So your loved one has gotten treatment and they are in recovery, and you can’t help but hold a grudge for all the difficult, hard, and painful times they put you through.
You’re dealing with the guilt of bearing a grudge; you know you should be happy for them, be supportive… However, you find it hard to move on after all you have been through. Just because they said sorry and are doing better doesn’t erase the past. How can you deal?
Emerging from the shadows of addiction into the light of recovery is a monumental achievement. However, the next challenge lies in reintegrating into social and family life. The journey of recovery doesn't end when treatment concludes; it continues as you rebuild relationships that may have been strained or altered by past addictive behaviors. At The Walker Center, we understand the complexities of this transition and are here to support you as you navigate these new dynamics.
Learn 7 tips for talking to children about a family member's addiction and entering treatment. It emphasizes the importance of preparation, creating a positive and supportive environment, explaining addiction in age-appropriate terms, discussing treatment, validating children's feelings, seeking additional support, and highlights the services offered by The Walker Center for mental health treatment and family therapy.
Facing the realization that your friend or loved one has been abusing drugs or alcohol is a tough reality to face. You may have noticed signs that your friend or family member has been struggling with a private battle or recently discovered their problem. Opening a dialogue about their substance abuse is a process often plagued by feelings of guilt, self-blame, worry, and frustration, but providing your loved one with a safe and supportive foundation can help them recognize they need help and keep them committed to recovery.
There is a lot of pain in realizing some relationships only value you as a drinking buddy and party friend, or that addiction may have harmed your most cherished connections. However, this realization can also guide you to friendships that value and accept you as you are on your current path.
Making new friends as an adult may seem intimidating, but committing to this process can help you establish truly meaningful relationships and help you sustain a sober lifestyle. With this in mind, here are 4 ways to get started finding friends as a sober adult.
Over the holidays parties, family gatherings, get-togethers with friends, and enormous Christmas dinners come hand in hand. It can be easy to forget that the festive season is about spending time with those we love, not just hopping around from gathering to gathering.
This can pose particular challenges for people in recovery. Being surrounded by triggers and temptation leads to relapse. How can you support your friend or family member trying to recover during this time?
One in three Americans reports that substance addiction has affected their family. If this is the case for you too, you are probably asking yourself - how can I support my sober partner over the holiday season? While many people are excited about Christmas, others who are battling addiction often find this time of the year particularly stressful.
Here are 7 ways you can support your sober spouse over the holidays.
With more and more people openly discussing mental health, gaslighting has become a common subject over the past few years. There’s more and more awareness of this kind of emotional abuse, which helps to prevent it in relationships. But before accusing someone of this behavior, it is essential to know what gaslighting means and how to look for the signs of gaslighting.
Do your genes determine your fate? Why can one person drink normally, while another loses all control? Are some people destined to become addicts due to the quirks of their genetic makeup - factors beyond their control? Can nurture overcome nature? Today we tackle the debate - are substance abuse disorders genetic?
Recovery is a beautiful journey marked by self-discovery and transformation. That doesn't mean that it's easy, linear, or guaranteed. If your friend or loved one is in recovery, providing the proper support could be the difference between recovery and relapse. In honor of April being Alcohol Awareness month, we give you the inside scoop on ten things you DON'T say to someone in recovery.
Addiction doesn't just affect the addict, it can be devastating for the entire family. The financial, emotional, and physical burden of dealing with someone that has an addiction could overwhelm anyone. If your loved one is in active addiction or early recovery, it's essential to take care of yourself. Here are ten tips to help family members cope.
As a parent, it can feel terrifying to suspect that your child or teen has started drinking. You feel helpless, torn between wanting to protect them and knowing that they need to start making decisions for themselves. There are constructive and destructive ways to approach this sensitive topic, and we're here to help you do it the right way.
Realizing that your friend is addicted to drugs can be absolutely terrifying. What’s worse is suspecting that they could be but not knowing for sure, watching helplessly as their life spirals further out of control. Addiction is considered to be a physical or psychological dependency on a substance, despite prevalent negative consequences permeating into every area of their existence. Should you say something? Will it push them away?
