By Christine Murray, HRI Director Turmoil. Despair. Chaos. Uncertainty. Anger. Confusion. Fear. When a loved one is facing an addiction, the emotional whirlwind can be intense. It’s normal for people in this situation to move rapidly between different emotions in
When Helping is Hurting: Understanding Enabling
By Heather Bland, Fellowship Hall It wasn’t like I was buying them the alcohol! I don’t understand how what I was doing was enabling. So often we think of enabling someone’s addiction or problem drinking as doing very obvious things
Understanding the Recovery Process: A Guide for Families
By Drew Jamieson, PhD, LMFT, LCAS-A Families operate as a system. When everything is balanced and functioning well, members are respected, confident, and secure. When things get out of balance, emotions can run askew. What may seem like a minor issue
When Help Isn’t What They Want
By Heather Bland, Fellowship Hall What if my loved one doesn’t want to change? Often times we can see problems in our family member’s or friend’s lives before they can. It can feel as if we’re watching a freight train
Families Under Stress: How Addiction Impacts the Family
By Christine Murray, HRI Director Every September, the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) sponsors Recovery Month to raise awareness about the recovery process. Addiction and substance abuse not only affect the individual, but also their friends