“There’s a phrase, “the elephant in the living room”, which purports to describe what it’s like to live with a drug addict, an alcoholic, an abuser. People outside such relationships will sometimes ask, “How could you let such a business go on for so many years? Didn’t you see the elephant in the living room?” And it’s so hard for anyone living in a more normal situation to understand the answer that comes closest to the truth; “I’m sorry, but it was there when I moved in. I didn’t know it was an elephant; I thought it was part of the furniture.” There comes an aha-moment for some folks – the lucky ones – when they suddenly recognize the difference.” ~ Stephen King
April is alcohol awareness month.
A month to just notice and observe.
Are your drinking habits feeling healthy?
Are you concerned about a family member?
From the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.:
“Alcohol Awareness Month, held every April, was founded by and has been sponsored by NCADD since 1987 to increase public awareness and understanding aimed at reducing the stigma that too often prevents individuals and families from seeking help.
During Alcohol Awareness Month, NCADD and NCADD’s National Network of Affiliates reach out in communities across the country to bring the American public information about alcohol and alcoholism as a chronic, progressive disease, fatal if untreated, and genetically predisposed.
The disease of alcoholism is a family disease that is treatable, not a moral weakness, from which people can and do recover.
In fact, millions of individuals and family members are living lives in long-term recovery from alcoholism!”
Alcohol not only affects the person who is abusing alcohol. It affects their spouse, children, parents, siblings, and friends. Don’t let the stigma hold you or your family back from getting help.
Keeping with the theme of alcohol use, I would like to share my interview with Lisa Frederiksen, author of Crossing the Line, from Use to Abuse to Dependence. Lisa shares great insights regarding the myths that many of us believe regarding alcohol use.
I hope you enjoyed the interview.
Learn the science behind addiction, understand the emotional toll it takes on a family, and what steps you can take to help your loved one, as well as yourself.
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