Our 34-year-old son likes to buy things and gamble online. He is very lonely and doesn’t have much else going on in his life, and we feel sorry for him. The problem is that he isn’t working so he doesn’t have his own money. We’ve been letting him live with us without paying rent because he can’t afford his own place. Sometimes we give him money to gamble and buy his useless stuff with, but sometimes when we say no he takes our credit cards and secretly uses them. Some months we have found … [Read more...] about Online Gambling
Helping vs. Enabling
Ask Yourself Some Important Questions
When we focus too much on the addict in our lives, we can lose ourselves in the process. Asking ourselves some deeper questions and answering them as honestly as possible can help us find ourselves again. … [Read more...] about Ask Yourself Some Important Questions
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?
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
I’m looking for help dealing with self-centredness
My husband has been clean & sober for 20 years. I’m looking for help on dealing with addictive behaviours and self-centredness. I can’t find anything that is more about life after active addiction. Do you have something or can you recommend anything? MJ Hi MJ, What a great question! I think the same tools are important in recovery that were used when dealing with someone in active addiction: no enabling, only helping behaviours; healthy, self-respectful boundaries and … [Read more...] about I’m looking for help dealing with self-centredness
