It Might Have Been Otherwise
A poem by Jane Kenyon reminds us to feel grateful for small pleasures, even when life overwhelms us.
Member Topics: negative emotions and thoughts
My Knock-down Fights with My Mom
Vitriol can be described as a solution-less rant of hate-filled criticism. A brand of sulfuric acid was named Vitriol, reason being that the acid was …
Arguing with an Addicted Loved One Can Be Like Reasoning with a Hurricane
It’s no secret that addiction has ripped its way through my home and family. At least not since my book “Unhooked, a Mother’s Story …
The Favorite Dress
What is the emotional equivalent of your favorite outfit? When your Loved One's actions trigger hard emotions, do you resort to the sam…
Now They’re Stealing and Disappearing…
It is completely distressing when the progression of drug and alcohol use advances and terrible new behaviors emerge. Your Loved One stooped to …
Live Like the Moon: Why Gentle Influence Works
The moon does not fight. It attacks no one. It does not worry. It does not try to crush others. It keeps to its course, but by its very nature, …
3 Steps for Making Real Relating Possible – with Tara Brach
Whether you decide to practice these steps as part of your ongoing self-care, or to help you open to your Loved One in times of non-use or during a wi…
I Had Him Sectioned, But He’s Back Home & Using Again With His Mom
When two people drink or use drugs together, one is always urging the other one on. The role can switch back and forth: one day mom wants to put on th…
The “OMG” Phase, and the Traps We Fall Into
This is the time when the problem has reached a critical mass of recognition. It’s generally characterized by an intense desire to know what, wh…
The Power of Writing
A number of studies have shown that writing regularly in a journal can improve both mental and physical health. The best way to care for your Loved On…