Special Needs Parenting and the Hidden Alcohol Struggle of a Christian Mom: Carol McCracken’s Honest Story

“If you think you have an issue, you probably do.”

That sentence from Carol McCracken gets to the heart of this week's episode. Carol didn’t fit the picture she had in her mind of what an alcoholic looked like. She was a Christian. A Bible study teacher. A ministry leader. A good mom. And for years, she told herself the same thing many of us do: I don’t have a problem—because I don’t look like that.

But slowly (like it does for many) alcohol became her primary way of coping with chronic stress from raising a special needs son, fear, control, and the pressure to perform. She shares how drinking escalated over years, how secrecy and isolation took hold, and how her understanding of addiction was shaped by cultural myths, church misunderstanding, and even well-meaning pastoral advice.

But all that came crashing down one afternoon, when a trip to get more wine ended in being arrested on the side of the road for a DUI. That moment became a surprising turning point, eventually leading to clarity, surrender, and an unexpected reconciliation after her divorce she never saw coming. (And neither did we!)

This is a conversation for anyone who has ever wondered if their drinking “counts” as a problem, for those who can stop for a while but can’t stop thinking about starting again, and for anyone who is exhausted from carrying fear, control, and unprocessed pain. Carol’s story is a reminder that freedom doesn’t begin when life falls apart—it begins when we get honest.

We explore:

– How stress, fear, and control quietly fueled Carol’s drinking
– Why performance and image management thrive in church culture
– How alcohol slowly moved from enjoyment to emotional anesthesia
– The myth that addiction has to look a certain way to be real
– Why quantity and frequency aren’t the best measures of a problem
– What happens when shame finally gives way to honesty
– The role of surrender versus willpower in recovery
– Why curiosity is often the first step toward freedom
– How alcohol promised relief but delivered deeper captivity
– What lasting healing looked like over time, not overnight
– The surprising twist after getting arrested for a DUI
– The reconciliation after her divorce she never saw coming

Carol’s podcasts: “Faith Over Fear” and “Your Daily Bible Verse”

Follow Carol: @carologlemccracken

Follow me: @jonseidl

Order my new book, Confessions of a Christian Alcoholic.

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