Comments on: The Family’s Role in Recovery

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:38:41 +0000

To me, having my family back is one of the keys to my recovery. Before Gatehouse, I never felt this way about my family. While being a resident, and attending the family workshops I learned more about my parents and siblings in a course of a year then in my entire life. How I see it is that I had to earn back my family support and relationship with them through my actions becuase they were sick of me just talking and not doing the foot work. The program at Gatehouse helped me get motivated for building a strong and honest relationship with my Family.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 12:57:54 +0000

Working with residents and thier families over the years has been and education and a gift. Having been a part of thier lives and struggles has given me the ability to understand my own family and practice loving detachment.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 17:50:40 +0000

When I was sober 6 years, my AA sponsor sent me to Al-anon, and I thought she was sending me into “enemy camp”! It took me about a year to figure out what I was doing there, but as the mother , daughter,sister, niece and grandchild of alcoholism, Al-anon saved my heart and my life. Most significantly, I learned where I end and where my family begins. They were almost as happy that I was in Al-anon, as they were when I got into A.A.! I needed to not just understand powerlessness, but to accept it in all areas of my life. I think 12-step recovery is the best game in town!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:44:51 +0000

My family has played a greatly instrumental role in my recovery. We have had many ups and downs, learning experiences, and trials and tribulations. Through tears and laughter, we have come to the point where we’re at now. This point has me sober today and my family working their own recovery program. I can identify where I begin and my family members end. I can focus on myself and the 12-step program I work and release my family from the previous fears they experienced when I was active in my addiction and alcoholism.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:43:07 +0000

My family played a HUGE role for me getting into recovery. Much like the girl in this story, I found myself not being able to function or get by without my drug. My family stepped in and helped me to get to Gatehouse. When I first got sober, it wasn’t for me, I was sober for my family. They say, it doesn’t matter how you get here, just get here. I did. After a while I wanted sobriety for me. I am not sober today for my family, but if it wasn’t for my family I wouldn’t be sober today, probably not even alive.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:43:02 +0000

when i first got into treatment my family wrote me a tough love letter basically stating that if i wasn’t willing to do what i had to do to get sober and finish this program that i wasnt welcome back home. That was one of the biggest turning points in my recovery. If my family was still willing to enable me in my addiction than I would be dead right now. My families letter was pretty harsh but at the same time it was what i needed to understand how my addiction had hurt the people I love the most. It opened my eyes to who I had become and that is why I chose to change today.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:45:21 +0000

The best thing a family can do is take care of themselves, and allow the addict to have to accept the consequences of their actions. If it is possible, helping the addict get serious help is adviseable, but sending them on rehab “vacations” can be unproductive. It is better to look for something that will address both the addiction and the lack of life skills we addicts tend to have.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:18:40 +0000

Families have to understand that it is a family disease and in order for full recovery everyone must work their program. Addiction is a roaring fire that consumes many logs. Albeit, the addict chise the addiction, there are many logs that contribute to it. In family recovery the family members begin to identify and own up to their contributing logs or factors. It’s like taking logs from the fire. This not only makes it easier for the addict to successfully move into recovery but it allows the family members to find recovery in their own unhealthy behaviors.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 07:18:38 +0000

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:58:43 +0000

The importance of the family moving into recovery by attending Alanon meeting is as important as their young adult is working through their process of developing a new way to live without using drugs or alcohol. I believe it is a core piece to developing healthy family relationships between both worlds. As a parent with a young adult that is in recovery from her addiction abuse, I find the Alanon meetings a place where I can express in an honest way how fearful and controling I am when red flags come up while taking to my daughter. Alanon has led me to understand that I have a choice today to stay in fear and worry over her actions or let it go and pray she makes the better chooses. Life is much better for me when I tell myself it is a good day when I let God run the show.