Addiction Hurts People Other Than The Addict As Well

If you have had the experience of loving or even knowing someone struggling with addiction, you will most certainly agree with this title.  Addicts need help. Yes!  But so do their wives and husbands, children, parents, sisters, brothers, girlfriends, coworkers, friends, uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews and anyone else who cares about them.  We don't hear about that part very often. Probably because when you look at addiction you see the addict and their suffering and destruction. You don't necessarily see the people who have been left in that destruction.  
If you care about an addict, you need support.  Al Anon is one place where you can get that support for free. For many, attending these groups is a life line and life saver. If you don't go to groups, know that you need support and understanding from somewhere. Trying to survive this alone is dangerous and can destroy you.  Another place you can get support and learn more about how addiction works, is in therapy.
You might hear that even though you feel crazy, you aren't. You might hear that you cannot change anyone's actions but your own. You will hear that this is not your fault. You did not cause it and you cannot fix it.  That's right! You can not fix someone else's addictive behaviors with worrying, nagging, screaming, babysitting them. You can change your own behaviors though. And you can change the focus back to caring for yourself  and living your life....

To learn more about addiction or to find support contact Sara