The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I am a doctor that specializes in drug addiction/alcoholism. I am committed to helping family members who have a loved on with an addiction. It's a tough disease that destroys a lot of families so I try to help people in many different ways.
Just curious Doc...what do you do to maintain your own peace of mind and serenity after hanging around our alcoholics and addicts? In advance...mahalo (thanks)
Also curious doc What approach do you take to help the families of addicts? Please join us for a meeting here on line I would be intersted in your input
That's a great question. The more I specialized in addiction, the more frustrated I became. When I treat depression and anxiety, I can see very significant improvements over 90% of the time. However, I was so blown away by the frequency of relapses in addiction, I started to get really discouraged. I like to "win".
Ironically, the way I handled it was to write a book to help spouses of alcoholics and I just finished one on helping parents of addicts. I also have an active blog to help spouses of alcoholics. What I realized is that medication and therapy for the folks I treat isn't enough because the whole family system has to change in recovery.
I handled the frustration by committing myself to helping the families of alcoholics/drug addicts.
I know this is a long answer. I also enjoy my family, music and friendships which gives me some balance (although I work very very hard).
My heart goes out to all of you who have suffered through this. I never understood how crazy the disease is until I started treating addiction so much. Truth is stranger than fiction!
I work with family members a lot of setting better boundaries and taking better care of themselves. I know ti sounds really simple, but it isn't. I am treating some parents now who have a son in his thirties. He lives in a house they bought for him and he doesn't work or go to school. The parents are very afraid to set boundaries because they are so afraid he will get mad at them and cut his relationship off with them. Fears like this run very very deep.
Tell me what has worked for you (anybody that reads this- i would appreciate any input). I would love to participate in a meeting, but don't know how that works. I am on vacation for the rest of this week (YAY- a break form my workaholic lifestyle)- so please let me know where and when and how to show up on line)
Hi Doc and welcome. You will see several "sticky note" topics at the top of the main page - one is about the chat room. That should get you started. It takes some getting used to - it's like being in a group discussion, but people can't type as fast as they talk so you sometimes have to really follow along multiple conversations. but it is fun at the same time!
come on in that chat room. See the link at the top left in the yellow box and click on meeting chat room. We will give u the mtg hours in there and can tell u all about how we overcame, in real time.
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Light, Love, Peace, Blessings & Healing to Us All. God's Will Be Done. Amen.
