When Family Triggers You in Sobriety: How to Stay Sane, Set Boundaries, and Protect Your Peace

Do you feel like your sobriety gets harder the second a family event hits the calendar?

You’re not imagining it—family is one of the most powerful and underestimated sobriety triggers.

The roles, the judgment, the pressure to be “fine”—it all adds up to stress, emotional regression, and the urge to escape.

In this episode, we break down why family triggers hit so hard (even years into recovery), how your nervous system gets hijacked by old conditioning, and what to do before, during, and after those emotionally loaded moments.

You’ll learn how to:

• Spot mental, emotional, and social triggers early
• Set boundaries without guilt or people-pleasing
• Create an exit plan that protects your peace
• Use real-life tools to reset your energy and stay grounded

Plus, I’ll share my own experience with family dysfunction and how I use a simple strategy I call “Don’t poke the bear” to keep my sobriety strong—especially when emotions run high.

If you’ve ever felt like the confident, grounded version of yourself disappears around family, this episode will help you reconnect with your power and protect your recovery like your life depends on it—because sometimes, it does.

 

🔗 Links Mentioned in This Episode

• 🎧 Episode 114: Understanding and Managing Triggers – A deep dive into emotional, mental, and social triggers + practical tools to protect your sobriety
• 💻 Work with Me – Coaching, courses, and support for your sobriety journey: addictionunlimited.com/call
• 🧠 Join the Addiction Unlimited Facebook Group – Your sober support tribe is waiting: https://www.facebook.com/groups/addictionunlimited
• 💬 Let’s Connect on Instagram – DM me your biggest takeaway from today’s episode: @addictionunlimited

 

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If you loved this episode, please consider rating and reviewing the show—it helps more amazing women like you find the support they need in sobriety.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Addiction Unlimited podcast in Apple Podcasts
2. Scroll to the bottom
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Thank you so much for being part of this community—super grateful for you. 💛