Discussion Blog
Latest Discussion Blog Post
The Nitty Gritty of Natural Consequences In Our Family
Chronicles of a CRAFTy Wife, Part Three
Discussion Blog Posts
Home or Recovery House? It’s Not an Easy Call
An Allies in Recovery member is fortunate to have a loved one she feels perfectly safe with, but the stress of living with him post-rehab still feels overwhelming. What’s the best housing choice for their situation? Both living at home and living in a recovery house come with their own unique challenges. Either way, the best chance for success is to be as informed as possible.
He’s Relapsed After Three Sober Months, and We’re Worried
Despite the setbacks, there’s good signs aplenty for this member’s Loved One. When our Loved Ones’ solid progress gets interrupted by a lapse, it’s easy to feel crushed and discouraged. But we can’t let those feelings make us forget what’s going well.
The Discussion Blog on the Allies Website: Excerpts From One Member’s Journey
An important component of any member’s successful journey on the Allies website is participation in the expertly-moderated Discussion Blog. There, CRAFT/AIR trained staff interact with members by answering questions in both regular replies and in full, expert blog response posts offering guidance that any member can access. Members see other members sharing questions, frustrations, and successes similar to theirs, and also they often see how the Learning Modules are effectively used as referenced by our team experts and by members. We also offer dozens of supplementary podcasts by members of our Allied Team, discussing real situations with Loved Ones and using the CRAFT approach.
A Message from Founder, Dominique Simon-Levine
Founder & CEO, Dominique Simon-Levine, offers an update about the Allies in Recovery program, including new offerings and activities. Thank you all for being so patient as we navigated through the many hassles and challenges associated with developing and building our new website. We are so very grateful for YOU! (Pictured Left to Right: Nicole Castillo, Andrew Maxwell, Deborah Rodriguez, Sandra Munier)
Am I Making Any Difference in My Daughter’s Life?
When we maintain a loving connection, we’re often doing more than we think. Allies in Recovery Member Adrexpert’s daughter achieved astonishing things during ten years of abstinence, but now she’s using again and could lose it all. Her mother is employing CRAFT techniques to keep a positive, loving link with her daughter.
Trusting Again is Tough. I’m Learning to Accept That.
How do we learn to trust again? A member’s long journey with her partner, and tips on sorting through our feelings about trust. She has spent thirty years living with her partner’s struggle with alcohol and is reaching a new kind of acceptance of her own feelings – that’s real progress!
He May Not Be Ready to Address It All at Once
When our Loved Ones are making progress, slow and steady reinforcement using CRAFT can be better than pushing hard.
Will She Still Believe I Love Her If I Set This Boundary?
Supporting a Loved One can be deeply painful, even when our choices are clear.
She’s Threatening Suicide Unless I Let Her Come Home and Use
When threats, anger, and possible self-harm enter the equation, it’s time to seek help for you Loved One. Susie’s daughter is lashing out at her, and threatening suicide unless she gets her way. Setting boundaries in such situations is necessary.
We’ve Walked a Long Road Together. So Why Can’t I Trust?
Trust isn’t a faucet you can turn off and on. And that’s all right. I found that CRAFT changed my life for the better.
You Don’t Have to Live in Manhattan to Access Recovery Services
And if AA isn’t what your Loved One’s after, there are usually alternatives
Kspring has been supporting her son on his recovery journey for years.
He’s come a long way, but the challenges still feel immense, and Kspring
is actively seeking new recovery resources that could offer a hand. Allies’
Laurie MacDougall did some digging. What she found underscores just
how much is out there—much of it independent of Zip code.
Don’t Let Worry Make His Progress Invisible
We want to protect our Loved Ones (and ourselves) from the dangers of reoccurrence. But we can’t overlook what’s working.
Learning Our Way Out of the Cycle of Recurrence
Even when a lot’s going right in our lives, the recovery process can be tough and painful. Outwardly, Bimba’s son’s life seems wonderful: good job, good relationship, education, financial security. Still, he only manages to remain abstinent for about 90 days at a time. While this stage of the recovery process is often brutal, there are resources and people ready to help. Sustained reinforcement —“getting the message about recovery”— is a vital piece of the puzzle.
She Really Is Making Progress. But There Are Days I Can’t Feel It.
We can’t resolve everything for our Loved Ones. That’s where reflective listening comes in.
Mgmcrosby’s daughter has multiple challenges, from substance use and problematic
relationships to depression and possible bipolar disorder. It’s no wonder that standing
beside her can sometimes be an overwhelming challenge. Reflective listening, one of
many CRAFT skills taught by Allies, can ease the burden.
CRAFT is Working – Despite a Relapse
An Allies in Recovery member wrote in with this bittersweet account. She shares with us her daughter’s words and feelings, confirming that she clearly felt Mom’s love, respect and support… even when Mom felt she might be holding too tightly to her boundaries and thus damaging their bond. The bitter note is that her daughter recently returned to the drugs and to the bad-boy boyfriend, also an opiate user. If you’d like to read some compelling proof that CRAFT is working, even when you’re not sure it is, read on…
My Son Is A Lot More Than Just His Drinking Problem
An inspiring message from a mom who’s working hard to support her son.
Member Connie W isn’t downplaying her son’s struggle with alcohol. But she also isn’t letting that struggle blind her to his wonderful qualities. With such a positive outlook, she’s in a great position to start learning and applying CRAFT.
He’s Getting Black-Out Drunk In Front of Our Daughter. What Can I Do?
As long as you’re physically safe, CRAFT is your starting point to make things better.