Voices Unlocked Ep. 21 | Growing Up With a Parent's Addiction

In this deeply personal and educational episode of Voices Unlocked, our host opens up about one of the hardest chapters of her life - growing up with a mother who has struggled with addiction, mental illness, and repeated periods in prison. Alongside her co-host, she unpacks what it really means to live with ambiguous loss, disenfranchised grief, and the fear that comes with a parent's relapse. Together they explore the realities of the justice system, the vulnerability of release from custody, and why more support is needed for both children and adults navigating a parent's addiction. This is an honest, unfiltered conversation about setting boundaries out of love, choosing to heal, and refusing to let someone else's addiction define your future. If you or someone you know has grown up around addiction, incarceration, or family trauma, we hope this episode reminds you that you are not alone - and that healing looks different for everyone. Have a story of your own? Message us on Instagram or email us at voicesunlocked26@gmail.com Chapters: 00:00 - Disclaimer and welcome back 02:31 - Today's topic: growing up with parental addiction 05:32 - Mum's addiction battle: never a secret 08:05 - Mum's love beneath the addiction 10:16 - Released and gone missing 13:05 - Facing fear, rock bottom, and relapse 16:42 - Choosing to love her from afar 23:19 - Turning pain into purpose 26:45 - Wrapping up: what we're grateful for #Addiction #MentalHealth #FamilyTrauma #Podcast #VoicesUnlocked #Recovery #ParentalAddiction #Healing #YoungAdults #TrueStory