It is devastating to love someone who becomes addicted. The feelings of powerlessness, rage, hopelessness, heartbreak, despair can feel so overwhelming. For many relationships it can feel impossible to know what to do when staying is destructive but walking away feels wrong. If you are unsure of what to do, that’s okay. The most important […]
Family
The Dysfunctional Family
There are many people that might resist the idea of labeling the home that they grew up in as dysfunctional, despite the flaws of their caregivers and the experiences that they had as children. Perhaps they have predominantly good memories of childhood or as an adult, there is more understanding and empathy for the plight […]
Family and Self-Care During Times of Crisis
It’s important that we come together and care for each other during these times, and that means more than following along with the suggestion to social distance and shelter in place. As people, pairs, and families we must be sure to take care of more than just our immune systems, so we come out healthy […]
When the Easter Bunny Brings More Than Chocolate: Surviving the Holidays Easter Edition
There is no shortage of advice on how to deal with the emotions that come along with the family gathering together for holidays. Some holidays require help to navigate the stress, traveling, and personalities; and others require advice on how to abstain when drinking is a part of the celebration. The family dynamic is unique […]
Mom, Dad…I Believe in God: Talking to Your Loved Ones About Spirituality
It doesn’t seem like the kind of sentence we would struggle to say to our loved ones, but as we approach a largely religious holiday in April, it’s a subject that might come up in discussion. For many, the family has endured an incredibly tumultuous ride while we struggled with and ultimately sought recovery from […]
Empowering Loved Ones in Recovery
Knowing how painful and challenging life was before recovery and the challenges that our loved ones face in recovery, the question is how do we best support our loved ones in their recovery?