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    • Home
    • Everything (START HERE)
    • 21 Day Reset
    • Free Resources
      • Turning Point Toolkit
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      • Blog
    • Programs and Offerings
      • Which is right for me?
      • Secret Sisters Coaching
      • Boundaries Mini Course
      • 30-Day Program
      • Secret Struggles Bundle
    • About/Contact
    • Help Our Cause
    • SSC Member Login
  • Home
  • Everything (START HERE)
  • 21 Day Reset
  • Free Resources
    • Turning Point Toolkit
    • The What Now Journal
    • Podcast
    • Blog
  • Programs and Offerings
    • Which is right for me?
    • Secret Sisters Coaching
    • Boundaries Mini Course
    • 30-Day Program
    • Secret Struggles Bundle
  • About/Contact
  • Help Our Cause
  • SSC Member Login

Gentle clear Guidance for Wives of Alcoholics — Without the Overwhelm

Is his alcohol use overwhelming your life?

Is your life spiraling due to your husband's drinking?

Have you let everything else in your life fall by the wayside because of it....including yourself?

 

If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’ve already tried to “do the right things.”

You’ve prayed more. You’ve read the books. You’ve listened to the podcasts.


And somehow you still feel exhausted, emotionally raw, and unsure where to even begin.


The Secret Sisters Circle is for women just like you — where your heart, your tears, and your quiet struggles are finally noticed and supported.

Take my hand. You're gonna get through this....

Is this your story too?

 You’ve done everything you know to do.
You’ve prayed, cried, begged, and tried to hold it all together.


No one really knows what you’re carrying. And the loneliness? It’s crushing.


Each night you lie in bed, staring at the ceiling, wondering:
What do I do now? Why hasn’t God stepped in? Is He even listening?


If this is your story, sister—you are not alone.
You’ve been strong for so long, and it’s taken a toll. 


Here, strength doesn’t mean you have to do it all alone — it means knowing you have a place to rest, reset, and regain your footing.

Please note: this program is discreetly billed as 'women's ministries'

What if things could be different?

 What if, instead of barely hanging on… you could finally breathe again?


✨ What if you could step off the emotional rollercoaster of living with an alcoholic spouse—and find a steady place to stand?


✨ What if you knew exactly what you could do to bring peace and clarity into every day—no more just hoping and praying for change, but actually taking Spirit-led steps forward?


✨ What if you knew how to signal safety to your system so you could stop living on 'high-alert' 24/7 and get out from under the utter exhaustion that brings?


✨ What if you didn’t have to feel so painfully alone anymore—because you had a community of faith-filled sisters who truly understand what you’re walking through?


✨ What if, day by day, you had loving support, godly wisdom, and practical guidance to help you through the hard moments?


Imagine waking up without the constant tension in your body, without the panic in your chest — and feeling a calm you haven’t known in years. That’s what’s possible here, one gentle, faith-filled step at a time.

Join now

Faith-based action steps that help you heal + practical strategies to transform your daily reality

This is a different path — one your body can actually hold

  Healing doesn’t start with action. It starts with felt emotional safety.


In the Secret Sisters Circle, we follow this rhythm so your body doesn’t get left behind:
Rest → Regulate → Choose → Learn → Understand 

This is the order your body needs to feel safe and capable again.


Rest — settles your nervous system before you try to do anything
Regulate — gives you tools that help you feel steady instead of flooded
Choose — helps you decide what you need most from a place of calm instead of panic
Learn — with content that lands when your brain can actually absorb it
Understand — gain clarity that grows without pressure

Discover Our Unique Approach

The Secret Sisters Circle isn’t based on traditional recovery models. This isn’t a 12-step program or a checklist of behaviors or to-do's. 


It’s a Spirit-led space built for women whose bodies have been in alert for a long time, but whose souls are longing to rest, trust, and live.

 

We start where most support misses: with your nervous system, your body, and your peace — because nothing else will land until you feel emotionally safe. 


Then step-by-step we move into restoring your mind, your choices, and your connection with God.


Through this journey, you’ll walk through:


  • Renewal of your mind—replacing confusion and fear with clarity that lands instead of overload
     
  • Renewal of your relationship—learning how to respond with peace instead of reactivity, and to navigate tough moments with grace and self-assurance
     
  • Renewal of self—reclaiming your identity, voice, and God-given purpose
     
  • Renewal of your walk with God—restoring intimacy with the One who never left your side, even when you doubted 


No overwhelm. No pressure. Just steady, Spirit-led progress toward healing, wholeness, and hope.


(*See the FAQs below for other ways that the SSC differs from Alanon)

It's Real-Life Guidance for Real-Life Challenges

Get access now for only $34

Here's a quick sneak peek inside the Secret Sisters Circle

The Secret Sisters Circle includes....

immediate access to the full Secret Sisters Circle library

immediate access to the full Secret Sisters Circle library

Guidance When You Need It Most—Available 24/7

 

Every SSC lesson is designed to meet you where you are — whether your heart is raw, your body is tense, or your mind is spinning. You take only what you need, at your own pace — because progress here isn’t about speed, it’s about care.


Many women begin to feel a shift after just their first few lessons—not just mentally, but physically, as their bodies start to remember what safety feels like—because these aren’t just teachings… they’re truth-filled lifelines for the exact kind of pain you're walking through right now. 


When your thoughts feel tangled, you can enter a lesson that meets your heart right where it is.


The lesson library lives on a private, members-only platform, where you can access everything on your own time, as your heart is ready.


No deadlines. No pressure. Just steady, soul-soothing help available whenever you need it.


Because when your world feels upside down, you don’t need one more thing to keep up with—
You need hope that’s ready when you are.

Targeted roadmaps to get you exactly what you need quickly

immediate access to the full Secret Sisters Circle library

 When overwhelm freezes you, these guides help you find just one next right step instead of navigating a bunch of choices

 

When everything feels too heavy to figure out, the Roadmaps guide you clearly and gently — so you don’t have to guess or do it alone. Think of it as a hand to hold while you take your next right step.


If you are feeling overwhelmed or immobilized by your circumstances you need clear, compassionate direction—and you need it now.


These focused, easy-to-follow guides walk you step-by-step through some of the most difficult and heartbreaking situations you face as the wife of an alcoholic.


No guessing. No searching. Just straightforward, grace-filled guidance that helps you breathe easier and move forward with confidence.


Each Roadmap shows you exactly where to start and what to focus on—whether you're navigating emotional chaos, spiritual exhaustion, or a relationship that feels broken beyond repair.


Because when your heart is heavy and your mind is spinning, sometimes the most powerful thing is simply knowing what to do next.

worksheets and exercises to move you forward

 When understanding feels abstract, these prompts help you slow down and apply truth gently.


It’s one thing to hear truth that stirs your heart…
It’s another to know how to actually live it out in the middle of your personal, painful reality.


That’s where the Secret Sisters Circle worksheets, exercises, and reflection prompts come in.


Each one is created to help you take what you’re learning and gently apply it to your life—your marriage, your emotions, your day-to-day challenges with addiction in your home.

 

These aren’t homework assignments — they’re gentle guides to help you process what’s already in your heart. One question at a time, one short reflection, whenever you feel ready.


Whether you print them or fill them out digitally, they’re here to help you not just learn—but transform.

powerful tools to move you out of uncertainty and overwhelm and into empowered action

powerful tools to move you out of uncertainty and overwhelm and into empowered action

 One of the most cherished features inside of the Secret Sisters Circle is the Toolbox—a powerful collection of practical, faith-centered tools designed to help you rise above the chaos.


These aren't just strategies—they’re lifelines.


They’re reminders that you are not powerless, and that God has equipped you for such a time as this.


With these go-to resources, you’ll no longer freeze up in the face of overwhelm, broken promises, or emotional triggers. You'll understand why your body reacts the way it does and have gentle tools to help it settle. 


Instead, you’ll respond with peace, clarity, and godly wisdom—because you’ll be spiritually grounded and emotionally prepared.

too busy to watcH the lessons? Listen to the private audio feed

powerful tools to move you out of uncertainty and overwhelm and into empowered action

too busy to watcH the lessons? Listen to the private audio feed

 Life doesn’t slow down just because your heart is heavy. 


That’s exactly why we created the Secret Sisters Circle private audio feed—so you can receive encouragement, truth, and practical guidance right in the middle of your real life.


Whether you're walking the dog with tears in your eyes, driving to work with a prayer on your lips, or getting ready for another day of trying to hold it all together—you can bring the hope and strength of the SSC lessons with you.


This private, podcast-style feed gives you easy access to every teaching, so you can listen anytime, anywhere.


Because sometimes, hearing the right words at the right moment can change everything.

The Secret Sisters Private group

powerful tools to move you out of uncertainty and overwhelm and into empowered action

too busy to watcH the lessons? Listen to the private audio feed

 When you feel unseen and unknown, the private circle reminds you: you are truly known and not alone.


That's why one of the greatest gifts inside the Secret Sisters Circle is the private community—a sacred space where you can exhale, be seen, and be gently reminded that you are not the only one living this hard story.


This isn’t just a group. It’s a circle of faith-filled women who truly get it—who know what it’s like to carry the weight of a loved one’s addiction, and who are committed to walking in healing, hope, and God’s strength together.

 

You don’t have to post to belong. You don’t have to be ‘ready’ to connect. Simply being here — reading, listening, pausing — means you are part of a circle that sees you, hears you, and cares.
 

Housed on a private, members-only platform, this group is a safe refuge—just for Secret Sisters like you.


A place to be lifted up when you're weary… and to lift others when your heart is feeling strong.

Because healing happens in community. And you were never meant to carry this burden alone.


(PS: Group participation is optional. You do not have to join the support group to have access to everything else)

Please note: this program is discreetly billed as 'women's ministries'

How will all of this actually *help* me??

 Living with addiction doesn’t just overwhelm your thoughts — it puts your whole body on high alert.


You’ve been bracing for a long time.
Trying to hold it together.
Trying to figure out what to do next while you’re already exhausted.


The Secret Sisters Circle doesn’t assume you’re ready to jump in and do a bunch of things.


Instead it begins by helping you slow down, rest, and reset first — so your nervous system can soften and your heart can finally exhale.


From there, the lessons gently guide you through what matters most:
- understanding what you’re living in
- navigating your relationship & reality
- deepening your spiritual life

- caring for yourself


Everything here is created specifically for wives of alcoholics — faith-rooted, compassionate, and designed to be taken slowly.


No rushing.
No pressure.
No falling behind.


This isn’t about doing more.
It’s about being supported in the place you already are.


⭐ You were never meant to carry this by yourself. And you don’t have to stay in survival mode. With gentle guidance and God-centered support, steadiness and peace become possible again — one small, supported step at a time.

When you’re ready to feel steadier in your day-to-day you can start here…

Yes, I want calm in the middle of real life

What Members are Saying

wish I had joined sooner

wish I had joined sooner

wish I had joined sooner

"I wish I had joined sooner. 

I was hesitant because I wasn't sure online support would be enough. However, the videos and daily chats are amazing. 

I also appreciate that when I am struggling in a certain moment or situation, I have access to content right away, and I feel less alone."

after 25 years

wish I had joined sooner

wish I had joined sooner

"Having a place to go and just feel seen and not alone was so important. Also learning to disconnect from my husband’s addiction was huge for me after 25 years of codependency. 

I think my boundaries were what finally pushed my husband to seek help. He is now in counseling and on medication for his depression and has not had a drink in a few weeks."

Great experience

wish I had joined sooner

A huge eye-opener for me

"I had a great experience in the SSC.
I have a much greater understanding of how to support my husband as he works through his addiction. I have learned to give up my desire to control the circumstances that are beyond my control and have gained so much peace. 

What sets this group apart is the focus on God and on building our relationship with Jesus. As a Christian wife, this was a crucial piece for me that I could not find anywhere else. The support from other women who are walking the same path is so encouraging. God is using the SSC in powerful ways!" 

A huge eye-opener for me

Has brought peace into my home

A huge eye-opener for me

”I was very caught up in my husband's addiction and didn't realize how much I was letting it completely run our lives. SSC helped me learn what boundaries are, how to put them in place and stand by them. It helped me detach more from the addiction, so I could actually be more myself and help my kids through our rough spots. It was a huge eye opener for me all the way around and was a huge blessing. 

SSC is something I have told multiple friends about who are in similar situations to my because the community and trainings are so amazing. This dropped into my life just as I was giving up hope in everything and was about to leave my fiance because of addiction; now we are on a much better path in our faith and together, but as individuals. Thank you so much!”

Has brought peace into my home

Has brought peace into my home

Has brought peace into my home

“The compassion and understanding I have been able to find of my husbands addiction has brought so much peace to my home. 

I’ve seen a huge difference in him and our kids.
Not to mention, I have found a way to navigate through this messy life without feeling like I’m walking on egg shells.”

Unbelievably thankful

Has brought peace into my home

Has brought peace into my home

"I cannot tell you how unbelievably thankful I am for this group and for all of the work you have put into this. I have listened to your podcast for probably a year now and debated joining for a year. I finally did and it has been life changing. 

I am just so glad I listened when the Lord nudged me to join. THANK YOU AGAIN!!!”

A wonderful program

I feel so comfortable here

Was in such a dark place

“My husband has been sober for 2 months now and things are much better in our lives. This group was such a Godsend when I truly needed it. The lessons were very helpful and having the secret sister community was so comforting and helpful during some dark days of my life. This is a wonderful program. Thank you so much!”

Was in such a dark place

I feel so comfortable here

Was in such a dark place

"I just wanted to send you an email and say that your program is literally changing my life... when I first started I will admit that I didn't think it could help me. I didn't think anything could help me and I was in SUCH a dark place! 

God is literally transforming my heart and mind through this program and the tools. Thank you!!!"

I feel so comfortable here

I feel so comfortable here

Blessed to be a part of this

“I am new. I can't believe how much the tools are already helping me not only with my husband but with any stressful situation. I feel so comfortable here, there is no pressure and I am not being judged and that feels amazing. The tools and podcasts have made me realize that I am important and that I need to make myself a priority. I know that I found this group for a reason and I am so glad I did....Thank You”

Blessed to be a part of this

Blessed to be a part of this

Blessed to be a part of this

“I can’t even express how blessed I feel to be a part of this group! Just reading through the posts this morning, I relate to so many of them, and to see the support and tools available is so encouraging. I have been trying to fight this battle for close to 20 years to no avail I am finally able to begin to see the battle is not mine but the Lords. And I’ve only been on here a week! I can’t wait to dive into the lessons and learn more.”

Will transform you

Blessed to be a part of this

Incredibly thankful

"The program if full of helpful, excellent lessons that help to transform you into a very peaceful, knowledgeable, spiritual individual. You will not be the same person, you'll be your best self!." 

Incredibly thankful

Blessed to be a part of this

Incredibly thankful

“I just need to say how incredibly thankful I am for this group. From the teachings to the incredibly gracious people, this has been the only thing that has actually been a consistent, helpful thing. 

I am amazed at how quickly people who haven’t been in the trenches of alcohol start giving “encouragement” that is nothing more than I am sorry or “praying for you” but they don’t want to continue to be there to stand with you IN it. It can be very lonely. 

I appreciate that if I need a place to come and vent, to be encouraged, to have people actually pray, care and love, I know I can come here and there are sisters who will be there. Thankful and blessed by all of you.”

FAQs

Q: Is this membership for me?

Q: How is this different from alanon?

Q: How does the membership work?

A: This membership is for any woman married to a man whose drinking is negatively affecting her marriage or her life*.


There’s no schedule, no checklist, no right way to participate. You belong here exactly as you are, whether you visit once a week or once a month, whether you read every lesson or just take one small step.


(*The only exception is women who are in an abusive relationship. If there is any type of abuse taking place in your marriage I encourage you to get to a safe environment first and foremost.)

Q: How does the membership work?

Q: How is this different from alanon?

Q: How does the membership work?

A: The membership itself is housed on an easy-to-use private online platform. You would simply log into the platform to go through the monthly videos, lessons, activities, etc. It is very user-friendly and self-explanatory, and  there is no completion deadline on anything.


The private group is also online.

Q: How is this different from alanon?

Q: How is this different from alanon?

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

A: As mentioned above, this is not a 12-step program. 


12-step programs are not for everyone, and Alanon is not for everyone either (it wasn't really a good fit for me).


The Secret Sisters Circle  is also perfect for those who need more detailed guidance and direction since it offers easily accessible resources on demand.


And last, but certainly not least, the Secret Sisters Circle is geared towards Christian women who acknowledge Jesus as Lord of their lives, as opposed to just a 'higher power'.

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

A: The charge will be discreetly billed as 'Women's Ministries'. If you are concerned about confidentiality it is also suggested that you sign up with an email address that only you have access to since that is where the log-in credentials for the program will be sent.

Q: Is the program private inside?

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

Q: how much of a time commitment is this?

A: Yes, this program is private. Once you log into the program that area is completely your own. The only exception is the answers to the quiz questions, which I alone can see. This enables me to offer feedback when needed. If you would rather not share your answers with me you can just write them in a journal instead and then enter any character in the answer box to continue.


The community is only visible to other members.

Q: how much of a time commitment is this?

Q: HOW will the charge show up on my credit card/bank statement?

Q: how much of a time commitment is this?

A: You can move through the lessons, etc at a pace that is comfortable for you. There is no deadline or schedule for anything.


You take only what you need, at your own pace — because progress here isn’t about speed, it’s about care.

Q: Is there a minimum number of months?

Q: Is there a minimum number of months?

Q: Is there a minimum number of months?

A: There is not any minimum monthly commitment required, although it is recommended that you remain in the membership for at least a few months to get the most benefit from it. 


That being said, with the monthly membership billing you can cancel at any time with a 30 day notice. (PLEASE NOTE: Partial month/year refunds cannot be processed.)

PLEASE DON'T TRY TO DO THIS ALONE

I tried to handle/manage my husband's addiction and all of the fallout from it by myself, and it was one of the biggest mistakes I've ever made. 


There is help. There is hope. And I would be honored to play a part in guiding you there.


I hope to meet you inside the Secret Sisters Circle.


In His Grace,

Julie


Julie Sanford is a wife and mom of three who found herself in a situation she never wanted to be in as the wife of an alcoholic.


After navigating that incredibly difficult road for several years, and walking with her husband all the way through the darkness of addiction and into sobriety, God called her to use every bit of it for good. 


Julie now helps other wives of alcoholics navigate their husband's addiction without losing themselves in the process, and shows them how to restore their often troubled relationship with God while honoring how their whole person—mind, body, and spirit—has been affected by this journey.


The membership is discreetly billed as 'Women's Ministries'. If you are concerned about confidentiality it is also suggested that you sign up with an email address that only you have access to since that is where the log-in credentials for the program will be sent.


Please note the following:

-This program is not meant for those in an abusive relationship. If there is even the possibility of any sort of abuse in your situation you need to get to a safe place first and foremost. 

-Every situation/person/marriage is different so there is no specific outcome or result guaranteed from this membership. 

-All SSC content is pulled from my own experiences and my work with other wives of alcoholics over the years. I am a mentor, not a therapist or counselor. 

-The Secret Sisters Circle  is a faith-based membership. 

Get started now for only $34
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Married to Addiction provides Christian support for wives of alcoholics who feel overwhelmed, heartbroken, and unsure what to do next. If your husband’s drinking is impacting your life and faith, you’ll find biblical hope, clarity, and direction here—even if nothing around you is changing. 


Copyright © 2025 Married to Addiction - All Rights Reserved.


TERMS OF USE: All the information on this website (https://www.marriedtoaddiction.com) is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. The information contained here is based solely on my own experiences. I am not a licensed professional. Married to Addiction/Julie Sanford does not make any warranties or claims about the completeness, reliability or accuracy of this information. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website (Married to Addiction), is strictly at your own risk. Married to Addiction/Julie Sanford will not be liable for any losses and/or damages in connection with the use of this website, or the information contained herein. By using this website, you hereby agree these terms of use.

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End the Cycle of Exhaustion and Resentment — Stop Spiraling

 You’ve tried everything — praying harder, loving more, staying strong — but nothing seems to change. 


You’re tired of walking on eggshells, questioning every decision, and wondering if peace will ever find its way back to your home.


This FREE Toolkit is your invitation to do something different.

get the free toolkit