May 31, 2021
In this Onward Podcast episode, Deborah Edwards
shares how she navigated life and a loved one’s addiction.
Furthermore, Deborah’s book
High: A Story of Addiction, Awareness and
Ascension, explores her journey involving the
harrowing navigation of her teenaged son’s heroin addiction--an
addiction that arrived on the heels of death, divorce, bankruptcy,
and an overall questioning of her purpose.
Also, Emily shares her similar journey in this
eye-opening and thought-provoking interview. Ultimately, Deborah
learned that loving another through their addiction is based in the
practice of presence, holding boundaries with belief, and patient
love.
An award-winning corporate development expert,
Deborah has experience as an entrepreneur, business owner, Sales
AVP, Division Manager for an MGA, and more. Now, as a Gallup
Certified Strengths Coach, Points of You Certified Expert and
award-winning speaker, Deborah helps her clients harness their
strengths, celebrate their uniqueness, and develop their innate
leadership abilities to improve professional success and promote
personal growth.
Episode Highlights:
- First, Emily introduces Deborah.
- Then Emily shares that she and Deborah have been
through similar, difficult circumstances with their sons.
- Next, Deborah talks about the importance of
addressing mental health issues.
- People will use substances to subdue their feelings
and emotions.
- Deborah talks about her book
High: A Story of Addiction, Awareness and
Ascension.
- She takes the reader through the experience of
realizing her son was addicted to heroin and navigating the
process.
- Her son, Andrew is 5.5 years in sobriety.
- Also, she wrote the book to give hope to the person
in the thick of it and to encourage others to see that it's OK to
continue to live your life while your loved one is on their own
journey.
- There are different ends to this all too familiar
experience and Emily and Deborah are fortunate that their son's are
alive.
- Next, Deborah describes Andrew's family life.
- It’s a difficult balance - loving the child,
setting boundaries, etc.
- It's difficult to detect substance abuse in
teens.
- Deborah describes all of the challenging event that
occurred in the span of one year and how she handled the
situation.
- Who supported Deborah throughout this challenging
time in her life?
- Deborah started to focus on her own personal
growth, believing that her son would recover even though she
couldn't do it for him.
- Hot yoga, climbing mountains and her strong faith
saved Deborah.
- It's not selfish to pursue your dreams and bring
happiness and joy into your life even if your addict child is not
there yet.
- Your life is a reflection of you.
- Next Emily asks Deborah her thoughts on how
employers can address this issue of substance abuse.
- It’s important for employers to create an
environment where it's safe to talk about mental illness and
substance abuse.
- We need to withhold judgment. And judgment lives in
the judger.
- How did Andrew become sober and what did it take
for him to decide to get help?
- Andrew kept making the next right decision.
- Next, Deborah talks about the times Andrew
relapsed.
- Emily talks about the importance of parents finding
support and how challenging having an addict child is on a
marriage.
- Deborah talks about what Andrew is up to now that
he's sober and owns his own business.
- When Andrew was 9 he told his mom he had a fear
that he'd give into temptation.
- Emily and Deborah talk about there is a piece of
them that's aware relapses are possible.
- Then, Deborah talks about the importance of taking
care of yourself, going after your dreams and helping others, when
a loved one suffers from addiction.
- Let them know you have confidence in them and their
ability to recover.
- How does Deborah recommend friends and family
support parents with children suffering from addiction.
- Emily talks about how she pushed forward and didn't
feel her feelings and start to do some inner work until 2 years
ago.
- Deborah's sister passed away at age 19. Deborah was
17 at the time and she talks about how that impacted her.
- Finally, you aren’t alone.
Resources Mentioned: