The Art of Communicating with the Alcoholic/Addict - Part 2
Don't Engage! -- Turning a Deaf Ear to Baiting And Punishment

To engage means to participate. Engaging with someone means that you are paying attention to them and responding -- positive or negative, calm or infuriated. The alcoholic/addict has...

Is there an art to communicating with the alcoholic/addict? Absolutely! It is almost like learning a new language. In this series of blogs I will discuss concepts that can help the family member or friend find new communication tools when relating to their loved one; the alcoholic/addict.

Today we will...

Ah... the holidays. To some the season starts with the tension of preparing the Thanksgiving feast. This is immediately followed by the arduous chore of buying gifts for people that you may not care about, attending parties out of obligation rather than desire and connecting with family members that you...

An enormous part of your loved one's recovery process and progress is built around them starting to pull themselves up by their own boot straps. Making decisions, weighing options, thinking through possibilities and starting to rebuild their life on their terms all start with repaving the road of trust.

The...

As a substance abuse counselor I am asked this question all the time. Because I am not in recovery myself, my answer comes from years of counseling alcoholics/addicts and processing their answers along with my own professional insight.

So, with that said...is relapse part of recovery? Yes and no depending...

My last blog explored the beginning actions that one may encounter when involved in a relationship with a prospective alcoholic/addict or one in their addiction. Look at phases 3 through 6 and see if you've already had these experiences or are continuing to struggle with this "Roller Coaster" ride.

...

Not soon enough and never! Relationships are difficult; whether it is the ongoing give and take of two people sharing their lives, understanding and communicating with our children or just getting along with co-workers and friends. Add to the mix a silent partner like drugs or alcohol, and the difficulty...

For those who don't know or have never heard of Al-anon, it is a 12-step recovery program that is the counter-part to the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step recovery program. It was initiated by Lois Wilson (the wife of Bill Wilson; one of the original founders of Alcoholics Anonymous) as a safe...

Low self-esteem describes a substandard evaluation or disappointing appraisal of ones' own self worth. Development of our self-esteem begins at the early stages of childhood, and remains a part of our life forever, shaping us toward one direction or another. The parent or guardian who is the focal point for...

For the last several weeks I have been writing a blog on substance abuse and addiction. So when I read the article on the Huffington Post about the tragedy of the victims that died due to Diane Schuler's substance abuse, I requested my editor allow me to post a blog...

For the past few months I have been writing about substance abuse and the road to addiction as a weekly blog. I have received many comments and e-mails from responsible, caring people and I am grateful that they have taken the time to share their opinions and sometimes their own...

Boredom; the Devil's playground is the next concept we will discuss as we continue to explore the road to addiction.

As the saying goes... "An idle mind is the devil's playground." Anyone with too much time on their hands may find themselves in hot, troubled waters. People who tend to...

The next trigger for us to explore on The Road to Addiction will be trauma

Trauma is an incident or occurrence that happens inexplicably or without warning. It is categorized as an over whelming life-changing experience. It is typically a physical and/or emotional shock to the very fiber of...

We have all heard people in our lives say, "Come on, don't be a chicken, and try it!" Even if we are accepted within our group of friends, or trying desperately to belong, we may jump at the chance to prove our stature and worth by accepting their challenge. However,...

Addiction often starts from feeling lonely or depressed. Turning to drugs or alcohol often appears as the easiest (though most damaging) fix one can turn to in an effort to take away that emotional pain.

As previously mentioned, there are a number of triggers that can become intertwined with...

This week we will continue to look at The Road to Addiction. Today I will explore what I consider one of the most common and timeless gateways as to why, when and how individuals may find themselves getting involved in substance abuse.

The desire to belong, be accepted,...

Last week, I discussed the first of the 14 triggers that might lead an individual toward an addictive lifestyle. Today I will explore the next two. If you missed last week's blog, click here for a list of those 14 triggers.

2) The neighborhood itself is involved in...

The road to addiction is one of the most confusing and misunderstood areas of substance abuse. Many parents pride themselves on having a strong family unit and are often baffled as to why their children have started dabbling or actually have turned to drugs or alcohol. Likewise, mates or friends...