Do you feel dragged down by a friend's or family member’s addictive behaviour?

Counselling can help...

Perhaps you can relate to some of the following?

  • You are frustrated after several failed attempts to get a family member or friend to stop their addiction.The addict has agreed to get help and then fails to follow through on appointments.
  • In your frustration, you behave towards the addict in ways that you feel ashamed of.
  • You protect the addict from the consequences of addictive behaviour known as co-dependency or enabling.
  • You at times feel that it is all your fault.
  • The addicted person tells you their addiction is your fault.
  • You are angry because so many promises for change have been broken.
  • You rationalize that other people have it worse and that this really is not that bad.
  • You are beginning to feel it is hopeless like things will never change.

If you can relate to some of these experiences, counselling can help. You can make positive choices for yourself even though your friend or loved one is addicted.

Instead of trying to change the addict you can discover how to focus on your own behaviour that is entwined in the addict’s behaviour. You will then be able to free yourself from these unhealthy behaviours. The focus is on yourself, your goals, and the life you choose to live.

We cannot change other people. With that in mind, a crucial step towards change is to thoroughly explore if your behaviour, in reaction to the addicts behaviour, is serving you well. Often times, through this self examination, you will discover that your reactions to the addict’s behaviour are not effective in getting your needs met.

Counselling can be valuable in assisting you in achieving this heightened self-awareness. As you become increasingly aware of the role you play in the addictive cycle, the more you are able to make choices that have greater likelihood in getting you what you want in life. Counselling can assist you in this process.

Benefits of counselling if you are affected by another’s addiction:

  • Increased feelings of self-worth which positively changes your perspective in all areas of your life.
  • Development of mastery over your own thinking so that you become empowered to shift to choosing positive thinking instead of a habitual negative outlook.
  • Increased feelings of enjoyment, happiness, contentment, peacefulness, and physical energy.
  • Development and maintenance of healthy personal boundaries which assist you in maintaining choices which nurture and support you.
  • Recognition of what you do and do not have the power to change.
  • Improvement in your physical, emotional, and spiritual health.
  • Improved problem solving skills when dealing with another’s addictive behaviour.
  • Enriched friendships and relations with family due to your movement from reactive behaviour to behaviour that supports your well being.

If you would like more information how private counselling can assist you to stop struggling with your addicted loved one and live a more satisfying life, you can call Barbara today for a FREE initial phone consultation. This could be an important step in changing your life.