Hello Again,
My number one go to for helping myself, learning tools for Substance Abuse or Processing Disorders and hearing from other parents share their idea’s, hope, struggles and successes is Dave and Tina’s meetings where cross talk is encouraged. I genuinely feel they both bring a great deal of knowledge and hope to any situation.
When I was in one of the lowest points of struggling with My Loved One’s Addiction, I felt so overwhelmed and hopeless until I found Dave and Tina, the SMART Recovery Family & Friends Program and some pretty awesome Volunteers. Dave and Tina have their own personal website and meeting. I encourage you to check out there website. There is a lot of helpful information on it.
Alternat+ves: Dave and Tina’s Family & Friends meetings are open to All, Everyone is welcome. I do want to let you know it is geared more for Parents or people in the Care Taker role as a Parent.
Facilitated by two people I love and have high respect for. I do not say that lightly.
Sundays: UK 6pm, New York 1pm EST
They run the SMART Recovery Family and Friends, Parent Focused Group meeting on Tuesdays at 1pm EST
About SMART Recovery
SMART Recovery is a fresh approach to addiction recovery. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. This is more than an acronym: it is a transformative method of moving from addictive substances and negative behaviors to a life of positive self-regard and willingness to change. —Copied directly from the Smart Recovery website.
I HIGHLY SUGGEST GOING TO THE FAMILY AND FRIEND TOOL TIME MEETINGS. They are eye opening and quite life changing if you give it a chance. Some SMART Recovery Meetings do require a sign in with your own username. Which you can sign up for on the SMART Recovery website.
The Center for Motivation and Change website has superb articles, videos and excellent information. The SMART Recovery Program is taken from this model.
Books for free download from the Center for Motivation and Change
These free guides are really helpful for families to understand how to support people with substance use disorder and help yourself, very important. One book is for parents dealing with their Child’s Substance use disorder and the other is a copy of the book for a partner dealing with there Significant Others substance abuse disorder. The books are also available for purchase. I found this book/workbook helpful. I purchased the book myself because it is easier for me to work that way. I did a little bit at a time and some days nothing because it was just too hard. Be kind to yourself and meet yourself where your at, meaning only do what you can do right now at this very moment and if you don’t have the will to do more stop and come back to it later.
Be kind to yourself your going through a tough time. Just as kind as you would be to your best friend.
www.the20minuteguide.com/parents/introduction-guide/
www.the20minuteguide.com/partners/introduction-partners-guide/
The Invitation to Change – A Short Guide
Through short explanatory chapters and more than 20 exercises, The Invitation to Change: A Short Guide will walk you through the 9 core topics of the Invitation to Change Approach® (ITC).
The Invitation to Change Approach© (ITC) is a holistic helping framework based in science and kindness, designed for the families and loved ones of people struggling with substance use. In each chapter, this workbook will introduce you to a key ITC topic—like Behaviors Make Sense, Increasing Positive Behaviors, and One Size Does Not Fit All—and then help you practice with special activities.—I copied this directly from the CMC website.
This is the most up to date information regarding substance abuse. There is a whole lot that might surprise you in this workbook, There is also new training available to learn more about The Invitation to Change approach from the Center for Motivation and Change. I am happy to say that I am currently in the ITC workshop to be certificate as a trainer in the ITC approach.
I have included the link for the free Digital download. I urge you to buy the book if you can. It is a great go to tool to look something up and reread things as needed. I myself have the printed version.
Great discussion and video. I am a visual learner and these video were extremely helpful to me.
Dr. Bob Meyers describes CRAFT…
CMC CRAFT video training class – EXCELLENT
www.motivationandchange.com/family-services/resources-for-families/craft-class/
Meetings around the world list
Excellent resources because sometimes we need to try something different. Or see things in a new way. I highly suggest trying at least 5 of the same meetings before making any decisions.
Time Zone Help
https://dateful.com/time-zone-converter?tz=London
SMART Recovery USA
https://www.smartrecovery.org/community/calendar.php
SMART Recovery Canada
https://www.smartrecoverytoronto.com/
SMART Recovery UK
https://smartrecovery.org.uk/online-meetings/
SMART Recovery Australia
https://smartrecoveryaustralia.com.au/online-smart-recovery-meetings-2/
SMART Recovery International
https://www.smartrecoveryinternational.org
Life Ring
https://lifering.org/online-meetings/
Recovery Dharma
www.recoverydharma.online/
Al-Anon
https://al-anon.org/al-anon-meetings/find-an-al-anon-meeting/
Nar-Anon
https://www.nar-anon.org/
Alateen
https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/
Family & Friends – Overeaters Anonymous
https://oa.org/family-friends/
Gam-Anon – Help for Family & Friends | Gamblers Anonymous
http://www.gamblersanonymous.org/ga/content/gam-anon-help-family-friends
Tips for our own Well Being – BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT
These are great sites for stress, anxiety, depression and how to improve your mental health. Has some good information and is science based.
NHS five steps to well-being (because we matter too)
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/self-help/guides-tools-and-activities/five-steps-to-mental-wellbeing/
Which books to buy first?
https://shop.smartrecovery.org/product/books/smart-family-friends-handbook/
My thoughts on it? Buy this first, The SMART Recovery Family & Friends Handbook. This is almost like but kind of not really a short version of the Book “Beyond Addiction” HOW SCIENCE AND KINDNESS HELP PEOPLE CHANGE. It is good because it gives you chapter by chapter very clear information and steps you can take AND DO FOR YOURSELF right away. YOU CAN USE this book even if you do not want to attend any SMART Recovery Family and Friends Meetings. That’s how good it is. It is a faster read then most Handbooks I found.
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beyond-addiction-jeffrey-foote/1116333754
My thoughts about it? This is my #1 favorite book. Buy this second unless you’re a fast reader. Life changing (for me it was) to see that your not crazy and how your feeling is not wrong. It is a longer read but well worth it. This book also comes in a Nook and audio version. I have the book and the audio version as well, I use both. Through this book I found the SMART Recovery Family and Friends Meetings! Life Saving for sure. This book address all family members.
After that if you have time and want to read something else I suggest…
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/get-your-loved-one-sober-robert-meyers/1018373000?ean=9781592850815
Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening
My thoughts on it? This is an excellent book also, it is geared more towards Partners and Spouses. It has a different perspective on Addiction. It is not the all or nothing ideas that are usually put forward and tossed around.
Ending Discrimination Against People with Mental and Substance Use Disorders
The Evidence for Stigma Change (2016)
My thoughts on it? National Academies – I do not suggest starting out reading this book at all- This is just here for extra learning geared for you if you want something else to read after checking everything else out, possibly want more knowledge and have the time. This book is not even in my top 10 (more to come on that later) suggested books to read.
I have added these tow sites just for some education about questions you might have pertaining to specific drugs. I am not capable of educating you on this sensitive topic. These two sites are very helpful to inform yourself and learn about drug names, nicknames of drugs, usage and side effects. Tina and Dave have mentioned these two sites in there meetings and people have found them helpful.
Honest information about drugs | FRANK
https://www.talktofrank.com/
Drug Facts – Alcohol and Drug Foundation
https://adf.org.au/drug-facts/
Just need someone to listen? Feel like your on shaky ground?
Make the call… 1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Text 988 to text with a mental health counselor
https://988lifeline.org/help-yourself/for-deaf-hard-of-hearing/
For Canada
Mental health professional one on one call 1-866-585-0445
or
text wellness to 686868 for youths
or
Text wellness to 741741 for adults
Last but not least always incorporate Tapping (Emotional Freedom Technique) because it helps any situation that you are in no matter how bad it may be. Tapping helps to calm you down right on the spot. Do you want to learn more about how that can help you with your emotional roller coaster of life give me a call or set up an appointment here.
That’s it for now. Wow that is some good information in one place. That is exactly what I always wanted to do to make it easier for families to get information with different options. I have accomplished that here. Try not to overwhelm yourself with all of this information. I know I keep saying it. I do because it is an important reminder. Remember, take what you like and leave the rest.
How would I start? If I were looking for Family Addiction Support or Recovery help at this very moment?
By signing up for a SMART Recovery account right away. Then attend as many Family & Friends meetings AND Family & Friends Tool Time meetings, as soon as possible. MAKE the time to fit the meetings into my schedule for the first few weeks. Like a mandatory appointment with myself and keep it. That is exactly what I did when I found SMART Recovery Family & Friends and my life has changed for the better. It was not easy at first but IT WAS WORTH IT!!!
Right after that (or prior to signing up with SMART) I would find a person to work with who is not going to shake their head at you, dismiss you, or pressure you to do things that do not feel right to you and your unique set of circumstances. I suggest looking for a hopeful environment where you are being heard, able to freely express feelings and how your handling things with no judgement! To have someone meet you where you’re at. To support you, really hear what your saying about what you want to do or not want to do. Make choices that feel right for you and your family with no black and white thinking.
That’s where I come in! A Family Support Tapping Coach! That’s me. With some talking and Tapping we can get a whole lot accomplished. Why not give this thing called Tapping a try?
Give me a call at 516-984-3756 to set up a free of charge 20 minute call and lets see how we can work together.
Peace, Love and Tapping,
Cassandra
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
— Viktor E. Frankl
