Trust – Tools of the Program
My loved one suffers from the disease of addiction. By living with active addiction, I learned that I could not trust the addict. I could not trust that he would…
Dealing With Addiction
I think that the message of Nar-Anon is taking hold in my brain. The first message – I have no control – is a great help. I have seen the…
Letting Go
I affectionately dubbed my 17-year-old son “rehab boy.” Today, he completed one month at a drug rehab facility with three more months to go. The court mandated this treatment as…
Step Six
Step Six is an action step. It teaches me it is time to slough off the old, to apply the new. I once heard someone use the illustration of buying…
Character Defects
It is my belief that I have every right to ask to be recognized and understood. That is why I always wanted to explain my reasons, opinions, excuses and needs…
Compassion
The other day I took my grandson to the pier to go fishing. I wanted to get away from it all and not think about anything. I needed a clear…
Forgiveness
As I practice the Twelve Steps of Nar-Anon, I learn to make healthier choices. I can now identify times in my life when I have made less than healthy choices. There is…
Responsibility
Because of the drug use, the stealing and lying, and the chaos that goes along with active addiction, I asked the addict to leave our home. The chaos persisted, and…
Changing What I Can
One of the greatest things about the Nar-Anon program is how it can change our lives. I think of the members in my group who share how they have grown and…
Turning Fantasy Into Reality
I have expectations of myself. Have you ever heard the expression: “Expectations are disappointments waiting to happen”? I used to have expectations of the addict in my life. Those expectations were…