I like to introduce you to Barbara Theodosiou, founder of The Addict’s Mom, a group focusing on the mothers of addicted children.
Please introduce yourself to the reader.
I am the founder of The Women’s Business Mastermind Group and the Addict’s Mom as well as the mother of four children, two that struggle with addiction. One has been clean for several years and the other is still deep into his addiction. “I was physically sick and lost in the sadness of their addictions. I was a woman with great personal and professional success. From the outside, it would appear as if I had it all, but on the inside, I was broken, no, shattered into a million pieces.”
Through my work with various women’s organizations, I’ve been featured in the front cover of the Miami Herald, the Sun-Sentinel, Chanel 5 News, Positive Thinking Magazine, Happy Herald, Comcast Newsmakers, South Florida Parenting Magazine, and have also been interviewed on all the major TV and radio stations in the region. I’m a former Mainframe Computer Training Manager of Loews Corporation, with a Master’s Degree in Family Therapy from Nova Southeastern University.
Tell us about your website The Addict’s Mom and what inspired you to start it?
Through my brokenness an idea was born, The Addict’s Mom. “Deep inside I knew I was not the only mom suffering. I knew there had to be other mothers who were going through the same emotional pain that I was. I wanted to create a place for mothers of addicts to come and have the freedom to share our pain without feeling the shame that often comes with having a child that is an addict. As the mother of two addicts, it has taken me four years to realize that I matter- that my life has a purpose. I didn’t have to die inside because my sons were addicts. I am learning that I am important to myself and the other people in my life, my husband, and my kids.”
The Addict’s Mom is a dynamic group of women who share a powerful connection: they are all mothers of addicted children. The group’s mission is to empower the addict’s mother so she becomes emotionally and physically healthy. Addict’s moms face challenges that few really understand. They suffer both emotionally and physically because they are often obsessed with their addicted children. Their health gradually declines and the pain of having an addicted child never goes away. Their relationships with other family members suffer as they try to keep the family unit together. The Addict’s Mom is a rapidly growing community of thousands.
Together these women support one another, learn from each other, and grow from the wisdom of leading experts on addiction from around the world. You are invited to join The Addict’s Mom for free on Facebook at www.addictsmomgroup.com and on the website at www.theaddictsmom.com.
I noticed that you are collecting stories from other moms? What is the purpose of this?
Being the mother of an addicted child is a painful journey that covers a wide range of emotions. I am collecting stories for a book that will contain true stories/poems of extraordinary moms who share their personal stories of the difficulties and challenges they face every day. I believe in the power of sharing. Just one word, one line can change the perspective of an addicted child’s mother helping her to understand she is not alone.
At this stage, what are the top 3 things you’ve learned about addiction and/or codependency that have helped you in your own recovery?
Referring back to the 3 “C’s” “I didn’t cause it, I can’t control it and I can’t cure it” The Addict’s Mom members have added a fourth “C”- I don’t have to contribute to it!
What advice do you have for parents of drug addicts/alcoholics who are just coming to terms with the diagnosis or suspicion of their son or daughter’s substance abuse?
Mary Tiffany, a member of the Addict’s Mom, said it best – YOU are going to need support in this. This disease will not let you be the kind of parent you wanted to be. You are going to want guidance on how to parent a child who is an addict. EVERY parent who has a child with any illness needs some kind of direction on how to deal with it…whether that illness is allergies, ADD, ADHD, cancer, cystic fibrosis, or anything. Getting guidance from people who can help you understand when you are “supporting” and when you are “enabling.” This is NOT an easy journey!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
In my free time my I enjoy spending time with my husband and children as well as reading, exercise, and catching up with friends.
Are you a mom who is struggling because of your child’s substance use? Let us know in comments what has helped you.
