Anytime you are dealing with someone who has an addiction, your life can quickly become turned upside down. You begin a ride of a lifetime, and not a pleasant one – a never ending emotional rollercoaster until the addict seeks treatment. Feelings of shame, anger, fear, sadness, frustration, helplessness, and despair are just some of the emotions you may experience when dealling with an addict.
On top of the emotional rollercoaster, people dealing with an addict often put their lives on the back burner allowing their own interest and activities to take back seat if they even attend to them at all. Their entire lives begin to revolve around the addict. Counselors who work with drug addicts and alcoholics strongly recommend that loved ones, family, and friends of addicts move on with their own lives by putting the focus back on themselves. The sooner loved ones realize they have no power over the person with the addiction, the sooner they can accept their limitations and take care of themselves. It is strongly suggested that those dealing with an addict seek out addiction support groups for friends and family members affected by substance abuse, such as Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, and Families Anonymous. They can be very helpful in getting your own life back. When you see others that have been in the same spot you are, and how they moved past it and can actually smile and have a good time gives you the strength and belief that you too can be happy once again.
Other things you can do to help manage your emotions are deep breathing. When you’re nervous or upset your brain isn’t getting enough oxygen. Deep breathing for a couple minutes sends more oxygen to the brain and can help you calm down Even doing normal household cleaning tasks such as vacuuming can help you get your focus back on you. Try running, work on your car, rearrange your home, gardening, mow the yard, whatever you can do to change your focus. For some, journaling, drawing, or painting is great outlets.
It can seem next to impossible to think about yourself when you are living on an emotional roller coaster with an addict but you can get your life back. It is the addict’s responsibility to take ownership of their addiction and behavior and not yours to own the emotional backlash.
If you need help, are struggling with an addiction, or know of someone who is, please contact A Better Tomorrow Treatment Center today. We are here to help.
http://www.abttc.net/
Phone: 800.971.1586
Fax: 800.401.8464
24 Hour Addiction HelpLine
Tel. (800) 396-9389 (7 days 24 hours)
e-mail: info@24houraddictionhelp.com
http://www.24houraddictionhelp.org/
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Showing posts with label dealing with a loved ones addiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dealing with a loved ones addiction. Show all posts
Thursday, March 25, 2010
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