The journey of parents and families of addicts is often underestimated, and the damage report minimized, but I know the real. PTSD, depression, chronic anxiety, inability to work, loss of zest for life, rejection by other family members, weight loss or weight gain, and insomnia are some of the many ways folks are effected by on-going devastating life events, and having a addict in your family is both ‘devastating’ and ‘on-going’.
How can we overcome the damage?
Giving and being grateful – These are 2 things that will always carry you through. We don’t live off the garbage heap, nor do we languish in prison or the hospital…we are fortunate!!! Talk to the next homeless person you see, and show him dignity. That is a beautiful way to give. Fold a dollar with a nice message written on it and leave it for a less fortunate person to find (‘may health, wealth, and happiness find you’)…giving anonymously is giving in the highest form. The giving and being grateful boosts you to a more elevated level of consciousness, and motivates you to keep on ‘keeping on’.
Sai Sanjeevini prayer patterns– If you don’t know these folks from India, well, take the time to look them up. Sai Sanjeeveni is a prayer based, totally free and self prescribing system of healing. I myself have been using it for over 10 years. Make daily water by combining dozens of patterns such as forgiveness, thought management, anxiety, blood pressure high, or any number of hundreds of patterns representing healing different aliments and conditions.
Ignatia– The classic grief remedy (homeopathic), commonly used in cases where there is a death or a traumatic divorce or loss. I use this remedy when I can’t sleep, or have become very upset. Also, Nat Mur– Another great homeopathic remedy, for repeated disappointments. If you are the mom or dad of an addict you will surely have had repeated disappointments. You will know if you need this remedy for it or not.
Bach flower remedies- Preparations of flowers of plants used in a system of complementary medicine intended to relieve ill health by influencing underlying emotional states. There are 38 different remedies, and one called Rescue Remedy which is a combination and can be used for any trauma. It is best to read about the different qualities of each remedy, and choose the one, or ones (you can take several at a time) that match you the best.
Color– We know colors influence us greatly and you can set your stage with the color that enhances your health and emotional self. You may look up your assigned astrological color or choose from the list below, depending on what your emotional profile is. You can dress yourself in the color you choose, decorate with that color, or even change the background color of your computer screen to receive the color’s influence. And here is a quick list of emotional properties colors can carry:
- Red: vitality, strength, warmth, sensuality, assertion, anger, and impatience.
- Pink: calmness, kindness, unselfish love.
- Orange/Peach: joy, security, creativity, stimulation.
- Yellow: happiness, mental stimulation, optimism, fear.
How do we know when an addict is ‘healed’? Not in the moment- it will be somewhere out in the future when it will dawn on you “Gee, my daughter hasn’t had a relapse in, oh, I don’t even know how long!- and she’s been at the same job now for almost a year…wow, something must have changed.”
Want to talk about it? Send me a private email‘contact us’ or leave a comment.
