The obvious answer is: very carefully. Know your limits, create healthy boundaries, and be a consistent source of positive options. For someone living with a loved one who is an active addict or alcoholic, this can be very difficult.
Having a lion in the family and failing to recognize it for what it is, as well as what it's capable of, can be dangerous for both the family and the lion. A family that accepts their lion as a lion and loves him appropriately can find healthy ways for him to remain as a part of the family system.
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Key ideas in this chapter
- Three types of love and their risks with addiction
- The danger of giving gifts or financial support
- Setting boundaries around spending time together
- Using words and actions as the safest form of love
"As an addict, I was never able to resell words or actions. I was not able to use them to get high."