Is your loved one's addiction making your life miserable?
Are you sick and tired of watching your loved one destroy his life?
Are you at your wit’s end, having tried everything you can think of to make him stop?
Caring about an addicted person can feel like a nightmare. Does this sound like you?
- You are sick and tired of the pain and abuse in your relationships.
- You yell at the addict, threatening to leave the relationship if the problem behavior doesn’t stop.
- You “protect” the addict by making excuses for the behavior.
- You make appointments with doctors and therapists, but he is unwilling to go.
- You complain to your friends and family about the addict, even though you know they don’t have the answers.
- You try to convince yourself that the problem really isn’t that bad.
- You feel sorry for yourself, confused about why this is happening and what to do about it.
Your loved one's addictive behaviors are consuming all your energy and bringing you down. The anxiety you feel interferes with your sleep and robs you of your enjoyment of life.
The pain and unpredictability of caring for an addict seem to go on forever.
If someone you love is abusing drugs or alcohol, or is engaging in other addictive behaviors such as disordered eating, problem gambling, smoking, internet addiction, abusive relationships, or compulsive spending, you are not alone! You may think that it’s somehow YOUR fault, because you have not found a way to make the craziness stop.
You feel like a “bad” parent or spouse, that you should be able to do something to end this terrible situation.
To make matters worse, your addicted family member may be telling you that YOU are to blame for his or her addictive behaviors!
Although the details of your experience may differ from someone else’s, the emotions you feel are often the same as others who are dealing with a loved one’s addiction.
The pain and unpredictability of caring for an addict seem to go on forever.
If someone you love is abusing drugs or alcohol, or is engaging in other addictive behaviors such as disordered eating, problem gambling, smoking, internet addiction, abusive relationships, or compulsive spending, you are not alone! You may think that it’s somehow YOUR fault, because you have not found a way to make the craziness stop.
You feel like a “bad” parent or spouse, that you should be able to do something to end this terrible situation.
To make matters worse, your addicted family member may be telling you that YOU are to blame for his or her addictive behaviors!
Although the details of your experience may differ from someone else’s, the emotions you feel are often the same as others who are dealing with a loved one’s addiction.
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Some of the most common emotions include:
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If you are in a relationship with an addict, you may be neglecting yourself by not giving yourself the attention you need, and your own self-care is likely suffering. The first step in helping an addicted family member is to learn how to detach with love and start looking after your OWN needs. You need to learn how to TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF first. |
Once you focus on changing your own behavior and taking responsibility for the things you CAN change, you will:
- find time for yourself without feeling stress and guilt
- set appropriate boundaries with others, such as saying “NO” when you mean “No”
- express your anger and other emotions in safe and healthy ways
- ask for and get help when you need it
- let go of control and perfectionism, creating more ease and enjoyment in your life
- take care of yourself physically – eating well, getting enough sleep, etc.
- spend more quality time with nurturing friends and family members
- learn to HAVE FUN!
Addiction counseling can help you detach from your loved one’s addiction and learn how to focus on yourself – the only thing you do have control over.
Addiction counseling for loved ones can help you regain the self-respect and the peace in your life that you so deserve.
Getting counseling for a family member’s addiction can help you overcome the pain and confusion you are experiencing. The improvements you make in your own life can also have a huge impact on your loved one’s addictive behavior.
If you are ready to try a different approach, we can show you another way to be in relationship with your addicted family member or loved one.
Addiction counseling for loved ones can help you regain the self-respect and the peace in your life that you so deserve.
Getting counseling for a family member’s addiction can help you overcome the pain and confusion you are experiencing. The improvements you make in your own life can also have a huge impact on your loved one’s addictive behavior.
If you are ready to try a different approach, we can show you another way to be in relationship with your addicted family member or loved one.