100 Pedals

Recovery for Parents of Addicts

# An addict’s parent needs a recovery program, too

February 20, 2025 by Dave Cooke Leave a Comment

Enjoying the moment and a donut!

One of the most powerful outcomes in my 100Pedals journey was the amazing transformation that has occurred in my life as began to reclaim and take back my life while separating myself from my son’s addiction riddled life. For eighteen months, I went through the process many parents dealing with addiction in the family go through — chasing their child’s addiction down an addiction driven rabbit hole. In our quest to save, love, and help our child it easy get lost ourselves and lose control over our lives in this process.

Although the pain, the heartache and the the disappointment associated with Brandon’s addiction never goes away, I finally succeeded in distancing myself from much of it. And, my life is richer, better, more incredible for it!

It is amazing as a reflect on the road I have traveled when I realize much of the positive transformation that has occurred in my life was triggered in Brandon’s addiction. The transformation that took place was the result of my ability to define a path for my life that was not defined by the world of addiction.

As Libby Cataldi shared in one of her recent blogs, “only we, as parents, can free ourselves from the claws of addiction,” the reason I have committed to connecting with other parents to love, help, encourage and inspire them is I know the only successful path for our lives, as parents, in the face of this monster known as addiction is to reclaim our lives and find strength in who we are and not getting lost in what is.

I am currently in my own recovery from my son’s addiction — not allowing Brandon’s addiction to define the path for my life. It is not always an easy road, there is much pain, and disappointment; but, there is also much joy, love, hope and opportunity in my life for the gifts I have and the potential I have to celebrate these gifts with those who are looking to share them with me.

The journey is not always easy and my personal recovery has not always been smooth. Every day I get a little stronger, a little more inspired, and a little more energized by the prospects for the life I have without get too sad, distracted, or caught up in the life I desire or the life I feel I have lost.

Filed Under: Addiction, Inspirational Perspectives, Lessons In Addiction, Parenting, Parenting & Addiction, Uncategorized Tagged With: Libby Cataldi, managing recovery, parent recovery, recovering parent, recovery

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