Proper Intervention for a Loved One Addicted to Drugs or Alcohol

Most of the time it is the people that are closest to us that can see that something is wrong long before we or others ever can. It is the people that know us, our behaviors, and our lifestyle that can spot immediately when something is just not adding up. If your loved one is battling with drug addiction or alcoholism and are in denial you may be their only chance at being introduced to recovery. You may try talking to them, taking them to AA/NA meetings, or introducing them to some sober people. If they are still unable to see how their use of drugs or alcohol is affecting their lives in a negative manner and that it has become a problem then it might be time for an intervention. This process includes having someone come in that can mediate the situation, setting firm boundaries, discussing the problem, offering support if they are willing to accept it, different treatment options, and seeing if they are willing to seek help or not. If they are aware that other people are being affected by the situation and how their drinking or using has ruined them then they might be more willing to discuss the possibility of getting sober. Nobody likes being told they have a problem with drug or alcohol addiction but the underlying theme of an intervention is that they are loved and there is help out there if they are willing to turn their life around and get sober.

Family Counseling and On-Going Support

Once we have received treatment for substance abuse and gone through the addiction recovery process some of us may need some extra support especially when it comes to repairing our relationships with our family. When we were out using many of us were wrapped up in our disease and suffered from the consequences of our actions. One of the biggest things that was destroyed for many of us was our relationships with family and friends. Most of us could not see past ourselves or our drug addiction. When we get sober we get the opportunity to repair these relationships and clean up the wreckage of our past. The hardest relationships to rebuild are usually with our family since they had seen it all. They not only had to put up with what we put them through but they also had to watch someone that they love very much go through hell. It can take time to rebuild the trust that has been lost over the years. Many of us had made empty promises time and time again and we have to earn that trust back. If there are still some things coming up for you or other family members that can’t seem to be worked out, then family counseling is a great option and a safe place to work through those struggles in order to have a happy and healthy relationship that works for everybody.  There is nothing like having family on your side to support you. It is possible to not only have a relationship with  the ones you love but it is also a chance to give back to the people that matter the most in your life.

Dealing With Change and Loss in Sobriety

Just because we get sober and receive rehabilitation does not mean that everything is perfect. Life is still life. There are going to be ups and downs. Just like the good times pass so do the bad times. When we go to AboveItAllTreatment, AA, or alcohol centers we learn how to live life on life’s terms regardless of the situation. We get to learn how to stay sober no matter what. Alcoholics have a hard time when it comes to change or anything that brings up emotion for us. Losing a friendship, relationship, family, or job can all be things that we find unacceptable to us. These things that seem unfair are actually opportunities to grow and heal. Through the hard times we get to come out better people then we were before that experience. If we have faith that we will be okay no matter what, we will be able to hold our heads up, learn, and change. We get to strengthen our sobriety and learn how to handle situations that used to baffle us. We get the chance to learn that we don’t have to drink to start over and that feelings are not facts. Our feelings do not have to dictate our actions. We can act with dignity and grace regardless of how uncomfortable we feel. And we get to wake up and try to do a little bit better than we did the day before. All we can do is continue to try our best in any situation we encounter.

Showing Up for Family

For many of us the idea of showing up for anyone including ourselves may seem impossible prior to going to Above It All Drug Rehab and getting sober. Now that we are sober the ability to show up is one of the many gifts we are given. After all we have put our families through, from the constant worrying, and heartache to the lying, and perhaps even stealing we are now given the ability to show up after not being present for so long either emotionally or physically. Whether it is going shopping for groceries for our parents, watching our nieces and nephews so our siblings can go out for a night on the town, helping our children with their homework, or just putting dinner on the table, we are able to do these things because of the help we are given when we go to alcohol programs, AA, or alcohol addiction detox. And we can become someone that people can begin to depend on again. While it may not always be easy to stay present, being able to give back to our families after taking so long is a huge blessing. We must remember how often we let our families down in the past and how great it is that they can look at us now and see responsible reliable people.  There are meetings around the clock that you can attend to be able to share your experience, strength, and hope. We have been given a gift that we should not take lightly. Showing up for our families is one of the many examples of how sobriety can save and change lives.

Finding Your Circle of Friends in Sobriety

Remember in elementary when it was time for lunch and we all ran out to find a table to sit at with our friends, and every once and a while we were scared of rejection, sitting alone and being that kid? Finding a circle of friends in sobriety can feel very much like this at times. It can be scary at first especially when we first receive addiction recovery and get sober. It’s not easy leaving behind our old lives and days where we would party with our friends. Now we must rely on our personality to do the job. The good news is that through Above It All, AA, or other 12 step programs we can get through any social situation no matter how awkward it may be at first. In recovery everyone is constantly fellowshipping and no one is left behind. We are the group of “weird” kids, the outsiders, the lost, but, in the rooms we now are the “part of”. We all have in common the desire to drink, or use, we all feel different and we are now lucky enough to have found a place where we are understood and welcomed with open arms. The friends we make in the room are life lasting. They are people who will be there to answer your 2 am phone call when you find yourself on the verge of drinking. They will be the ones who understand your thoughts however toxic they may be, and they will help remind you that you’re a valuable person who deserves happiness.