A Helping Hand

For an addict often times it can hard to cope with what is going on.  It is even harder to open up and letting people in to see your demons.

I just wanted to highlight a few online support groups that I have heard good things about.  They are free to use and can get addicts into contact with each other so they can share stories, find an accountability partner and things of that nature.

Daily Strength
This is a nice discussion board where you can post and talk about whatever you like anonymously.  There are many categories highlighting different addictions.

Addiction Survivors
 AddicitonSurviviors.org is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing peer support communities for those with addiction disorders and their families and friends. These forums are funded in whole by individuals whose lives have been touched by addiction in one way or another.

 

It is great to have a community to reach out to and share your experiences with.  Even if it is anonymously, it is great to see what others have been through.  It can be a real encouragement during tough times.  And maybe you sharing your story on one of these forums can help someone else who is going through a similar situation.  

A Different Perspective

I decided to mix it up a bit today and share an audio clip of a conversation I had with a father of an addict. Hope it gives some new insights that I couldn't capture, enjoy!

Are You Really Listening?

Are you really listening?

When my sister was struggling with her addiction, I never truly listened to her. I would let her speak but never put much weight on her words. Because what does an addict have to say that is worth something? I wanted her to listen to me. I was the healthy one in the right frame of mind! If she just listened to me I could FIX her up in no time.

If I listened maybe I would have heard what she was saying. That there was nothing I could fix. Maybe if I was really listening I would have known. Instead, I was caught up searching for a answer to my problem: my sister's addiction.

I ask you to give it a try. Just listen. Don't speak, don't try and answer their questions. Just let them know you care by lending them an ear. They may shout at you, cry, or speak very plainly.  However they do speak just sit there and really listen.