If you have a loved one who is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you know how challenging it is to talk to that person. When you try to confront him about his problem you may encounter any number of deflecting techniques: avoidance, anger, guilt, aggression or anything else that prevents you from having a serious…
For children, the concept of addiction as a disease is a tough one. In fact, it’s not always easy for adults to understand either. As a parent it is your job to talk to your kids about addiction if someone in their lives has a substance abuse problem. Whether it is a parent, a sibling…
When it comes to addiction, we often think most about the addict. He is struggling with a chronic illness that is incredibly difficult to treat. He has likely suffered in many ways, including health consequences, financial problems, job loss and/or other impacts on his life. But what about his family? How does addiction impact parents,…
The disease of addiction doesn’t just affect the addict; it impacts all members of the family. If you have lived with an addict for any length of time, you know that the hold drugs or other substances have had on your loved one have caused extreme turbulence and unpredictability for your whole family. The stress…
When someone is trapped in addiction every facet of their life is affected. It’s hard to watch the life of someone you love come unraveled piece by piece. Family members often start out by trying to ignore the problem and simply love the person back into health. When that fails, they may confront the addict…
Ideally, every child would be born into a family with two loving and healthy parents. In less than ideal cases children are born into homes where one or both parents are abusing substances, which means these kids are at greater risk for being abused, neglected or otherwise impaired. For children to thrive and succeed a…
In families with a significant track record of substance addiction, parents face additional challenges when it comes to educating their children about drugs and alcohol. But by warning young people about their family history of addiction, is it possible to actually increase their risk of substance abuse? Many studies over the years have confirmed that…
Despite the fact that many high profile people and celebrities struggle with drug addiction, there remains a stigma attached to the problem. The addict usually tries to keep the problem hidden, and when a loved one does reach out they’re met with anger. Often this is because of shame. Someone near you could be struggling…
If there is one thing that is more challenging than having the disease of addiction, it is watching a family member struggle with it. Whether it is your spouse, your child, a sibling or a parent who is an addict, the situation can make you feel utterly lost and helpless. There may be times when…
Job loss is stressful, and the recent recession has caused a substantial increase in unemployment across the country. Anyone who has been fired or laid off understands how the strain and uncertainty can throw a wrench into one’s emotional well-being. Periods of unemployment – particularly lengthy ones – often elicit feelings of anxiety, frustration and…
