M.S. asks: I have a relative I’m very close to. I already know he is not good at emotional regulation, and he talks loudly. I try to calm down, but if it's a sensitive and hard subject, I feel like he's yelling at me or telling me what to do. So I get worked up, and then both of us are emotionally unregulated. How can I bring myself down to a calmer state? This person is staying with me. Hi M.S., He’s there 24/7, so that's an interesting situation to be in. I think that you can tell your … [Read more...] about Assertiveness
Ask Candace
How can we educate young people to understand that even experimenting with pot can be a slippery slope?
Mike asks: How can we educate young people to understand that even experimenting with pot can be a slippery slope, particularly when the family doctor has said it's harmless if they only smoke pot occasionally? Hi Mike, This makes me crazy. When I was first diagnosed with Crohn's all those years ago, my doctors didn't know what to do for me, and addiction wasn't on the radar—so today I cut them a little slack. They didn't know what they were unleashing upon me. But they know now. Doctors know … [Read more...] about How can we educate young people to understand that even experimenting with pot can be a slippery slope?
What role does family therapy play in addiction recovery?
Anne asks: What resources are available for families dealing with addiction, and what role does family therapy play in addiction recovery? Hi Anne, I will answer the second one first. The role that family therapy plays is huge. It's so huge that, at Love with Boundaries, we will rarely work with an addict if their family isn't involved. Every once in a while, we have somebody with an addiction get in touch with us and say, “I really want to stop. My family isn't interested in participating. … [Read more...] about What role does family therapy play in addiction recovery?
What are some signs that my loved one may be relapsing?
B.R. asks: What are some signs that my loved one may be relapsing? Hi B.R., There's an acronym for the other word for relapse, which is a slip, S-L-I-P. It stands for Sobriety Loses Its Priority. You've got an addict who's been clean for a while, or an alcoholic, or gambler, etc. who's been clean for a while, who hasn't been using their addictive behaviour. Things are going pretty well and then... sobriety loses its priority. I've known people who have been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, and … [Read more...] about What are some signs that my loved one may be relapsing?
Do the same rules apply to people with dual diagnosis?
Nadia asks: Do the same rules apply to people with dual diagnosis? What if my loved one is diagnosed with bipolar with psychotic features? He is currently at the hospital. I still see him as healthy and whole inside, but he's very unstable now. Nadia, thank you so much for your question. I know for sure that you’re not the only one wondering about this issue. I love that you're saying, “I still see him as healthy and whole inside.” I hope that you'll hold on to that because he is. That's who … [Read more...] about Do the same rules apply to people with dual diagnosis?
