https://www.podbean.com/ew/dir-sjdf2-12a2c41c In February, I was invited to be on Andy Goldstrom’s podcast. He, too, is a fellow parent of a child who has had their struggles, went through a wilderness program, did aftercare and is now living life on their own. I encourage you to listen and glean what you can from our conversation.
Wilderness Therapy and Residential Treatment Journey Podcast Read More »
I was the guest on the latest episode of Safe Home Podcast, which aims to help struggling teens and their families finding their healing path. In this 50-minute program I share my family’s experience navigating Carson’s adolescence. The podcast’s host, Beth Syverson, is also parent of a struggling teen. We shared many of the same experiences with our sons, and we both believe strongly in the de-stigmatization of addiction. https://anchor.fm/safe-home-podcast/episodes/A-Familys-Recovery-Journey-with-Dawn-McCord—Ep-32-e1f90ro
I had the honor of being on Dr. Will White’s long running podcast. We discussed our journey through adolescent addiction and what lead Carson to wilderness therapy. I encourage you to listen to our conversation. https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/storiesfromthefield/Dawn-MCord.mp3?dest-id=803158
Stories from the Field: Demystifying Wilderness Therapy Read More »
With the release and the reading of my book Chasing Carson: A Family’s Journey through Adolescence, Addiction and Recovery, I am quite sure there will be questions and comments. I encourage you all to ask away. Our story is gritty…substance use is not pretty and those afflicted with the disease of addiction are not usually liked very well. Oh, and let’s add in adolescence which during those years some teens can be hard to live with, just ask my parents. My dad made my stepmom quit her job one summer to babysit me…..No Lie! Let’s get real…Let’s talk about the grit…Let’s talk about our messy lives…Why?! Because not talking about it is killing our kids (fentanyl poisoning) or at the very least leaving them hearing impaired (Carson) or schizophrenic ( 2 of our family friend’s kids), homeless or in jail. Teen experimentation is dangerous these days. The education on drugs and the brain has got to catch up in our homes and in our schools. This is a community crisis!
Let’s continue the conversation…. Read More »
Experimentation is what most teens do. Our son started with marijuana the summer before his freshmen year of high school. The beginning of his Sophomore year he purchased Xanax on the street to share with friends. He took them all and was high for 48 hours. We immediately did everything we could to get him into our local recovery center. This was the first of many trips to rehab. He would have weeks or months of abstinence, then go on a bender which could last a couple of weeks until a crisis happened that would land him back in rehab. This seemed to be the routine all through his high school years. He did well in school; played football and baseball. He worked. Had great friends and he had his “using” friends. He seemed to keep it together until he couldn’t. October 18th, 2019 changed his life forever.