In this episode, Debbie speaks with Lorie Gelsheimer, who found out her young adult son was addicted to the opioid drug, fentanyl. Lorie shares the challenges she went through and heartbreaking moments she experienced during her son's opioid addiction, including almost losing him to overdose. Lorie offers hope through the wisdom she gained in coping with this situation and healing her heart.About Lorie: In 2019, Lorie Gelsheimer had just finished writing a book of inspiring stories and wisdom she gained while rising above major obstacles in her life when she and her husband found out their young adult son was addicted to the opioid drug, fentanyl. Lorie learned to mend her heart in a powerful wholehearted way, which has continued to help her whenever she is faced with a challenge related to her son's addiction recovery. Lorie Gelsheimer is the author of "BeYOUtiful Rooms to Bloom Your Most Fun, Free & Fulfilling Life" and a Certified Grief Recovery Specialist who is delighted to share her inspiring stories and wisdom that help mend broken hearts and bloom happier lives. https://www.listenwithlorie.com/About Debbie: The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book "Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction", a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her website at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com Learn about her book "FINDING PEACE AND PURPOSE AMIDST THE TEARS: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction" at: https://www.debbiegailzane.com

In this episode, Debbie speaks with Donna Barwald, a mother of two young adult children with a history of mental health diagnoses including anxiety, depression, and mood disorders. Donna shares her story of navigating Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, partial hospitalization programs (PHP), intensive outpatient programs (IOP), inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations for suicidal ideation, short term residential and long-term residential programs. Donna's journey was not linear and although tough and filled with guilt, doubt, anxiety, and grief, she shines a light and gives hope to struggling parents in their darkest hours. Donna is the owner of Neatly Arranged Professional Organizing in Los Angeles and the author of "This Mess is Making Me Stress! How to Organize Your Home and Find Peace." The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her website at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com Learn about her book FINDING PEACE AND PURPOSE AMIDST THE TEARS: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction at: https://www.debbiegailzane.com

If you are a parent who has lost a child, your life is forever changed. In this episode, Debbie speaks with Dave Roberts whose world was turned upside down when he lost his 18-year-old daughter Jeannine. Dave shares the challenges he experienced because of his daughter's death, how he coped with such a profound loss, and how he has been able to find joy and peace.  He speaks about how he has come to believe in the survival of consciousness after the transition from the physical world and that our children are with us even after death, ultimately leading him to transform his relationship with Jeannine. David J. Roberts, MSW, LMSW, became a parent who experienced the death of a child, when his daughter Jeannine died of cancer on March 1, 2003 at the age of 18. He is a retired addiction professional and an adjunct professor in the psychology child life department at Utica University in Utica, New York.  Dave also teaches psychology classes at Pratt Munson School of Art and Design. He is the host of The Teaching Journeys Podcast, which can be found on most podcast platforms. Dave has presented workshops at national conferences of The Compassionate Friends as well as for the Bereaved Parents of the USA. He was also a keynote speaker at the 2011 and 2015 national gatherings of the Bereaved Parents of the USA. Dave also co-presented a workshop titled "Helping Faculty After Traumatic Loss" for the Parkland, Florida community in May of 2018, in the aftermath of the mass shootings at Stoneman Douglas High School. Roberts has been a past HuffPost contributor and has contributed articles to Medium, Open to Hope Foundation, Mindfulness and Grief, Thrive Global, and the Recovering the Self Journal. He has also appeared on numerous podcasts, as well as Open to Hope Television.  He co-authored a book with Reverend Patty Furino titled, When The Psychology Professor Met The Minister, which was published on March 1, 2021.Email: bootsyandangel@gmail.comPodcast Link : The Teaching Journeys PodcastWeb Links and Social Media Links:Personal WebsiteAuthor WebsiteFacebookLinkedinInstagramYouTube The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work.  Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain.  Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her website at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com Learn about her book FINDING PEACE AND PURPOSE AMIDST THE TEARS: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction at: https://www.debbiegailzane.com

Life may bring painful and traumatic situations. You may know this well if you are a parent dealing with your child's mental illness or addiction or have lost a child. You may at times feel there is no way out of your pain and no path forward. In this episode, Debbie speaks with Justen Arnold about how you can live your life to your fullest potential when you have experienced pain and trauma. Justen is a Life Optimization Coach and the author of Purpose through Pain and Joyful Warrior, who as a child struggled with his own mental health, trauma and pain. This discussion will help you feel empowered in moving forward, and give you hope for finding comfort through your discomfort and joy despite your pain. Justen Arnold is a committed husband, active father of three, adventurer, nutritionist, strength and conditioning coach, musician, 2x best-selling author, public speaker, consultant, and multi-certified Movement & Life Optimization Coach. He is the Founder of Flexx Mobility & Performance, a multi-faceted health and wellness organization, and host of the successful podcast Strive 365. With almost 20 years in the health and fitness industry, he also runs a popular YouTube channel and has written or contributed to dozens of articles for various blogs, publications, and podcasts. As a survivor of severe childhood sexual and psychological abuse, attempted murder, and severe trauma, Justen is on a mission to take care of all people, whether it's families, individuals, or acquaintances, through his holistic philosophy regarding physical, nutritional, mental, and spiritual well-being. He believes that if people have access to the best tools and knowledge in a sympathetic environment, they will be able to achieve their fullest human potential. His best-selling books, "Purpose Through Pain" and "Joyful Warrior," are two of those tools. When he's not working out, reading, or writing, you can find him hiking, playing drums, drawing, or meditating. Sometimes with his family, sometimes by himself, because he believes to be the best version to others, you have to do the inner work and find time to love and work on yourself. In addition, Justen is deeply committed to philanthropy and actively involved with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). He regularly donates to and volunteers with various organizations, including his church and mission work with GO Ministries, while also supporting and spreading awareness of FCA's mission to empower athletes and coaches through faith. Learn more about Justen and his books at: justenarnold.com and Flexxmp.comThe host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her website at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com Learn about Debbie's book FINDING PEACE AND PURPOSE AMIDST THE TEARS: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction at: https://www.debbiegailzane.com

In this episode, Debbie speaks with Tony Lynch – men's grief coach, best-selling author, podcast host, and founder of Memories of Us. Tony shares his own story of loss - his son, his parents, and younger brother, and how, after hitting rock bottom and planning out his suicide, he had an aha moment that changed his life, which led to finding meaning and purpose and turning his pain into helping others. Only on BBTV!

If your teen or adult child is abusing alcohol or drugs, it can leave you feeling scared, confused, overwhelmed, hopeless, exhausted. Awareness, knowledge, and information can be empowering. In this episode, Debbie speaks with Richard Capriola (author of The Addicted Child and former addiction's counselor for Menninger Clinic in Houston, Texas) who offers guidance to parents about warning signs of drug use, what to do when your teen or adult child is abusing drugs and alcohol, what to expect when your child goes into treatment for substance abuse, how drugs can change your child's brain and behavior, as well as treatment options and how you can support your child. Before retiring, Richard spent 11 years working as an addiction's counselor for Menninger Clinic in Houston Texas, one of the top ten psychiatric hospitals in the United States which specializes in the assessment, stabilization and treatment of adults and adolescents with substance abuse and psychiatric disorders. During his tenure there, he worked in the Adolescent Treatment program and the Adult Comprehensive Psychiatric Assessment and Stabilization program. Working closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses he was responsible for comprehensive assessments and individual and group counseling with patients diagnosed with substance use disorders. After his retirement, Richard wrote The Addicted Child – A Parent's Guide to Adolescent Substance Abuse. The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her websites at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com and https://www.debbiegailzane.com

In this episode, Debbie speaks with Dr. Vanessa Vélez, a psychiatrist and psychotherapist focused on integrating mind, body, and soul. Before going into private practice, Dr. Vélez worked in an inpatient psychiatric unit of a hospital with adolescents and adults. Debbie and Dr. Vélez chat about mental illness topics including psychosis, treatment, expectations of hospitalization for loved ones and how to navigate this challenging time, signs to watch for, outpatient resources, housing difficulties for the mentally ill, and how family members can support a loved one with mental illness. Dr. Vanessa Vélez is a holistic board-certified psychiatrist, therapist, and artist. Dr. Vélez graduated from Cornell University, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and Hackensack Meridian Health Psychiatry Residency. She is the founder of Soul Psychiatry, a private practice which focuses on integrating mind, body, and soul for deep healing. Her mission is to help young adults and adult professionals struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma, ecological, existential, and spiritual distress find inner peace. Dr. Vélez combines modalities such as psychotherapy and medications, with holistic approaches focusing on spirituality, creativity, and purpose. Dr. Vélez has contributed articles to Psychiatric Times and Kevin MD, and has made appearances in the media including Univision and collaborated with the American Psychiatric Association speaking in Spanish on PTSD. Additionally, she presently showcases artwork at Kelly-McKenna Gallery. Dr. Vélez is currently accepting new patients to her telehealth private practice, Soul Psychiatry, for patients in California. She offers bilingual services in both Spanish and English.Website:https://www.vanessavelezmd.com/LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/vanessavelezmdInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/vanessavelezmdart/ The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, a single mom of three, and a bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into purpose by helping parents in the aftermath of losing her 26-year-old son following his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor.To learn more about Debbie, please visit her websites at: https://debbiegailcoaching.com and https://www.debbiegailzane.com

The host of Finding Peace Beyond the Pain, Debbie Gail Zane, and her daughter, Stephanie, share their story in this pilot episode. The lives of Debbie and her family changed forever when Debbie received a telephone call informing her that her 26-year-old son, Alex, had been found dead. Just nine years before, he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and begun using drugs. Debbie shares her journey of the love and loss of Alex through his mental illness and drug and alcohol addiction and how she found peace for herself and loved Alex and herself during the many challenges. After losing him, Debbie turned her pain into her purpose of helping other parents on a similar journey. Debbie's daughter, Stephanie, shares her story growing up with an older brother with mental illness and addiction and how she supported him and loved him through it all. Debbie Gail Zane is a Certified Life and Relationship Coach, the author of the book Finding Peace and Purpose Amidst the Tears: My Journey of the Love and Loss of My Son through His Mental Illness and Addiction, single mom of three, and bereaved parent. She has been a guest on many podcasts, was featured on WAMV Radio, and was recognized by one of the world's biggest influencers, Tony Robbins, for her journey of turning her pain into her purpose of helping parents after losing her 26-year-old sonfollowing his nine-year battle with schizoaffective disorder and addiction. With a diverse professional background in coaching, speaking, writing, law, and special needs, Debbie brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. Debbie is committed to making a difference in the lives of those who are struggling with a loved one's mental illness and addiction and those who have lost a loved one, reminding them that life is precious and that there is peace beyond the pain. Debbie holds multiple coaching certifications, including Practitioner of Excellence Life Coach, Advanced Relationship Coach, and Parent and Family Coach from the Coaching Institute and Robbins Madanes Training, as well as an LLM Masters of Law and a Juris Doctor. https://debbiegailcoaching.com https://www.debbiegailzane.com