119. The Journey of Love Dependency With Drea Renee

In this episode of the Open Late Podcast, Jess connects with Drea Renee, a close friend of Jessica’s and an expert specializing in love and dependency. Sobriety takes the spotlight as they explore Drea’s personal journey and her realization of a love addiction problem. They delve into the significance of S.L.A.A. (Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous) in addressing dependency issues within relationships. Drea shares insights into the support and tools provided by this program. As the conversation unfolds, they address the challenge of losing one’s identity within a partnership, the innate longing for love, and the pursuit of authentic love acceptance. Non-monogamy becomes a thought-provoking subject, with discussions revolving around its potential impact on love addiction. Drea provides valuable guidance for those who suspect they might be struggling with partner addiction, and offer practical steps and insights to help individuals navigate these challenging emotions.

In this Episode of Open Late:

• From sobriety to love addiction
• Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous 
• Understanding your addiction
• Challenges of losing one’s identity in a relationship
• Consideration of non-monogamy’s impact on love addiction

Mentioned in the Episode:

• Podcast: Your Partner is NOT your superhero

• Podcast: How to Recognize Codependency in Your Relationship

• SLAA quiz: The 40 Questions for Self-Diagnosis

Connect with Drea Renee:

• Instagram: @thedrearenee

Connect with Jessica:

• Instagram: @journey.with.jessica | @openlatethepodcast

• Website: openlatepodcast.com 

• YouTube: Open Late Podcast

• What’s my relationship style? Take the Open Late Quiz

• Join our free chat community, “Open Talks” on WhatsApp

• Open Late Dictionary

1:30 Love addiction it’s like any other addiction, if you have an alcohol addiction, gambling, food, when that becomes all consuming, it becomes your entire life. – Drea Renee

3:08 When I got sober, its like with any addiction, it doesn’t change your wiring. You just stop doing one thing and that laser focus goes to something else. – Drea Renee

5:21 I wanted to be with him so badly that I was like “I’m just going to be a part of you”. Whatever you want me to be, I’ll be, so I can get you to love me. – Drea Renee

6:44 My parents divorced when I was seven and my mum had me really, really young. So it’s like kids growing up with kids, not really knowing how to emotionally evolve and other things the proper way. – Drea Renee

7:54 Awareness is one thing,but you must put into practice completely new ways of being. – Jessica Esfandiary

13:07 You’re addicted to the chemistry in your body. That adrenaline, dopamine. Everything that happens when you’re in fight or flight, when you feel like you have the thing that you want. And if you don’t have the thing that you want, you’re going to die. – Jessica Esfandiary

17:00 Sometimes I wish you could just get somebody a flashcard. Like these are my strengths, these are my weaknesses. Just take a look. And if you don’t want to, give it back. – Drea Renee

18:30 The relationship that you have for the first two years is something entirely different, it is its own beast. And you will never have it again. – Jessica Esfandiary

20:17 In some ways with like dating apps, everything is so deliverable and so fast that it makes it challenging to take your time. – Jessica Esfandiary

23:49 Your partner is not your superhero. – Jessica Esfandiary

31:49 Being in a room with a lot of other people that are going through the same thing was so helpful. – Drea Renee

Take advantage of a 30% discount on Dr. Zhana’s eligible courses with code “JESSICA”, applied to the first payment only for offers with multiple payments or subscriptions.

• Open Smarter Course

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