Why Aren’t My Boundaries Working?!
Changing the focus so that boundaries become a mindful process of letting go of control that isn’t ours.
VOICES – A Devastating Disease
My child is sick—and the brain that is sick is the very same one that must do the work to get well—so this isn’t a time for me to be timid. I can change the way addiction is perceived. I can stop it from creeping ever forward in the darkness.
Articles · Videos
What About the Siblings?
In the tangled web of the family, their lives are affected by the illness of substance use disorder too. And not for the better.
Using the Power of the Brain to Treat Substance Use Disorder
Understanding this is one of the most important things moms can do.
Covid-19 and Caring for Our Addicted Teens
Helping your teen is hard, and even harder during these unprecedented times.
Eight Reasons Why Detachment Is Good for Your Addicted Loved One
Detachment is neither unloving nor unkind. It’s simply accepting the fact that we can’t live our loved ones’ lives for them.
Tweaking the Pandemic
The novel coronavirus has halted American life, spreading anxiety, panic and even death. We who love those with substance use disorder live this way almost all the time.
The Proven Benefits of Medication-Assisted Treatments
Buprenorphine and methadone work. They save lives and increase recovery rates. Period.
I’m an Expert in Rearview Wisdom
Everything a parent learns, they learn the hard way. There’s help out there, but you don't know what you don't know.
The Ringmaster in the Family Circus
When there’s an addict in your family, they quickly become the ringmaster. They don’t ask for that role; we promote them to it.
The Power of Denial
Let us not go through life as do-gooders with sourpuss hearts. Let us live joyfully with grateful hearts.
Addiction Doesn’t Discriminate
I’ve given up trying to ferret out why one son is an addict and the other isn’t. I now spend my time learning about how best to support my son’s recovery.
Addiction is a Family Disease
Growing up in a family where holidays, family gatherings, and ordinary Tuesday nights often ended in a drunken brawl, I swore I would not catch the family disease.
So Counter-Intuitive
It was obvious to me, his mother, that I had been looking at life through a different set of lenses.
Addiction is a Disease, Not a Disgrace
Addiction is a misunderstood tragedy, too often hushed up. Too often hidden away due to shame, guilt, or fear of blame. Too often, addiction is a battle faced while all alone and afraid…
Learning the Same Language
Our daughter’s addiction lasted about ten years, though we didn’t understand the nature of the beast until almost the end. We rationalized, we were confused, and we were tolerant in a helpless way.
Two Sides of Addiction: Mother and Child
Today, my son is healthy and a contributing member of society, and every day I am grateful. Today, I am able to see addiction through my eyes and his.
The Cycle of Addiction and Codependency
“I became obsessed with him: where he was, how he was, and what he was doing. I was in so much pain that I tried to learn everything I could about addiction.”
Is there an ACE card in your family?
Adverse childhood experiences—or ACEs, also referred to as childhood trauma—are among the key risk factors for developing addiction. The other risk factors are early use (before age twenty-one), mental illness, social environment, and genetics.
Articles · Videos
Puberty, Risk Taking, and Substance Use
Thanks to puberty, “just say no” can be difficult for teens and tweens.
Can Better Mothering Prevent Addiction?
We question where we went wrong—If only I had been more aware. If only I had done more, or done less. The list is endless.
The Cycle of Addiction and Codependency
Are you confused about co-dependency? Julie Neale shares her wise words.
Coping with the Family Disease of Addiction
The pain and mourning experienced because of a beloved addict often seem more than one can bear. It’s like facing death, yet not so final.
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