http://traffic.libsyn.com/theaddictionconversation/What_happens_when_you_leave_the_fort.mp3 Every parent dealing with the choices and behaviors of child with an addiction struggles with developing and honoring boundaries. In reality, most parents struggle with clearly defined boundaries and consequences, in general. Teaching our children and ourselves this lesson is a critical life skill that the entire family benefits from. The process for creating […]
http://traffic.libsyn.com/theaddictionconversation/When_denial_gets_in_the_way_of_truth.mp3 We have all heard the saying “your gut is always right.” Despite our awareness of this truth, we still have experienced that moment where we wish we trusted our gut instincts. It is hard for parents to believe that their children are using, lying, being dishonest, or manipulating them. Even though our strongest instincts […]
I tried this technique last night on the phone with my daughter. It was HARD. She is in a sober living home, in recovery for four precious and tender months and just weathered Hurricane Matthew both physically and emotionally. I was sure she would relapse, I could almost smell it, but she didn’t, thank God! […]
Talking with your addicted child is never easy. These conversations have a tendency to explode, become emotionally charged, and very uncomfortable. This wouldn’t happen if you were talking to the child you raised. But you’re not. You’re talking to a stranger. Addiction rewires the brain and turns your child into a two-dimensional, dramatic, defensive, narcissistic […]
You just found out your child is addicted to drugs or alcohol or both. Wow. No parent ever expects to receive news like this. Whether you discovered it yourself or someone told you, it’s always a shock. Once you regain your balance, you immediately fire a million questions at your addicted child. You want to […]
