ANNIE HIGHWATER’S MISSION
There are more people affected by addiction than addicted. My mission is to promote healthy dialogue and to offer support, information and hope to the stressed out, affected family, partners and friends (the “entourage”) of those in the grips of addiction, alcoholism and SUD.
I believe no one should have to go through it alone.
LATEST EPISODE
King Baby Syndrome
The Unhooked Podcast! "King Baby Syndrome, Recovery & Boundaries" Have you ever known someone who expects understanding but offers very little in return? Someone who wants forgiveness without accountability, help without responsibility, and loyalty without reciprocity? In recovery rooms, you may hear the term "King Baby Syndrome" This is an informal expression describing emotional immaturity, entitlement, wild immaturity and difficulty accepting responsibility. It can show up in addiction, family relationships, marriages, workplaces, and, if we’re honest, sometimes in ourselves. Understanding someone’s patterns and even their wounds doesn’t mean excusing their behavior. Childhood trauma, addiction, and painful experiences may help explain unhealthy patterns, but healing requires accountability and a willingness to change. So how do we navigate these relationships without losing ourselves? Listen to this week's episode for tools and tips from the rooms of recovery. Check it out! Editing by 2C Film Co
Listen to the episodeOctober 28, 2026 · The Unhooked Podcast by Annie Highwater
COMPANION ARTICLE
King Baby Syndrome
Books by Annie Highwater
ANNIE HIGHWATER
Unhooked
PUBLISHED 2016 · BOOK
Unhooked: A Mother's Story of Unhitching from the Roller Coaster of Addiction
By Annie Highwater
ANNIE HIGHWATER
Unbroken
PUBLISHED 2018 · BOOK
Unbroken, Navigating the Madness of Family Dysfunction, Alcoholism and Addiction
By Annie Highwater
JOURNAL, ARTICLES AND BLOGS
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Companion stories and independent writing by Annie Highwater.
King Baby SyndromeHoly Split! Identifying Splitting and "Splitters""When Your Mind is Your Bully"Explore Annie’s writingMore conversations.
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October 21, 2026
Holy Split!! Splitting and Splitters
The Unhooked Podcast! Splitters and Splitting In this week's episode we take a look at Splitting behavior as it occurs with those who have Borderline Personality Disorder, High Conflict Personality Disorder as well as people struggling with chemical dependencies. Many people are affected by splitting behaviors without realizing that's what they're dealing with. Pulling information from a work class, years in the rooms of recovery and my own personal life and family...I hope this will be eye opening as well as encouraging information for how to handle and respond when you find yourself the villain in the story or in the cross hairs of someone operating with splitting. Listen in to check it out! (Email: Annieunhooked@gmail.com)
Listen to the episodeOctober 14, 2026
Mind Harassment
The Unhooked Podcast by Annie Highwater "When my mind is my Bully" There are times when thoughts of fear, embarrassment, dread...self-loathing etc., keep me up at night. Or...WAKE me up at night. Or...paralyze me when the alarm goes off in the morning and getting up to face the day is a battle. It happens. No one is immune. I'm better at navigating it, but it does happen. When it does, I have to dig deep into the reserves to find my way forward. Listen in to this week's episodes to hear those experiences along with tools and tips from the paths of recovery. Check it out!! (Edited by: 2CFilmCo)
Listen to the episodeOctober 7, 2026
Choose Your Momma
For much of my life, I carried what I now understand as a Mother wound. As the youngest of six, I longed for the kind of Mother I saw other children have. I remember looking at Moms on elementary-school field trips and feeling something deeper and more wholesome than jealousy or anger. It was a painful longing. A quiet, aching wish for someone who felt safe, steady, nurturing, truthful, and strong. That wound followed me into adulthood and affected how I saw myself, my relationships, and even my years as a young Mother myself. But recently, while riding my bike, a question occurred to me: If I could choose any Mom in the world for myself, who would I choose? Listen in for experience, strength and hope from the rooms of recovery and my own journey out of dysfunction and misery. Doing our inner recovery work...works. Listen in here or wherever you download your podcasts. Check it out! (Edited by 2C Film Co)
Listen to the episodeSeptember 30, 2026
Chaos has a Pattern
The Unhooked Podcast! “Chaos has a Pattern: Navigating the Madness of it” For me this is familiar territory—especially theidea that chaos can feel random while actually following recognizable patterns. I learned this from a recovery specialist…I called her and these were her words that calmed me… "What's happening isn't random, chaos has a pattern." There is, however, distinction between chaos we create, chaos we inherit, and chaos that simply happens Whatever the case it’s worth asking: How doI become steady when my circumstances aren’t? The goal isn’t to eliminate chaos. It’s learning to recognize it, not to feed it, and to develop enough internal stability that you don’t have to participate in every storm around you. Listen in for tools and tips in this week's Unhooked episode. Check it out!
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