Janet A. asks: Our 37-year-old son began smoking pot in his teens but is now using dangerous drugs like fentanyl on a daily basis. My husband and I have been trying to get him to stop, probably enabling him, but we’re not on the same page in the ways we think we should help him, and nothing is working. His brother and sisters are very worried too. Help? Hi Janet, I’m so glad you wrote to me about this. You’ve mentioned some really important things in your short question – thank you for … [Read more...] about Addiction Is a Progressive Condition
Addiction
Are You Stuck in Your Comfort Zone?
I love the saying “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” because until we can allow ourselves to feel the discomfort of healthy change, we will continue to choose to keep ourselves stuck. The reason we people-please is to try to keep discomfort at bay. But when we can instead learn how to handle difficult emotions and begin to learn how to use them in positive ways – learning their lessons – we can then become much more authentic and life becomes much easier. … [Read more...] about Are You Stuck in Your Comfort Zone?
Should We Pay Our Addicted Daughter’s Rent?
My daughter has been addicted to alcohol since she was 15. My husband and I thought it was just a phase she would grow out of, but she is now 27 and her life is a total mess. We have tried to help her in every way we could think of, but nothing seems to be working. If we don’t continue to pay her rent (which is a financial hardship for us, after so many years), I’m worried she will be out on the street with nowhere to go. My husband thinks we should do this, but I just can’t bring myself to see … [Read more...] about Should We Pay Our Addicted Daughter’s Rent?
Be Gentle with Yourself
Anyone who is in a relationship with a practicing addict knows that there can be unexpected pitfalls around any corner. As we start picking up the pieces of our own lives, it’s important to be gentle and patient with ourselves. … [Read more...] about Be Gentle with Yourself
Trust Your Inner Guidance
We all have what I like to call an “inner GPS” that tells us when we are on track and when we aren’t. We can know this by the way we feel inside. It’s important for us to listen to this inner voice so that we can build up both our self-trust and our self-respect. … [Read more...] about Trust Your Inner Guidance
