Watching someone you love struggle with addiction or alcoholism is extremely painful. I often liken it to watching someone dig a deep hole. I look into the hole of addiction and there they are: this person I love dearly. In the beginning I might not even notice that...
“With dignity we will stand for ourselves, but not against our fellows.” -“From Survival to Recovery” I entered the rooms of family recovery meetings with many figurative bumps and bruises. I had tried every angle to find a way for my loved one to get help for their...
The first time I went with my husband to his side of the family for the holidays, I struggled. Although my family was far from perfect, the holidays were something that I felt we did really well. Even in my adult years, my mom always waited until everyone was asleep...
On a recent trip home I got to join my family for their weekly breakfast. The waitress took everyone’s order, and then looked to me for mine. I had no idea what my order would be, as I didn’t have a menu. Everyone else knew everything on the menu! So, when I asked her...
There was a period in my life where I spent most of my time doing one of two things: I was either worrying to extremes, or praying about what I was worrying about. My prayers were desperate. I often prayed “Please let him come home safely.” Sometimes I prayed for...
When I started attending recovery meetings for family members affected by someone else’s addiction, something became clear to me pretty quickly: I had no idea how to communicate in a healthy manner. The communication that had taken place in my marriage when alcoholism...
