Bonus Episode

I'm honored to share a recent conversation I had with Simon Benn, host of the Thriving Adoptees Podcast.

We explored a subject that has shaped both my life and my work: post-traumatic growth.

For many years, I believed my childhood trauma defined who I was. What changed wasn't my past. It was my perspective. That shift transformed the way I saw myself, my relationships, and my future.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• Why trauma doesn't have to define your life

• The power of post-traumatic growth

• Childhood trauma and adoption

• Belief systems that quietly shape our decisions

• Reinvention after adversity

• Learning to see your story differently

If you've ever wondered whether healing is possible or whether your greatest pain could eventually become one of your greatest strengths, I hope this conversation encourages you.

A sincere thank you to Simon Benn for creating a space where these conversations can happen.

Learn more about Simon Benn:

https://thrivingadoptees.com

Learn more about my Work and Connect with Anne Peshka

🌐 https://annepeshka.com

📺 https://www.youtube.com/@AnnePeshka

🎙️ https://open.spotify.com/show/2EQSN6KsWPQYj27W6ml6fu

📘 https://www.facebook.com/AnnePeshka

📸 https://www.instagram.com/annepeshka

💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/annepeshka

📖 Read my memoir, Trauma Recycled: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DXQ4RMS3

Trailer description

In this deeply honest and emotional conversation, we explore what addiction really does

not just to the person struggling, but to the entire family system.

My guest, Donna Marston, is an author, family recovery specialist, harm reduction trainer, and founder of Sharing Without Shame. She shares her lived experience of navigating her son’s addiction, the weight of shame, and the moment everything began to shift toward healing.

This episode opens up the raw truth behind:

The hidden emotional toll on parents and families

Shame, guilt, and self-blame in addiction

Why “just stop” is not the answer

The difference between helping and unhealthy enabling

Boundaries, healing, and unconditional love without self-abandonment

What real recovery looks like for both individuals and families

If you’ve ever loved someone through addiction or felt lost in the process of trying to save them this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.

Healing begins when silence ends.

📖 Get my book: Trauma Recycled: A Memoir of Adoption & Healing

https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Recycled-Memoir-Adoption-Healing/dp/B0DXQ4RMS3

🧘‍♀️ Free Journal (available until May 31):

https://annepeshka.com/resources/

If this conversation resonated with you, you don’t have to carry it alone.

👉 Get the book here: https://www.amazon.com/Trauma-Recycled-Memoir-Adoption-Healing/dp/B0DXQ4RMS3

👉 Download your free journal (until May 31): https://annepeshka.com/resources/

Share this episode with someone who needs hope, understanding, or healing today.

#AddictionRecovery #FamilyHealing #TraumaHealing #CodependencyRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #HealingJourney #AddictionSupport #ShameHealing #ParentingThroughAddiction #TraumaRecycledConversations