coping with substance

abuse in your family?

substance abuse in your family > adults > visit home

GOING HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS OR OTHER VISITS?

It's not only the trip that can make it stressful. You may be worried about going home for a visit with your family, but you can cope:

Recognize that your feelings are normal

Plan ahead for your visit

Be realistic in your expectations of your family

Schedule time with people you like to spend time with

Check out community activities

Find healthy ways to relieve stress

Exercise, read, listen to music or talk with a friend

Don’t abuse alcohol or other drugs

Consider seeking help before going home

For information and support, contact a local health or counseling center.

Look what these young people have to say:

Trina

Every time I return to college after a visit home, I feel sick. Both of my parents have a serious drug problem. The house is so depressing. There’s hardly any food there, and it smells. I can’t wait to leave. When I get back to school, I’m either crying or feeling so tired that I can’t get motivated to do anything. I love my parents, but I hate to see them like this.

-Trina

Antonio

Living on my own has been great for me and it’s changed the way that I think about a lot of things. But it makes it that much harder to go home. My parents and younger sister think that I have developed an attitude problem because I’m trying to help them take a hard look at my father’s drug problem It drives them crazy. I have to admit that when I come home now, everything seems even more out of whack than before.

-Antonio

Dallas
I used to feel as though I had to be home a lot to deal with things there. But when I went to college, I thought "forget it – you guys take care of your own lives." I realize that I can’t save anyone until I save myself. I can’t solve everything and make their lives okay. I have to fight for myself now. I love my family but I cannot fix them. I don’t really speak to them anymore, but I still feel badly inside.

-Dallas