings and support for families

Candace’s wisdom is a reminder that loving someone doesn’t mean losing yourself. Whether you’re in the thick of supporting someone through addiction or walking your own recovery journey, her message is clear—healing begins with boundaries, self-respect, and the courage to choose yourself.

Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more empowering stories and strategies to build a stronger, healthier you!

Episode Resources:

Candace Plattor, M.A., R.C.C. [e-mail]

Free Gift: The Difference Between Helping and Enabling https://lovewithboundaries.com/download-the-difference-between-helping-and-enabling/

Group Coaching: 16-Steps to Boundaries-Breakthroughs https://lovewithboundaries.com/16-steps-to-boundaries-breakthroughs/ Online Course: Loving and Addict-Loving Yourself https://lovewithboundaries.com/loving-an-addict-loving-yourself-online-course/

TEDx – How to Love with Boundaries