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 […]
Family
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?
Am I Stressed or in Distress?
Most people find that they experience stress in their daily lives. What creates emotional or mental tension is different for everyone, but a busy schedule, a demanding job, or interpersonal relationships carry the potential to create stress in one way or another. Life events like a wedding, a move, or financial problems have the ability […]
Am I COUNTER-Dependent?
Most people are familiar with the concept of codependency and there is even a 12-Step program built to assist people in working through these behaviors. On the flip side of this tendency to enable and fail to set boundaries is a lesser-known concept known as counter-dependency. Those that are codependent often feel a strong sense […]
The Invisible Line Between Support and Enabling
If a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder it is a painful experience that often leaves you feeling powerless. You may instinctually want to fix things and may have the core belief that you can love them through to the other side where they will surrender and ask for help. Substance use disorder […]