Self-Diagnosis
Most of the time, there’s an extended period in which the drinker is engaged in something called ‘comparing out’. That's when they're focused on what isn't wrong with their drinking, and ignoring or minimizing what is.
Category: Families
It’s not called “a family disease” for nothing. Addiction affects everyone in the family- and everyone’s recovery matters.
Families
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Tough Love
Because then they’re someone else’s problem to deal with, for a while at least.
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Good Advice?
I happened to stumble across an advice column in one of the national newspapers. It dealt with a...
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A Controlled(?) Drinking Story
Every time I run into a case like this, the drinker winds up his presentation by asking if he needs professional help. So far, I’ve yet to say no.
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First Person: Crash and Burn
I remember one expert’s claim that it wasn’t unusual for someone to require seven treatment episodes to establish a stable recovery.
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The Defiant Ones
Daily life becomes a battle zone; the more folks press for change, the more the drinker retreats into isolation, aided by the bottle.
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The Difficult Discussion: Your Turn
Avoid accusations, threats, self-pity, bringing up old resentments, etc.
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Lowering the Emotional Temperature
The more you practice consciously lowering your emotional temp, the easier it will be to do the same in a difficult situation.
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Exercises in Effective Listening
If during the course of a difficult discussion, the conversation happens to touch on any of those areas, expect to react emotionally.
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Listen Up!
Arguing activates people’s natural defenses and brings communication to a halt.
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Kids Learn About Drugs
Avoid arguments about the fairness/unfairness of our drug laws. They’ve never made much sense, and they distract from the real issues.
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Filtering Stress
Stress builds up beneath your awareness. Then it passes a certain level and suddenly, you’re really aware of it.
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