For years I avoided going out socially, like having coffee or walking with friends. The disease was seeping fast through our home, and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I could not stand trying to pretend that everything was ok, when in reality, things were crashing down. I did not know how to

Time on the water on my brother’s boat in Maryland always brought peace and serenity to me. It also brought a much needed break and laughs. I didn’t speak much to what was happening at home. Instead, I craved the “permission” to allow myself to take a hiatus from it all. I would get a taste

One of the easiest things for us to feel toward our alcoholic or addict is resentment for time lost. Time lost with children during their golden years of growing up. Time lost in our own golden years as professionals. We miss out on so much with all the chaos of the disease interrupting and distracting us

Acceptance is knowing there’s something greater than me.Acceptance that this was my new journey, and that this was my new life, was one of the hardest things for me to digest. I did not want to be married to an alcoholic, I did not choose this for myself. Why did God give me this problem that

The feeling of being stuck. When you have absolutely no control over his or her behaviors, actions, words, or their impact on you and your family. How does one actually step out of the storm, out of the chaos? Sometimes the hardest step is to simply make a choice.There is no one right way, or cliff

Where to begin… This is all new. This is scary. Where do I even start?Ask for help. If possible, seek a doctor or therapist to help guide you as you begin.Find two or three trusted friends or family members, and be open with them about your situation. Be brave enough to share your fears and

A simple act of kindness towards yourself, especially when your loved one is experiencing an emotional valley, is crucial.Yesterday I made the time to make a healthy sandwich from a new fitness and nutrition program I am trying. I stopped to look up recipes, get the ingredients, and try different recipes for meals. Seems easy, right?

Attempting to distinguish between coping vs. enabling skills can be tough to determine, especially if you are new to this disease. Or, if you are so far down the rabbit hole of the disease, it is tough to see the distinction.In addition, whether or not your alcoholic admits to having a problem, or wants to