Married to Addiction

Your heart sinks when you hear the door open.
You can tell before he even speaks — he’s been drinking again.

What do you do in that moment?
How do you keep from spiraling into anger, panic, or tears… when all you want is peace?

In this episode, you’ll learn four simple, calm scripts you can use the next time he comes home drunk — to help you protect your peace, avoid escalation, and stay emotionally grounded.

You’ll hear:
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In this special episode, Julie does something she’s never done before—she’s sharing a full Secret Sisters Circle lesson right here on the podcast!

This exclusive teaching, called “Common Pitfalls,” dives into the six major traps that wives of alcoholics often fall into—pitfalls that can keep them feeling stuck, hopeless, and emotionally drained for years.

Julie explains how recognizing and avoiding these patterns can be the first st...

Do you ever feel that sense of dread creep in on Sunday evenings?

The week ahead looms large, and before it even begins, you’re already exhausted.

In today’s episode of the Married to Addiction podcast, we’re talking about a simple rhythm I call The Sunday Reset.

This gentle routine will help you prepare mentally, emotionally, and logistically for the week ahead—so you can step into it with more peace and less overwhelm.

We’ll cover:

If you’ve ever wondered why you should keep praying when nothing seems to change—or felt like your prayers are just hitting a brick wall—this episode is for you.

When you’re married to an alcoholic, it’s easy to feel hopeless and wonder: What’s the point of praying if God is going to do what He wants anyway?

In this heartfelt episode, we’ll talk about:

• Why prayer isn’t about controlling outcomes—but about anchoring your soul

• How pr...

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel stuck, numb, or constantly on edge while living with your husband’s addiction—this episode is for you.

I’m sharing what I’ve learned on my own journey of healing from nervous system dysregulation—and why this hidden struggle might be at the root of so many things that still feel hard for you.

You’ll hear:

• Why your body reacts like it’s “in danger” even in calm moments

• How long-term stress affect...

Why does it seem like he keeps choosing alcohol over everything—especially you?

In this powerful episode, we break down the truth so many wives of alcoholics need to hear.

You’ll discover:

• Why addiction rewires the brain and overrides willpower

• What’s really happening when he “chooses” rehab

• How to stop carrying the weight of a decision he’s no longer capable of making

• What you can do while he’s still in addiction—or early recove...

What do you say to your children when their dad is struggling with alcohol?
How much do they need to know?
And how can you protect them—without damaging their relationship with him?

In this episode, we’re tackling one of the hardest parts of being the wife of an alcoholic with children: setting healthy, loving boundaries that keep your kids safe, informed, and emotionally supported.

You’ll learn:

• Why boundaries are essential...

Can you love your alcoholic spouse and still protect your peace?

Yes. But it takes intention—and it starts with you.

In this heartfelt and practical episode, we’ll explore:

• Why the line between love and self-neglect gets blurry in addiction

• How to love your husband without losing your identity or sanity

• 3 powerful ways to care for yourself while still showing up with compassion

If you’ve been feeling drained, lost, or unsure ho...

Feeling overwhelmed by the idea of setting boundaries with your alcoholic spouse?

You’re not alone, and good news.....you don’t have to change everything overnight.

In fact, you can start with just *one* small change.

In this episode we’ll walk through:

• What a micro-boundary is (and why it’s so powerful)

• How to choose one small boundary that protects your peace

• A simple 3-step plan to actually follow through—without confrontation or...

You know those times when you're so overwhelmed that you don't even know what feeling you're feeling??

Or you are just so over it that you feel completely numb?

Maybe you're just experiencing SO many emotions at one time that you can't even *begin* to start processing through your feelings?

That's a tough place to be, and unfortunately as wives of alcoholics we find ourselves experiencing those things a lot.

In ...

You know the feeling, right?

You hear a bottle crack open and think 'Oh, heeeeere we go!'

That thought might also be accompanied by sweaty palms, an increased heart rate, or anger rising up in your chest.

You're triggered.

In this episode we will talk about what is actually happening to us when we feel this way.

And I'll help you put together a Personal Response Plan to use so it doesn't suck the air out of your lun...

I'm sure you've heard the term 'new year, new you', right?

It implies that the beginning of a new year is a chance to better ourselves and/or our situation.

Except that's not usually what happens, is it?

Instead we set some intentions and maybe even make some changes for a while, but nothing ends up changing long-term.

So in today's episode I'm giving you just *two* things to focus on right now as we mo...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

I felt like I was married to *both* of them.

One was nice. The other not so much.

But actually they both irritated me, if I'm being honest.

In this episode we will talk about the two personalities our husbands sometimes seem to take on due to their drinking.

I'll also give you some guidance around how to navigate each of them. _______________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: This podcast...

Do you spend a lot of time thinking about the worst case scenario in your marriage?

I sure did.

In this episode we will talk about some of the worst case scenarios that hold us hostage.

I'll also discuss...

What if it doesn’t happen?

What if it does happen?

And what if you just stay in a holding pattern for an extended period of time?

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PLEASE NOTE: This podcast is pre-recorde...

My guest for this episode is Tanya Gioia, a Family Recovery Coach and host of the 'Sober on Purpose' podcast.

Tanya and I discuss financial infidelity, which is something that affects most marriages where addiction is involved due to the addict's continual need for substances.

We'll outline exactly what financial infidelity is, how it shows up, what to do if it is happening in your relationship, and how to protect yourself going fo...

In this episode I am speaking with one of my Secret Sisters Circle members about her journey as the wife of an alcoholic.

I think you will find SO many relatable shares in this episode.

I hope it encourages you and helps you feel less alone, knowing that others can relate to *so* many of the things that you are going through.

If you'd like to join us in the Secret Sisters Circle (or just learn more about it) just head to ⁠marri...

Are you unknowingly setting yourself up for more pain, heartache and frustration as the wife of an alcoholic?

Sometimes along this journey we end up inadvertently doing things that actually make it even harder for us.

In this episode I will share with you three things you might be doing to set yourself up, and we will talk about how they might be harming you.

If you are currently doing any of these things please know that you are n...

Sure wish I could've found someone to give me a dollar every time I said that back when my husband was deep in addiction! I would be rolling in the dough.

It seemed so obvious to me back then. Most of my problems stemmed from my husband's drinking. Therefore if he stopped drinking so would my problems.

In this episode we will talk about the BIG problem with this way of thinking.

I'll also give you some important shifts ...

Obviously we focus mostly on alcoholism here on the podcast because that is the type of addiction that I walked through personally with my husband.

But what about other types of addiction?

How do they differ and how are they the same?

Is there anything that we as wives need to do differently depending on what our husband is addicted to?

We'll talk about all of that in this episode.

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