[Title] Four Tips to Cope With A Loved One’s Addiction How to Cope With A Loved One’s Addiction Four Ways to Stay Strong in the Face of A Loved One’s Addiction [Kicker] Although many people think of addiction as a personal issue, the truth is that it affects the addict’s friends and family, too. Here are four ways we can aid our loved ones who might bet struggling with an addiction. [Highlights of the source article] A family member’s addiction can place strain on his or her loved ones, and those family and friends may not know how best to help. In “When a Loved One Struggles with Addiction,” [https://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/01/when-‐a-‐loved-‐ one-‐struggles-‐with-‐addiction?lang=eng] an article in the January 2005 Ensign, Corrie Lynne Player discusses four ways family members can help their loved one while still maintaining their own spiritual health: 1. Allow Consequences to Occur Love the person, but don’t condone the addiction. Family members may want to lessen the consequences of their loved one’s addiction. However, the best thing to do is to let the loved one suffer the consequences of his or her actions. 2. Turn to the Church The Church has many resources for struggling individuals, including an addiction recovery program [https://addictionrecovery.lds.org/?lang=eng] through LDS Family Services. This program is not just for those struggling with addiction; it also helps those whose loved ones are addicted. 3. Extend Love Shame and control will not motivate an addict to change; in fact, such emotion and action may only worsen the problem. Instead, the addict needs your love. Christlike love can instill hope in the addict. 4. Rely on the Lord The Savior understands every struggle we will go through (Alma 7:11–12). [https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/7.11-‐12?lang=eng#10] The Atonement can help families bear all burdens, including addiction. The Lord will give you the strength to overcome the difficulties that come when a loved one struggles with addiction. Hang on to hope. The Atonement of Jesus Christ [https://www.lds.org/topics/atonement-‐of-‐jesus-‐christ?lang=eng] can heal the soul and can provide strength to overcome all things. Read Corrie Lynne Player’s article, When a Loved One Struggles With Addiction, here [https://www.lds.org/ensign/2005/01/when-‐a-‐loved-‐one-‐struggles-‐with-‐ addiction?lang=eng]
Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:49 PM Comment [1]: This one’s my favorite. Mentioning that this article contains four tips makes it feel more compelling, and it’s a little more concise than the last option. Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:51 PM Comment [2]: Consider recasting the sentence so you don’t have to use “addict.” It could carry overly negative connotations for some. Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 7:00 PM Comment [3]: Is there an interesting quote from the article you could include? Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:52 PM Deleted: they Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:53 PM Formatted: Font:Italic Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:53 PM Comment [4]: Does she have some sort of qualifications you could mention that would make her the “expert” on the issue? (e.g. a psychologist)
Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:54 PM Deleted: s
Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:57 PM Comment [5]: Consider something along the lines of “In this difficult time, an individual struggling with addiction will need your love now more than ever,” just to keep the tone a little softer. Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:55 PM Deleted: they Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:56 PM Deleted: even Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 6:59 PM Comment [6]: Is this the fifth point? Maybe add some sort of concluding paragraph to give a sense of resolution to the article. Margaret Willden 10/22/2015 7:00 PM Comment [7]: Maybe recast the sentence so “here” isn’t standing alone after the comma.
Source: lds.org [http://www.lds.org]