A Trip into Outer Space

Busting Addiction and Its Myths

In this article, we focus on the following topics as they relate to the myths and realities for the suffering family member.

1. Families new to addiction carry the illusion that the problem is with their addict and do not yet know that they, too are as sick as the addict himself.
2. They believe that they have some control over their addict’s behaviour and are shocked to discover that they have zero chance of affecting the addict’s drinking and using over the long term.
3. Addicts and alcoholics get away with murder because they put the blame on the unwitting family member who accepts responsibility for a sick situation caused by the presence of the disease.
4. The caregiver/mom needs to smash the illusion that she has any real control over her outer space which includes what her beloved addict is doing or not doing. She mistakenly believes that by obsessing over her addict that somehow, he will magically change, when the answer lies within herself.