Are you the loved one of someone struggling with an addiction?Would you like to become part of the solution, instead of staying stuck in the problem?These days, addictive behaviours are so rampant that it’s virtually impossible to imagine how many people are affected by them. Having worked as an Addictions Therapist for over 25 years—with both addicts and their loved ones—what I know today is that for every one addict, there are generally at least 10-20 people directly affected by that person’s … [Read more...] about Family Addiction: Are You Affected by Another Person’s Addictive Behaviours?
if a loved one is struggling with addiction
Fentanyl – What We Can Do About It
Yesterday someone I know asked me why I wasn’t writing anything on my blog about fentanyl—which has become such a horrific problem lately. Although I had thought a few times about perhaps addressing it, I would stop myself with this thought:“What could I say that hasn’t already been covered in the news? What could I possibly add that would be of any value?”I’m glad my friend challenged me about this, because today I see that I’ve made a mistake by thinking that way. So I’m writing about it … [Read more...] about Fentanyl – What We Can Do About It
I’ve Been Chosen as a “Best Blogger”!
I’ve always been amazed at the ebbs and flows of life. When I was going to 12-Step programs many years ago, one of my favourite sayings there was, “This too shall pass.” As time went on, I began to trust that if something I didn’t like was happening in my life, it would eventually shift and change—hopefully into something better, if I was willing to do the inner work to make that happen.Of course, this was also true of the things that were happening that I did like—so I had to become willing to … [Read more...] about I’ve Been Chosen as a “Best Blogger”!
Saying NO to Manipulation: What Happens When We Enable an Addict?
In my last post, I wrote about Jessica’s manipulation of her parents and how they consistently gave in to her demands, allowing her disruptive and destructive behaviour to continue.By accepting that behaviour and not challenging their daughter, Jessica’s parents enabled her for many years. They posed no consequences for her and set the bar very low in terms of their expectations—and Jessica continued to live up to exactly the standard that they set. … [Read more...] about Saying NO to Manipulation: What Happens When We Enable an Addict?
Are You the Loved One of an Addict? Saying NO to Manipulation
I am a firm believer that we teach other people how to treat us.The way people treat us generally has its roots in the way we treat ourselves as well as how we decide to show up in the world. Are we assertive and clear with our boundaries, or do we allow other people to push us around? Do we practice healthy self-care, even while we may be caregivers to family members? Is our self-respect non-negotiable, even when we are experiencing difficulties in our lives?Or—do we allow anxiety and fear to … [Read more...] about Are You the Loved One of an Addict? Saying NO to Manipulation
