In this episode of the Where Parents Talk podcast, host Lianne Castelino discusses the complexities of family relationships amidst addiction and mental health challenges.
Guest Janice Johnson Dowd, a licensed master social worker and author, shares her personal journey of recovery and the profound impact of addiction on her family dynamics.
From her childhood experiences in an alcoholic household to her own struggles with alcoholism, Johnson Dowd provides perspective on the choices that shape our lives and the importance of communication in healing. She discusses the pivotal moments that led her to seek help and the steps she took to rebuild her relationships with her four children after years of emotional distance.
The conversation examines the significance of discipline in maintaining sobriety and the role of understanding and consent in fostering healthy relationships.
Johnson Dowd reflects on the lessons learned from her children, who became caregivers in their own right during her darkest days, and the importance of validating their feelings as part of the healing journey. Her insights offer practical advice for parents seeking to balance their recovery with the needs of their kids, reminding us that rebuilding trust takes time, patience, and honest communication.
JANICE JOHNSON DOWD
Licensed Master Social Worker
Speciality, Family Therapy and Addictions.
Recovering alcoholic
Mother of 4
Author
“I think if I had stopped early on, gone back to counselling sooner, started taking care of self help skills, addressing some of those childhood needs that had never been addressed, than I might have avoided it. I probably would have come to the same conclusion that alcohol didn’t serve me.”