Does a Loved One Have to Hit Bottom?

Does a person have to hit bottom to get help?

Does a loved one have to “hit bottom” before they can successfully treat their alcoholism or other drug addiction? The short answer, “NO!” But before I continue, please know language to describe alcoholism or drug addiction has changed greatly in recent years, falling under the umbrella term, “substance use disorder.” Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are…

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What To Do When Your Loved One is in Treatment

Your loved one has finally decided (or was left with no other option than) to seek treatment for their alcohol or other drug use disorder. You’ve long wanted and fought hard for this. But instead of feeling confident that all will be well, you feel a tumult of emotions. And perhaps the voice screaming loudest…

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Getting Sober While Also Grieving

It’s difficult to imagine trying to get sober from substance use disorder while also grieving the loss of a beloved parent. Grief, in and of itself, can be overwhelming and difficult to move through.  But to also be treating a sever substance order at the same — having to turn away from the “thing” that…

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7 Things to Know When Looking for Addiction Treatment

Are you looking for addiction treatment for a loved one or friend? You’re not alone. Every week I receive calls and emails from family members and friends trying to find treatment for their loved one’s addiction,* aka substance use disorder. These kinds of phone calls and emails are heartbreaking. Their panic, anger, fear, frustration, sadness, desperation and anguish…

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Tough Love – Harmful or Helpful?

For some family members, it's difficult to forgive and forget a loved one - even after years of sobriety.

Tough love – does it hurt or help a person with an addiction to alcohol or other drugs, aka substance use disorder (SUD), get the help they need? I regularly get some form of this question – generally because there’s so much confusion about what it means. Unfortunately, there is no single definition of tough…

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