Standing by watching a loved one's addiction can be heartbreaking and confusing. One in ten Australian's struggle with a substance disorder and one in five experience gambling harm.

For every person struggling with an addiction, there are people close to them. The wives, mothers, sisters and children watching their addictions play havoc with their lives.

Yumi Stynes sits down with women who've been on the sidelines of someone else's addiction, and who've found a path through a challenging situation.

In this episode you'll hear how to look after your own mental health as a carer and how to have those difficult conversations.

Featured in this episode:

Caroline Thain, Manager of Clinical Advice and Governance at Headspace

Special thanks to Dr Steph Kershaw from the Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use for her help with this episode.

Helpful resources:

National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline 1800 250 015
SHARC's Family Drug and Gambling Helpline 1300 660 068
Lifeline on 13 11 14
Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
Headspace on 1800 650 890
Matilda Centre resources for mental health and substance use
Al Anon Family Groups Australia

What to listen to next:

Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it

Mental health: Overcoming depression

You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.

What to read next:

What loving someone with an addiction or dependence can look like

How Turia Pitt's body image changed in motherhood

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What happens to your sex life during perimenopause?

This episode will answer questions like:

How can I look after myself if my loved one has an addiction?
What does gambling harms and addiction look like?
What is it like to live with someone with alcohol dependence?
How can alcohol dependence affect families?
What is the financial impact of a gambling addiction?
How can I help someone addicted to poker machines?
How can I help someone with an addiction?

This episode contains references to mental health, gambling, poker machines, addiction, alcohol dependence, Al Anon, Alcoholics Anonymous, support group, psychologist, alcohol and other drugs, counselling, boundaries.

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