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In this podcast, we ask the question... Am I helping or am I making things worse?

This is one of those questions that is based on the myth that one can change the course of an addict's disorder at all.

1. It is said that "people who try to change other people are sick people". That is not meant to be unkind, rather it is said to get the attention of family members who believe they can change their loved one to become "normal".
2. The presence of addiction in the home uses up most of the available oxygen, leaving little for other family members for their own use. The family becomes obsessed with the addict and starts to act irrationally to try to control to fix the sick one.
3. That's why addiction and/or alcoholism are rightfully known as a "family disease" since the family is as powerless over the disorder as is the addict himself. The family is often in denial about the presence of this aspect of the disease, pointing to the addict as "the one" with the problem.
4. Therefore, the only person whom "you" can ultimately help is yourself; at least you are not powerless over your own actions, once you know what the options are. We advise that family members find a way to gain freedom from the effects of the disorder by finding others facing the same challenges. A good start is Al-Anon, founded over 60 years ago and helping millions (yes, millions) of families ever since. Visit www.al-anon.org and we hope you discover the path to freedom for yourself.