Chemical Dependency Within The Family

I had an amazing experience, my first in studio radio broadcast. It was AWESOME!!! I was blessed to be a guest on the Kingdom View Radio Network (KVRN), Living On Purpose Mid-morning Show with host Rita Taylor. The topic of the show was Chemical Dependency Within the Family, POWERFUL. As we were having the discussion, it came to me that this topic is really not talked about enough. At that very moment what we were putting out into the airwaves could be such a blessing to someone out there listening. It may be the very thing someone needed to hear that has the potential to change their life or the life of someone they love. What an amazing blessing to be used in such a way. I would like very much to share some amazing points shared on the show.

It is very important that we are able to determine whether a problem may exist for our love ones or even ourselves.

Here are some questions to try and determine if your loved one may be chemically dependent

The following test, while not a diagnostic tool, can help you to determine if your suspicions are correct. Answer each question with a yes or no.

» Is the person drinking (or using any other drug) more now than he or she did in the past?

» Are you ever afraid to be around the person when he or she is drinking or using drugs – because of the possibility or physical or verbal abuse?

» Has the person ever forgotten or denied things that happened during a drinking or using episode?

» Has the person broken promises to control or stop his or her drinking or using, or tried to hide it from you?

» Have you ever been embarrassed by the person’s drinking or drug use?

» Have you ever lied to anyone else about the person’s drinking or drug use?

» Are most of the person’s friend’s heavy drinkers or drug users?

» Have you ever made excuses for the way the person behaved while drinking or using drugs?

» Are holidays and social functions unpleasant for you because of the person’s drinking or drug use?

» Does the person deny that he or she has a drinking problem because he or she only drinks beer (or wine)? Or deny that he or she has a drug problem   because its use is “limited” to medical marijuana, or diet pills, or some other supposedly “harmless” substance?

» Does the person’s behavior change noticeably when he or she is drinking or using? (For example: a normally quiet person might become loud and talkative or a normally mild-mannered person might become quick to anger.)

» Does the person avoid social functions where alcohol will not be served, or drugs will not be permitted or available?

» Are you afraid to ride in the car after a person has been drinking or using drugs?

» Is the person having financial difficulties that seem to be related to his or her drug use?

» Have you ever found alcohol or drugs that the person has hidden?

Remember, we must be strong enough to set boundaries with anyone in our lives whom may be involved with some type of chemical dependency. Being afraid of their response is not as important of being afraid for their lives. Let's not love our loved ones to death. . .instead love them to LIFE!!!

Esther Renee' Daniels, MSP, LCDC