Things I Can't Say

Annie Willems
  • 5.0 (50)
  • MENTAL HEALTH
  • SERIES

The podcast for things families whisper, not post. Breaking the silence on family, mental health, and the struggles we keep hidden.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 1: This Will Be A Movie

    The podcast features Annie sharing a deeply personal story about her family's adoption journey and the challenges they faced. She recounts adopting her son from the foster care system and the complex behaviors that led to one crisis after another. Despite the difficulties, Annie emphasizes her commitment to transparency and authenticity, sharing her experiences to shed light on the realities of adoption and trauma.  Support the show

    14 min

  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode 2: Middle of Nowhere

    Annie shares a deeply personal and challenging experience about her son, who began exhibiting uncontrollable and destructive behavior shortly after moving into a new home. Her son experienced episodes of anger, causing significant damage to their home. The family, unable to find a diagnosis or effective help, faced daily struggles, involving paramedics and police to manage the situation. As her son started high school and entered a new relationship, the situation seemed to stabilize briefly, but the reintroduction of substances led to further decline, which Annie plans to discuss in a future episode. Support the show

    15 min

  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode 3: High School Crisis

    Annie shares a deeply personal and challenging journey with her son, who faced significant mental health struggles during his high school years. The family dealt with the stress of managing psychiatric medications, unexpected behaviors, and episodes of psychosis. Despite efforts to find the right treatment, including hospital stays and day treatment programs, the situation escalated with substance use and behavioral issues. The family faced difficult decisions, including moving their son to a group home for better support. Throughout, Annie highlights the emotional toll on the family and the ongoing search for solutions. Support the show

    16 min

  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode 4: New Options

    Annie shares the challenging journey of moving her son into a group home, hoping for a positive change. Initially, things seemed promising, but quickly deteriorated as her son's behavior worsened, leading to frequent runaways and substance abuse. Despite efforts to secure a safe environment, the situation remained dire. Annie grappled with hope and fear, uncertain about the future. Support the show

    16 min

  5. EPISODE 5

    Episode 5: Escalation to Independence

    The clip features a heartfelt and challenging narrative from Annie, who shares the journey of her son approaching adulthood amidst significant behavioral and mental health challenges. Annie discusses the complexities of her son's past actions, including inappropriate behavior and the impact on their family. She reflects on the struggle to find proactive solutions and the emotional toll of feeling powerless as her son becomes an adult. Support the show

    17 min

  6. EPISODE 6

    Episode 6: Finding Grace

    Do I have regret? Wish I would have done things differently? Annie shares her deeply personal and challenging experiences as a parent navigating a tumultuous family life. She describes the overwhelming stress of managing multiple responsibilities, including her work and family, while dealing with her children's mental health issues. Annie recounts a particularly difficult night that highlighted the ongoing struggles within her family.  Support the show

    11 min

  7. EPISODE 7

    Episode 7: Regrets

    Annie shares her complex feelings about adoption and highlights the challenges and systemic failures she encountered. She discusses the lack of support from the adoption system, particularly in accessing necessary resources for children with special needs. Annie emphasizes the difficulties in navigating a system that often requires situations to reach a crisis point before help is available. Despite her love for fostering and open adoption, she criticizes the current system for not being designed for success. Support the show

    17 min

  8. EPISODE 8

    Episode 8: Navigating Open Adoption

    Annie discusses the complexities of her relationship with her children's birth mother, highlighting the challenges and dynamics of co-parenting in an adoption context. She shares experiences of mediation, the emotional journey of fostering and adopting, and the evolving relationship with their birth mother. Support the show

    19 min
See All Season 1 (15)

5
out of 5
50 Ratings

About

The podcast for things families whisper, not post. Breaking the silence on family, mental health, and the struggles we keep hidden.

Information

  • Creator
    Annie Willems
  • Episodes
    15
  • Seasons
    1
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Things I Can't Say
  • Show Website
    Things I Can't Say

You Might Also Like