Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group

Addiction affects more than just the individual. This community is dedicated to the families and friends of individuals suffering from any form of addiction. Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to the addicted person with particular behavioral...

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dontstop 02/10/2016

When a car is in an accident, you take it to the shop for repairs and if the alignment is off, it will not operate properly. It will constantly veer off to one side or another unless it gets a realignment. I feel that we are the same. Once we go through a tragedy, if we don't seek help, that tragedy alters our way of thinking from that point forward and our path will be changed until we get back on track. I am hoping and praying that my choice to seek help and therapy will be my realignment and help me see clearer all the ways I need to change my thinking. This discussion forum is awesome as there are so many points of experience to touch on but I do see so many like myself that really need help. I pray that we can continue to support each other to get the help we need. We need it as much, if not even more than our loved ones that are addicts.

donnalsusan 02/10/2016

I agree with you! We can get so drawn into the car wreck that we can't even see that we might need a whole new car- instead of an alignment.I realize that I have never given myself the time it takes to recover from any of the many painful hurts I've had in my life.I would rebound, or the next issue would present itself, and I put my feelings on hold.I can't do this to myself again-I'm Frozen-and
one step at a time I need to thaw............

jen50 02/10/2016

We become addicted to the addiction, dysfunction, hurt, etc. it becomes all consuming worried about our addicts...the fears, the "what ifs". Once we are able to step back, let go, BELIEVE every word of the Serenity Prayer and take the time for OUR mental health it does get better. It may not seem so right now, but it does.
We didn't cause the addiction, we can't control the addiction, and we certainly can't cure it. If we could cure it none of us would be on this site.
Soooo......step back, breath, go to a therapist, go for a hike, walk your dog.....anything! But take a few minutes every day for yourself. It helps.
Peace......

fridge 02/10/2016

Great way to look at healing.

dmatt124 02/14/2016

Joan Rivers had said it best: I would like to tell you it gets better but it doesn't get better, YOU get better. That's what talking, listening and sharing does, it helps us to release the chains of addiction. It takes time lots of time, but as my son says to me progress not perfection.

dontstop 02/15/2016

I just read all the replies and can truly say... I agree. I too, Donnalsusan, have never taken the time to recover from my numerous traumas in life. I think I was afraid to go near a therapist for rear they would put me in a straight jacket and lock me up! LOL But I have an appointment today after work, my very first meeting with a therapist. I have been attending my husband's therapy appointments with him as he has very short term memory and this was his request. I has been painful for us both, but I can see the way it is helping him. I do believe, very deeply in the Serenity Prayer, jen, and know what you're saying about getting outside, walking the dog, whatever it takes to have some peace and quiet for ME. I went to a meeting yesterday, our Sunday morning meeting with the people I worship with, and sitting and listening to others testimony about the Scriptures and how they impact their lives, and voicing my own, being together as one, with the same purpose, gave me more peace than I've felt in a long time. I read in John Chapter 10 verse 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The thief, is Satan, and it is his deepest desire to rob us of all joy and hope and to kill our spirit so that we are so weak, we cannot fight him. But there is a ray of hope offered to us and my belief is in Jesus Christ and the fact that this was his purpose in life on this earth. Not trying to preach, just trying to share what helped me. Peace and thank you all for caring enough to share.

prakashjee 02/19/2016

Yes... truly and we need to seek for very definite results from our endeavor rather than unnecessary trial / errors.
Life is too short for that ...

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