When a loved one battles addiction, the entire family feels the weight of the struggle. But when that person finds recovery and healing, the whole family experiences the transformation as well. Each journey to recovery is unique, and this is the story of Lindsay and Betsy—a mother and daughter whose lives were profoundly shaped by the Family Support Group at Healing Transitions.
“It was like I was grasping at straws, trying to understand what was going on with Lindsay,” Betsy explains. “Nothing seemed to help until I found the Family Support Group at Healing Transitions.”
Lindsay came to Healing Transitions for the first time in 2020. “I wasn’t mentally ready to get sober,” she shares. “I wasn’t in a place where I was willing to make the changes.”
But the second time she came to Healing Transitions, in 2021, it was different. This time, she felt ready. “It just felt like home,” Lindsay says, speaking about the supportive community of women she found at Healing Transitions.
For Betsy, the journey was just as complex, though from a different perspective. Lindsay’s struggles with addiction had been a heavy burden for the whole family.
“I was relieved to find the Family Support Group,” Betsy shares. “I could talk about what was going on and get support on how to make the tough decisions that a parent has to make when a child is struggling with addiction. Thankfully, since I live outside of NC, I could participate remotely via Zoom.”
The impact of the Family Support Group wasn’t just about receiving support—it was about learning how to rebuild her relationship with Lindsay.
“It changed everything,” says Lindsay. “My mom started to understand what I was going through, and she made an effort to learn about addiction. That meant everything to me. Not a lot of people are willing to do that.”
Lindsay is especially proud of her mom’s hard work and dedication to her own healing process. “I love bragging to my friends about how hard my mom works on her program,” Lindsay says with a smile.
For both Lindsay and Betsy, the Family Support Group has been essential in understanding addiction from both sides.
Despite the challenges, Lindsay believes the experience brought them closer together.
“It’s not just the person struggling with addiction who suffers,” Betsy explains. “The entire family is affected, and you have to make hard choices. I’ve been there jumping on a plane in the middle of the night with Lindsay’s brother, not knowing what I was walking into. It’s tough.”
Betsy adds, “Since losing my husband in 2013, I no longer felt as alone in this struggle.”
“It’s like we’re all on the same page now. My mom and I communicate better, and I can’t tell you how much that has helped in my recovery,” Lindsay says.
Betsy continues, “Thanks to the support of the Family Group, our relationship has evolved into one where we can be honest and open with each other, and where we’re more considerate of each other’s feelings.”
As Lindsay is about to start a new chapter in her life, getting married and moving into a new home in just a few weeks—she feels a sense of hope and possibility she once thought was out of reach.
“I’m ready for this next step in my life,” she says. “And it feels so good to know that I’m doing it with a strong, supportive family by my side.”
Betsy agrees, adding, “I’m just so proud of Lindsay. She’s come so far, and it makes me hopeful for the future. And I know that the Family Support Group played a huge part in that—for both of us.”