For many adults, the wounds of childhood don’t simply disappear with time. They show up in relationships, in our sense of self, and in the quiet moments when we wonder, “Why do I feel this way?” For those who grew up with a parent or caregiver who struggled with alcohol or substance use, the effects can run deep—shaping not only how we view the world, but also how we move through it.

Let’s face it, the temperature these days is HOT and I don’t mean just because it's August in the South. Our lives bring us so many...