Creating a Safe Space: Support, Hope, and the Inspiration Behind Why I Write for Mothers of Addicts

Why I Hold Workshops for Mothers of Addicted Loved Ones

Why I Hold Workshops for Mothers of Addicted Loved Ones

When my children were both deeply in the grips of addiction, I unknowingly bore the same illness—though mine didn’t involve a substance. Addiction had infiltrated every corner of my life, consuming my thoughts, emotions, and well-being. Today, my children are clean and doing well, but I remember vividly the chaos and fear that once filled our days.

After they achieved some clean time, I found myself wanting to turn my back on addiction entirely. I didn’t want to hear words like substance use disorder, drugs, addiction, rehabs, or Suboxone ever again. I wanted nothing to do with the subject that had brought so much pain into my life.

But then, I thought about my first book, Addicted to the Addicted. It was the subtitle, From Heartbreak to Hopeful, that haunted me. Where was the hopeful? Was it in my desire to move on, to wipe my hands of the pain and heartbreak? Or was it in something deeper?

I thought about the nights I spent alone, terrified and overwhelmed, feeling as though no one could truly understand my pain. If your family member didn’t have a drug or alcohol problem, you simply couldn’t grasp the heartbreak. I felt abandoned by most people and disconnected from the world around me.

This is why I have dedicated myself to creating space for mothers like me—mothers who have loved ones struggling with addiction. I know what it’s like to feel unseen, unsupported, and utterly lost. I also know what I needed during those dark times and what I wasn’t getting.

Navigating the world of treatment centers, rehabs, and medications like Suboxone was overwhelming and, at times, defeating. I questioned every decision, wondered if I was doing the right thing, and carried the weight of hope and doubt in equal measure. But one of the most important lessons I learned along the way is the power of boundaries.

For so long, I thought loving my children meant sacrificing my own well-being. But I realized that true love includes setting boundaries—not just for them, but for myself. Boundaries are essential to finding peace and reclaiming your life, even in the face of addiction.

Therapists couldn’t fully help me. But Al-Anon did. It gave me tools, community, and a way forward. And today, I am stronger and healthier because of it. I’ve returned to this work not out of obligation, but because I want to stand beside other mothers and help them find strength, hope, and healing.

This is also why I write. Writing is my way of holding space for mothers of addicts—a way to give voice to the struggles we often endure in silence. Through my words, I want to let every mother know she is not alone, even in her darkest moments. I write to reflect the heartbreak and the hope, the challenges and the victories, and the unbreakable bond of love we have for our children.

Even if you don’t have a family member struggling with addiction, I encourage you to read this. By doing so, you are holding space and supporting all the moms going through this journey. Your understanding and compassion can make a world of difference.

This is why we have the Heartbreak to Hope Alliance. Together, we are creating a community where no mother feels alone.

Tomorrow, our workshop will focus on boundaries—why they matter, how to set them, and how they can transform your relationship with your loved ones and yourself. We’ll also discuss navigating treatment options, managing expectations, and finding your own path to healing.

I invite you to join us at 12:00 PM Eastern via Zoom. Let’s walk this path together. Visit www.heartbreaktohope.org to sign up.

You are not alone. And you are stronger than you know.

With love,
Marguerite Connelly