Hi! Nice to meet you. I’m Jody Lamb.
Hi there! I’m Jody Lamb, a personal growth author and advocate for people who grew up with an alcoholic parent. I’m here to help you heal from your past and create a life you love. If you’re new here, welcome! Start your journey on my New Reader page.
Growing up with a mother struggling with alcoholism, I experienced the chaos, heartbreak, and isolation that so many children of alcoholics endure. Like many, I tried to fix everything—thinking if I just did enough, said enough, or became “perfect,” things would finally get better. It took years of exhaustion and hitting rock bottom for me to realize that healing starts within. I couldn’t change my mother, but I could change my life.
That realization transformed everything. I began my journey of personal growth, determined to break free from the weight of my past. Along the way, I discovered an incredible truth: millions of people are navigating this same journey, and we don’t have to do it alone. Today, I’m passionate about sharing the lessons I’ve learned to help others heal and thrive.
Why I Do This Work
I’ve been where you are. I know the unique challenges—the self-doubt, people-pleasing, and overwhelming guilt that often come with growing up in an alcoholic home. But I also know the freedom and joy that come from doing the work to heal. My mission is to empower you to overcome your past, embrace your strength, and build a life filled with purpose and happiness.
What I Offer
- Relatable Insights: I’m not a therapist, but I’ve walked this path. My experiences and lessons are here to guide and encourage you.
- Practical Strategies: From breaking unhealthy patterns to building self-confidence, I share actionable tips that make a real difference.
- Supportive Community: You’re not alone. Join a community of people who truly understand and support one another.
Fun Facts About Me
- I’m a lifelong learner and personal growth fan.
- My sister is my best friend, and our bond has been a source of strength through life’s challenges.
- Larry the cat runs my house, and I’m okay with that.
- Comedy is my escape—especially anything Chris Farley or Saturday Night Live.
- I’m a health care marketing and communication director by day.
- In 2009, I started blogging about my experiences – one of the first writers to focus on their personal experience as an adult child of an alcoholic on a healing journey.
- In 2012, my novel for tweens to spark healing in children affected by addiction and help them realize they are not alone. Check it out.
- In 2023, my amazing husband and I got married.
- In 2025, I launched The Empowered Path for Adult Children of Alcoholics, a free newsletter. Try it.
My Core Beliefs
- Healing is possible. No matter where you start, you can create a life you love.
- You’re not alone. There’s a community of support waiting for you.
- Joy is your birthright. Despite your past, you deserve a fulfilling and joyful future.
Join the Journey
If you’re ready to take the next step, subscribe to my free newsletter. A few times per month, you’ll get:
- Practical tips to overcome childhood trauma and the challenges that hold you back
- Strategies to build confidence and resilience
- Exclusive resources to support your healing journey
Let’s heal and grow together. Your amazing future starts now.
Dear Jodi: I just finished reading your book. I started crying after the first chapter, but could not put your book down. I am a 80 year old grandmother, but it brought back many memories of my childhood as an on,y child of two parents that were heavy drinkers.
I am very active in our church, I run our Emergency Food Pantry. Our church has a group called “Rainbows” They work with children that have parents that are divorced, or lost a parent, or have a parent that is an alcoholic or drug use in the family. I am going to give your book to the women that is in charge of this wonderful group. If she likes as much as I did, I plan on ordering some to give to the group.
Thank you so much for writing this book. Please keep writing.
Marvel Boyd
Hi Marvel,
Thank you so much for your kind words and your encouragement. It truly made my day. Encouragement like this keeps me fueled up on determination to keep writing and doing what I can for this cause. Thank you for the great work you do within your church community. What a blessing you are!
Jody
Hi Jody,
Just watched your video and was deeply moved by your honesty.
There is a beautiful balance in your narrative. You have succeeded in conveying to people something of the immense pain and confusion you experienced growing up with adults who were emotionally crippled by alcoholism and codependence, but without compromising the abiding sense of love and respect you feel for your mum and dad.
As an adult child of an alcoholic myself, and someone who has had a rather unhealthy relationship with alcohol, there was much in your story which had me nodding my head and smiling. I benefit so much from hearing other people’s stories, and always feel a sense of connectedness with those who’s recovery narratives echo the same sense of aloneness and loneliness which permeated so much of my own childhood, adolescence and early adulthood.
Anyway, keep up the good work! I only discovered your blog today, and am looking forward to reading more about your experience here in the weeks and months to come.
Many thanks
Hi Will,
Thank you so very much for the encouraging note. I hope you are well today and making great strides in your ACOA journey and with your own relationship with alcohol. Thank you.
Thank you Jody. I grew up with an alcoholic father. Both my parents are deceased now. I also was a good student, etc. I became a caregiver until now I am 57 years old divorced and suffer with depression and anxiety and fibromyalgia and high blood pressure. My sisters still want to keep me in a scapegoat kind of role. They also put me down a lot.
I even took 369 hours of drug and alcohol counseling classes thinking that I could do that but it wasn’t a good idea. I am way too sensitive of a person with too much empathy to do that kind of work.
If you pray, please pray that I will recover. I never realized I was a codependent and I am trying o overcome that too.
Hi Mary, thank you for sharing. I am so sorry about your experience and your health conditions. Loved ones can be the most toxic people in our lives, can’t they? Sending prayers and well wishes your way for a recovery. Keep the faith and hold onto hope.
The best book is the ACA red book. I also recommend Pete Walker’s Complex PTSD.
Hello Jody
I just wanted to say thank you. I listened to one of your YouTube videos about being an adult child of an alcoholic.
The things you talked about mirrored my life and my experiences in so many ways I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. It was like listening to my own childhood and a very similar experience with university and self confidence. I am lucky enough to have found the same peace that you seem to be finding, that we can make our lives our own and don’t have to live with the guilt, shame and feelings of responsibility anymore. Thank you for what you do and for speaking out. I will pray for you and all others who face the challenges of being an adult child of an alcoholic.
I just found this and would like to receive your news letter please. I am dealing with my husband’s “fun” Aunt who wants a drinking partner in my husband. They are all alcoholics. She actually defended drinking in the car after a day of work. I do really like her in small doses but she is in town trying to help with my mother in law who has Alzheimer’s. It’s such a mess of codependantsy. Any suggestions? Thank you Wendy
Hi Wendy, these situations are complicated. Fortunately, it sounds like it’s only a temporary situation. It took me a long time to realize that I have no control over anyone else but me. Whenever I find myself feeling anxious about someone else’s drinking, I remind myself of this fact. I can only control my own safety and serenity.
Hi Anna, thank you so much for your note. I’m glad you found the content valuable, albeit unfortunately, familiar for you. Every time I hear someone speak about their experiences with a loved one with addiction, I have the same reaction: OH THAT’S MY STORY! I hope you are actively building the life you want and deserve!