One of the most disheartening and confusing aspects of a relationship with someone in active addiction is the loneliness and emotional disconnect.

In this episode, Host Gail Ferguson Jones speaks with Marriage and Family Therapist Travis Thompson about the challenges of loving a partner engaged in a "chemical affair" with drugs and alcohol.  

Travis, author of "To Those Left Behind. Helping Partners and Families Understand and Heal from Addiction," describes alcohol and drug abuse as an emotional affair.

He says users tend to engage more with substances than with their partners, just as they might if having an adulterous affair.

"It's safer to drink alcohol than to talk to someone," Travis says. "It's emotionally safer to use heroin than to tell your wife if you're ok or not."

Learn more about Travis Thompson's counseling services or order his book at: https://www.travisthompsoncounseling.com/

Learn more about The Buttrfly Effect Peer Recovery Coaching at: https://linktr.ee/GailFergusonJones

Reach me with comments, concerns or to suggest topics of interest for the podcast at: info@buttrflyeffect.com.

Music for The Buttrfly Effect Podcast, "Inspire Me," is by Mixaund Bandcamp at: https://mixaundbandcamp.com.