How it feels to have a loved one in a struggle with addiction or alcoholism...

Living in a state of chronic stress, panic and worry is destabilizing.

This can extend to include how it feels when it’s other loved ones as well… a spouse or relationship partner, a parent, sibling, a best friend, etc.

This realm of fear and anguish is so incredibly painful and will cause afflictions as well, impacting mental and physical health, expanding into every area of life; from professional, to social. It begins to cast a shadow over everyone and everything.

This is why the parents of a struggling son or daughter need recovery and support too.

There are solutions and support for the family side of the situation just like there are recovery options for anyone struggling with the heavy burden of addiction or alcoholism.

It’s important to know that family members and loved ones (the entourage) die from addiction too. Many develop health problems directly caused by living in constant stress, fear and turmoil.

When it’s been my own loved ones in active drug or alcohol use, that inferno was constantly raging within. Everything in my life was filtered through the lens of this painful state of being. Situations including anything potentially difficult or triggering were weighed against the fact that this was the burden I constantly carried. Always bracing for impact.

Finding my way to rooms and people of support, modalities of therapy that worked for me, faith in a Source greater than it all, combined with healthy and consistent self-care routines was my formula for managing.

This is what carried me through the worst valleys and hardest circumstances ofmy life.

Because that feeling… it’s no way to live.

Doing the work to recover and to be as calm, logical and healthy as possible, while trusting in Who your faith is in and navigating it one day at a time (one hour at a time some days) only…

These are the steps and tools that help.

Managing it is a process. There are people, places, things and practices that can help.

If you are living your life with this anguish and the burden of stress, fear and heartache it causes… you’re not alone. Don’t navigate this path in isolation, there are ways to manage it that provide hope and even affect the situation for the better.

We don’t have to lose our mind or wreck our health even when everything around us seems to be burning to the ground. Recovery works and it’s for everyone, just have to find your people, practices and processes. They exist!

If you don’t have a “room,” you’re welcome to come to one of mine. Please feel free to message or email me (email: [email protected]) even it’s it’s just that you need someone to remind you that you’re not alone and that how you feel matters.

While you’re “looking for your keys” (so to speak) you may find some peace and relief. And you might even find some new supportive friends who understand.

Peace, hope and recovery are possible.