Jackson, S2025-09-232025-09-232025-06-21Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, ISSN: 1351-0126 (Print); 1365-2850 (Online), Wiley, 32(5), 1084-1090. doi: 10.1111/jpm.700011351-01261365-2850http://hdl.handle.net/10292/19847Purpose: This paper reflects on my experiences as a Māori woman navigating addiction, family violence, and recovery in New Zealand. The paper also explores how psychiatric and mental health nurses can better support women who use drugs (WWUD) by embracing complexity and rejecting idealized recovery models. Background: WWUD who are also parenting and experiencing family violence face systemic stigma and exclusion from mental health and social services. Their experiences are shaped by intersecting barriers, including social judgment, fears around child protection, and a lack of appropriate services. Methods: Using Frank's (1995) narrative typologies—chaos, restitution, and quest—I reflect on my lived experiences and draw insights from my doctoral research with mothers in a residential drug treatment and parenting program.© 2025 The Author(s). Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/addictiondomestic violencewomen's mental health4203 Health Services and Systems4205 Nursing42 Health SciencesBehavioral and Social ScienceMental HealthBrain Disorders7.1 Individual care needs8.1 Organisation and delivery of servicesMental health3 Good Health and Well Being11 Medical and Health Sciences17 Psychology and Cognitive SciencesNursing4205 NursingHumansFemaleNew ZealandMental Health ServicesPsychiatric NursingSubstance-Related DisordersDomestic ViolenceAdultMothersHumansSubstance-Related DisordersMothersMental Health ServicesPsychiatric NursingDomestic ViolenceAdultNew ZealandFemaleJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1111/jpm.70001