Welcome to another episode of The Real Dope, the podcast for anyone walking alongside someone battling addiction. Today, sisters and co-hosts Meredith Elliot Powell and Beth Brand warmly explore the topic of trauma—especially the often overlooked complex trauma experienced by those living with or caring for someone struggling with addiction. Through personal stories and the latest research, Beth and Meredith gently distinguish between one-time trauma and the persistent, shaping effects of complex trauma that influence your perspective, body, and relationships.

They openly share how trauma shows up in daily life—from physical reactions at social gatherings to controlling tendencies at home—and delve into the lasting impact of addiction across generations. This episode offers heartfelt advice on recognizing trauma, embarking on the healing process, and the importance of setting boundaries and practicing kindness toward yourself during recovery. Whether you’re after practical coping tips or seeking validation and understanding, this episode provides honest conversations, support, and a touch of humor for anyone touched by addiction.
Let’s turn survival into strength, together.

Welcome to another episode of The Real Dope, a warm and welcoming podcast for anyone supporting loved ones through addiction. Hosted by the caring sisters Meredith Elliot Powell and Beth Brand—two compassionate women with personal experience loving and supporting addicts—this show isn’t just for the addict, but for all of us trying to navigate the challenges that addiction can bring into our lives.

In this episode, “Recovery Done Differently,” Meredith and Beth are delighted to be joined by Shirley Wantland, CEO of Recovery Consultants, a thoughtful company dedicated to creating personalized recovery plans for individuals and families facing addiction and mental health challenges. Together, they explore why many traditional models of addiction recovery might not always be the best fit, what it truly means to support—not enable—a loved one, and how family dynamics can sometimes unknowingly contribute to the cycle of addiction.

Through heartfelt stories, open conversations, and practical advice, this episode gently challenges old ideas about recovery, introduces the inspiring approach of harm reduction, and emphasizes the importance of honesty and self-awareness for everyone involved. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, resentful, or uncertain when dealing with a loved one struggling with addiction, this discussion offers fresh perspectives and helpful steps to help you find your own strength and begin to rebuild your life.

So, make yourself comfortable with a warm cup of coffee and join us—because this is recovery, done differently. Addiction recovery might not always be the best fit, what it really means to support—not enable—a loved one, and how family dynamics can sometimes unknowingly keep the cycle of addiction spinning.

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https://recovery-consultants.com/

Welcome to another episode of The Real Dope, the podcast dedicated to those who walk alongside someone battling addiction. Hosted by sisters Meredith Elliot Powell and Beth Brand, this show is a real, no-nonsense space for enablers, supporters, and loved ones of people with an addiction—created by people who have truly lived it.

In today’s episode, “The Power of Information,” Meredith and Beth dive into the vital importance of educating yourself about addiction—not just for understanding the addict’s experience, but for seeing and shifting your own patterns, too. They'll discuss the confusion that comes with it. Join us for another heartfelt episode of The Real Dope, a warm and supportive podcast for everyone walking alongside someone facing addiction. Hosted by sisters Meredith Elliot Powell and Beth Brand, this show creates a genuine, no-nonsense space where enablers, supporters, and loved ones of addicts can find comfort and understanding—by sharing stories from those who genuinely know what it's like.
In today’s episode, “The Power of Information,” Meredith and Beth warmly explore how important it is to educate yourself about addiction. It’s not just about understanding the experiences of the addict, but also about recognizing and changing your own patterns. They chat about the confusion that often comes with addiction, how to sift through the many and sometimes confusing resources out there, and why there’s no single “magic bullet” solution. The sisters share heartfelt stories, recommend their favorite books and documentaries, and offer practical, easy-to-follow advice on finding trustworthy information about addiction, supporting loved ones, and caring for one's mental health.
Whether you’re just beginning this journey or have been walking it for years, this episode aims to empower you with helpful knowledge, help you distinguish facts from scams, ease your worries, and start feeling more in control of a situation that can often feel overwhelming. Let’s turn survival into strength—together. Addiction, how to sort through the overwhelming and sometimes misleading resources out there, and why there’s no “magic bullet” solution. The sisters share personal stories, recommend favorite books and documentaries, and offer practical advice for finding credible information about addiction, enabling, and the ways both impact your mental health and life.

Whether you’re just starting this journey or you’ve been on it for years, this episode is all about arming yourself with knowledge, sorting facts from scams, calming your anxiety, and beginning to regain some control in a situation that often feels anything but. Let’s turn survival into strength—together.

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