Siblings often find themselves caught in the middle of the recovery process. In the story of the prodigal son, a father waits and watches expectantly for the return of his wayward child. The boy left home and not only squandered his inheritance, but also wasted a big chunk of his life. But there is so much more to the story. As we take a closer look at the entire family, we see that "the rest of the story" can apply to families and siblings today who are struggling with the early stages of recovery. The post Siblings: The Forgotten Ones first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

Resource Links for Families of Substance Abusers, Addicts and Alcoholics We’ve listed our favorite, most informative, useful, reliable—and yes, even the most “fun” websites we could find, to help you navigate this challenging world of recovery. Updated 7.15.2020 This Resource List is a work-in-progress. If you’re seeking a particular resource and still need help, please […] The post Addiction Recovery Resources first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

Recovery Books, DVDs (for the family) Book: Why Don’t They Just Quit? What Families and Friends Need to Know About Addiction and Recovery.  ~by Joe Herzanek (Paperback) DVD: Why Don’t They Just QUIT? Roundtable Discussion: What families and friends need to know about addiction and recovery. DVD: The 10 Toughest Questions Families and Friends Ask […] The post Family Recovery Books, DVDs! first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

    Recovery Thoughts #105 Love the Addict, Not the Addiction ~ Written and shared with permission by an Anonymous Mom     ______________________________________________________________________________________________ Although we generally focus on posts that give the reader a message of hope, this emotional reality-check is a “must read” shared with permission from an anonymous Mom.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________   If […] The post Love the Addict, Not the Addiction first appeared on Changing Lives F ..read more

    Recovery Thought #104 “They tried to make me to go to rehab…” ~ by Joe Herzanek     The documentary film “Amy” about the life and death of British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse is superb and so sad at the same time. Judy and I have watched it twice. The line above is one […] The post “They tried to make me to go to rehab…” first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

This “Recovery Thought” was originally a comment on one of our Facebook groups. I read it and it resonated strongly with me. Linda W. has agreed to let us share this publicly, hoping her works will let others know —they are not alone. ~Judy Herzanek/Changing Lives Foundation ________________________________________________________________ I’d like to share a crazy question […] The post I Don’t See a Man, I See My Child. first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

    Recovery Thought #102 “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay.” ~ By Seija       It’s okay to not be okay Ever feel like you’re struggling and don’t know what to do? Feel like you’re not enough? Feel like your worth is based on how others feel about you? Feel like your identity […] The post “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay.” first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

  Recovery Thought #101 “AA just doesn’t work for me” Over the years I’ve heard at least thousands of times, “AA just doesn’t work for me.” In essence this person wants to know the 2nd best way to end their alcohol or drug use. So what have I learned in the past 40+ years about […] The post AA Just Doesn’t Work For Me. first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

Recovery Thought: #100 I’m Left-Handed. I’m also an alcoholic. ~Joe Herzanek I’m left-handed. Apparently I was born this way. No one knows for sure why a person is left-handed (Google it and you’ll come up with dozens of theories). No one asked me if I wanted to be a lefthander in a righthander’s world. About […] The post I’m Left-Handed. I’m Also Alcoholic. first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more

Should I search my adolescent’s room? The post Should I search my adolescent’s room? first appeared on Changing Lives Foundation Blog ..read more