Journals of a Love Addict

The Podcast

Do you…

Continually find yourself in dysfunctional relationships?

Undervalue yourself while putting others on a pedestal?

Have a pattern of dating emotionally unavailable partners?

Yes? I can totally relate.

On my podcast, Journals of a Love Addict, I share my personal journey through love addiction recovery, and my experience as a therapist.

I also talk with others who have struggled, as well as experts in trauma, addiction, and other areas of mental health.

My hope is to help listeners feel less alone as I spread awareness of what love addiction is really all about.

Music by JD Pendley

Jodi White 3/8/24 Jodi White 3/8/24

Episode 44: Most Codependable

Love addiction comes with a set of symptoms leading to a pattern of dysfunctional relationships. Then, after each relationship we say "I'll never do that again", fully intending to make some changes, but... In this episode, I discuss these cultural beliefs--how they fuel love addiction and how they can meddle with life in recovery, too.

Love addiction comes with a set of symptoms leading to a pattern of dysfunctional relationships; whether we tend to be more anxious or more avoidant (or both), we may find ourselves in the push/pull of addictive relationships more than once. Then, after each relationship we say "I'll never do that again", fully intending to make some changes, but...

Even if we enter love addiction recovery and address the symptoms, we may still find that we're unknowingly driven by outdated messages telling us who we're supposed to be and how we're supposed to live our lives. Why? Because of inherited cultural beliefs that infiltrate our decision-making.

In this episode, I discuss these cultural beliefs--how they fuel love addiction and can meddle with life in recovery, too. I also review the symptoms of codependence and love addiction and talk about the impact that seemingly benign labels can have on kids.

Show notes & resources:

Jodi's website: jodiwhiteonline.com

Books referenced: Facing Codependence and Facing Love Addiction by Pia Mellody and Ready to Heal by Kelly McDaniel

Album referenced: Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt

Disclaimer: This podcast is shared for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for mental health treatment with a licensed mental health professional or to be used in place of the advice of a physician. If you are struggling please don't delay in seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health practitioner or healthcare professional. If you're in crisis please visit NAMI.org or call 1-800-273-TALK for 24-hour assistance.

Jodi White 6/8/22 Jodi White 6/8/22

Episode 28: Third Degree Mother Hunger with Jennifer Acker

For this episode, I invited fellow Mother Hunger facilitator and therapist, Jennifer Acker, to share her personal Third Degree Mother Hunger story.

If you listen to the podcast you've likely heard me talk about Mother Hunger and the role it plays in love addiction. But there's an extreme form of this attachment injury: Third Degree Mother Hunger- which happens when a daughter grows up frightened of her mother.

For this episode, I invited fellow Mother Hunger facilitator and therapist, Jennifer Acker, to share her personal Third Degree Mother Hunger story.

Jodi White 5/28/21 Jodi White 5/28/21

Episode 16: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part Three

In Part Three, author and therapist Kelly McDaniel continue our conversation by defining Third-Degree Mother Hunger, as well as the steps involved in the healing process.

In the previous two episodes, author and therapist Kelly McDaniel has explained Mother Hunger, how it happens, and provided some well-known cases of Mother Hunger from her forthcoming book for reference.

In Part Three, we continue our conversation with the definition of Third-Degree Mother Hunger, as well as the steps involved in the healing process.

Jodi White 5/14/21 Jodi White 5/14/21

Episode 15: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part Two

Nurturance, guidance, and protection are three developmental needs for appropriate brain development in childhood; but what happens if any (or all) of these are inconsistently provided?

In this episode, I continue the Mother Hunger discussion with author and therapist, Kelly McDaniel. Listen as we talk about the importance of protection, how daughters look to their mothers for guidance, and how carried shame messes everything up.

Jodi White 5/14/21 Jodi White 5/14/21

Episode 14: Mother Hunger with Kelly McDaniel, Part One

Mothers are valuable: they're our first love and the source of everything we need to survive. But what happens when a mother doesn't get the support she needs or is struggling with her own unresolved trauma?

Mothers are valuable: they're our first love and the source of everything we need to survive. But what happens when a mother doesn't get the support she needs, or is struggling with her own unresolved trauma?

In this episode (part one of a three-part series), I talk with Kelly McDaniel, author of "Ready to Heal”, about her upcoming book "Mother Hunger: How Adult Daughters Can Understand and Heal from Lost Nurturance, Protection, and Guidance". The conversation includes a definition of Mother Hunger, how it happens, and how it can affect us.

Jodi White 8/20/20 Jodi White 8/20/20

Episode 3: An Interview with Kelly McDaniel

What is love addiction? According to Kelly McDaniel, therapist and author of “Ready to Heal: Breaking Free of Addictive Relationships”, the answer is quite complex. In this episode, Kelly joins me to discuss the cultural programming that leads to love addiction; how sex and love get intertwined (and confused) at an early age; and how we can recover. Get a notebook and pen because this episode covers a lot of ground.