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You're Waiting On You: A Guide for Families Facing Addiction and Relapse
Are you living in the painful cycle of relapse—waiting for your loved one to change?
The waiting ends here. The change begins now.
You’re Waiting on You is a breakthrough guide for families trapped in the endless cycle of addiction. Written by Brook McKenzie, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and CEO of the nation’s only long-term treatment center for chronic relapse, it offers what families rarely receive: clarity, honesty, and permission to stop waiting.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
-Set boundaries that build trust and consistency
-Interrupt old patterns that keep relapse alive
-Respond to crisis with a plan, not panic
-Disrupt behaviors that block real change
-Choose truth over fear—every single time
Built for families in crisis, this practical guide is quick to read and impossible to forget. You can’t force their recovery. But you can lead them toward it—this book shows you how.
The waiting ends here. The change begins now.
You’re Waiting on You is a breakthrough guide for families trapped in the endless cycle of addiction. Written by Brook McKenzie, a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and CEO of the nation’s only long-term treatment center for chronic relapse, it offers what families rarely receive: clarity, honesty, and permission to stop waiting.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
-Set boundaries that build trust and consistency
-Interrupt old patterns that keep relapse alive
-Respond to crisis with a plan, not panic
-Disrupt behaviors that block real change
-Choose truth over fear—every single time
Built for families in crisis, this practical guide is quick to read and impossible to forget. You can’t force their recovery. But you can lead them toward it—this book shows you how.
102 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2025
19 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Brook McKenzie
1 book2 followersBrook McKenzie is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, author, and CEO of the nation’s only long-term treatment program dedicated exclusively to chronic relapse. For more than a decade, he has worked with families caught in the chaos of addiction, blending professional expertise with lived experience to offer a perspective that is both practical and deeply human.
His book, You’re Waiting on You: Why Real Recovery Starts with You—Not Them, challenges families to stop waiting for the addict to change first and instead take ownership of their own choices, boundaries, and healing. With a direct, no-nonsense voice, Brook shows families how to break free from cycles of enabling and despair, offering a clear path toward lasting recovery.
Brook’s work has been featured in podcasts, television, professional trainings, and family education programs, where he speaks candidly about addiction, accountability, leadership, and faith. He is particularly known for his ability to connect with families who feel like they have tried everything—and are running out of hope.
He lives in Texas with his wife and two young sons. When he’s not working with families, Brook finds purpose in fatherhood, faith, and the everyday practice of living what he teaches.
His book, You’re Waiting on You: Why Real Recovery Starts with You—Not Them, challenges families to stop waiting for the addict to change first and instead take ownership of their own choices, boundaries, and healing. With a direct, no-nonsense voice, Brook shows families how to break free from cycles of enabling and despair, offering a clear path toward lasting recovery.
Brook’s work has been featured in podcasts, television, professional trainings, and family education programs, where he speaks candidly about addiction, accountability, leadership, and faith. He is particularly known for his ability to connect with families who feel like they have tried everything—and are running out of hope.
He lives in Texas with his wife and two young sons. When he’s not working with families, Brook finds purpose in fatherhood, faith, and the everyday practice of living what he teaches.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 20, 2025
This book is a compassionate and invaluable resource for anyone who loves someone struggling with addiction. Unlike many works that focus solely on the person in active use or recovery, this one shines a much-needed light on the family members—the parents, partners, siblings, and children—whose lives are deeply affected. It acknowledges that addiction doesn’t happen in isolation and that the ripple effects on loved ones can be just as profound.
What makes it stand out is the balance between practical guidance and emotional validation. The author draws on his extensive experience and first hand knowledge in order to avoid offering quick fixes or empty promises. Instead, he provides clear explanations of how addiction impacts relationships, boundaries, and communication, while also reminding families that they are not alone in what they’re experiencing.
One of the most powerful aspects is how it encourages healing for loved ones. Families often carry enormous guilt, frustration, anger, or shame, and this book gently reminds readers that their well-being matters just as much as the person they’re worried about. The chapters on setting healthy boundaries and letting go of control were particularly eye-opening and applicable.
Another strength is that while the book is written with families in mind, its wisdom goes far beyond family roles. Friends, coworkers, and community members who are connected to someone with an addiction will also find the lessons relevant. The insights on communication and detachment with compassion are universally applicable, no matter the relationship.
Overall, this book is more than just a “how-to” guide—it feels like a lifeline of hope and perspective. It doesn’t minimize the pain of loving someone with an addiction, but it also doesn’t leave you stuck in despair. Instead, it offers both understanding and practical tools for moving forward. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone navigating the challenges of loving or caring for someone with an addiction, whether you’re just entering this difficult journey or have been living it for years.
What makes it stand out is the balance between practical guidance and emotional validation. The author draws on his extensive experience and first hand knowledge in order to avoid offering quick fixes or empty promises. Instead, he provides clear explanations of how addiction impacts relationships, boundaries, and communication, while also reminding families that they are not alone in what they’re experiencing.
One of the most powerful aspects is how it encourages healing for loved ones. Families often carry enormous guilt, frustration, anger, or shame, and this book gently reminds readers that their well-being matters just as much as the person they’re worried about. The chapters on setting healthy boundaries and letting go of control were particularly eye-opening and applicable.
Another strength is that while the book is written with families in mind, its wisdom goes far beyond family roles. Friends, coworkers, and community members who are connected to someone with an addiction will also find the lessons relevant. The insights on communication and detachment with compassion are universally applicable, no matter the relationship.
Overall, this book is more than just a “how-to” guide—it feels like a lifeline of hope and perspective. It doesn’t minimize the pain of loving someone with an addiction, but it also doesn’t leave you stuck in despair. Instead, it offers both understanding and practical tools for moving forward. I would recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone navigating the challenges of loving or caring for someone with an addiction, whether you’re just entering this difficult journey or have been living it for years.
November 9, 2025
If you're loving an addict
Wow! What an eye opener. I thought I was alone. The things I was reading were exactly what I was feeling, going through. I realized I'm not alone, I can set boundaries, healthy ones.
I can change. I can do hard things
Wow! What an eye opener. I thought I was alone. The things I was reading were exactly what I was feeling, going through. I realized I'm not alone, I can set boundaries, healthy ones.
I can change. I can do hard things
September 26, 2025
From the very first page, it pulled me in and kept me reading straight through. It is written with such honesty and clarity that it not only resonates deeply, but also challenges you to pause, reflect, and see things in a new light. It doesn’t just point out what needs to change - it shows a hopeful path forward in a way that families can understand and put into practice. This isn’t just a book to read once; it’s one to return to again and again for encouragement, direction, and perspective. A truly life-changing guide for families and loved ones affected by addiction.
October 12, 2025
This book is such a helpful lifeline for people who love someone struggling with addiction. Brook’s straightforward truths open your eyes to the traps loved ones fall into and then guide you into new more helpful paths. It’s an easy read, yet one I will come back to and reread slowly to process. It’s packed full of wisdom, encouragement, and practical advice. Truly a must read for anyone stuck in the cycle of loving someone through addiction.
December 28, 2025
Outstanding
Impactful book, with with author dropping truths like logs off a waterfall. Rare to see a nonfiction book where so much of it was meaningful. Well done.
Impactful book, with with author dropping truths like logs off a waterfall. Rare to see a nonfiction book where so much of it was meaningful. Well done.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews