PAL Blog
A Parent’s Story
Articles by Parents Like You
Finding Strength, Boundaries, and Hope Through PAL
I am the mom of three children, one son, one daughter, and one baby in Heaven. I also have two stepsons and four grandchildren, with one in Heaven. My first child, Justin, was a bright, talented child with lots of energy! Early on in grade school, he had some...
Love Transforms Through Understanding and Faith
I am a proud father and grandfather of three grown children and four beautiful grandchildren. I was raised in a major city in the Midwest. My family was deeply affected by substance use disorder. My father battled alcohol addiction for years, but he finally stopped...
The Hardest Lesson in Parenting How I Found Peace in Loving My Adult Child Exactly Where He Is
We are a family of four. My husband and I have two children, a daughter (22) and a son (23). We are a close family, and I had so much fun raising both of our children. I always wanted a son and a daughter (I actually wanted twins) and I am thankful that...
The View from Recovery
Articles by People in Recovery
From Self-Centered to Selfless: How Giving Back Became My Lifeline
There was a time when I didn’t know where I fit in the world. I wore a thousand masks trying to become whoever I thought people needed me to be, but I never felt comfortable in my own skin. I chased external validation, escaped through substances, and spiraled deeper...
The Freedom I Found in Letting Go
When I first got sober, I thought I had crossed the finish line. I had fought the battle against substances, surrendered to the reality of the powerlessness of my disease, and made the decision to start over. What I didn’t realize at the time was that sobriety wasn’t...
Finding Purpose in the Pain: A Journey from Despair to Empathy
As I sit here reflecting on the days of my past, I find myself transported back to a time when my life was consumed by addiction. It was a time when heroin dictated my every decision, and I felt like a spectator in my own life—watching from a distance as I spiraled...
From Counselors
Articles by PAL and Partner Counselors
Loosening Our Grip: The Karpman Drama Triangle
“It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff, and they keep jumping off the cliff, and I keep pulling them up. No matter how many times I pull them back up or beg them not to jump, they just keep jumping. I know I need to let go of the rope,...
A Caring Approach: How Parents Can Help
Last month, we discussed the fact that parents and loved ones can unintentionally create a barrier to healing because stigma can be so prevalent in the addiction world. Stigma, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, is...
Breaking the Silence: Why Your Loved One May Be Holding Back the Truth About Their Problem
Part 1 Have you ever heard people say that an addicted person is really in denial about their problem? Well, I’m here to tell you that I don’t really believe that is usually the case. Sure, they may be denying that fact to you. This much I know to be true. I believe...
