When I was caught in the storm of my loved ones’ addictions, I didn’t know what was helping or making the situation worse. The harder I tried to make them better, to see a new perspective and put their addiction behind them, the greater the burden I carried- the more responsible I felt. Yet, there came a day when I was on the brink of collapse and couldn’t hold our lives together any longer. In some ways, I was in worse shape than my loved ones, but without a coping mechanism for my pain and no foreseeable solution to ending the problem. For the sake of my family and my health, I needed to step back and find my healing journey, regardless of whether my loved ones did the same. I couldn’t control my loved ones or their addiction, but I could control my life and choices. The day that I finally released the burden of control, the idea that I could save them, was the day I discovered my self-worth in the face of great pain. Safe From the Storm is a loving guide designed to help you understand your loved one’s addiction through the perspective of mental health challenges, unresolved trauma, unhealed wounds, and unhealthy coping mechanisms. This book also guides readers on recognizing their own coping strategies they learned to manage the addiction, identifying the feelings and thought patterns that lead to unhealthy caretaking or codependency, and finding new skills to break the cycle of the storm. With self-awareness prompts and journaling questions, you can gently begin processing the situation from a new perspective that guides you through painful and heavy emotions towards the next step and the one after that. We carefully plant new seeds of awareness to heal through compassion, forgiveness, and a release of fear. The ultimate goal is to feel better in a way that allows you to make healthier and more productive choices for yourself and your family- regardless of the status of your loved one’s addiction. Addiction is incredibly painful, but there is hope. By dropping shame, blame, and social stereotypes, not only do you have a better chance of healing, but your loved one does as well. AND… most of all, you will discover that while you may or may not need distance from your loved one to be healthy yourself, you are ALLOWED to love them for being human and struggling.
Author Jenny Kennedy shares her painful experience with four of her loved ones’ addictions to walk readers through the same process she used to find forgiveness, wellness, and peace. With a realistic and holistic approach, Jenny created a series of questions and exercises to refocus readers back in their lane without judgment, shame, or guilt. Jenny believes there is a great misconception about addiction and codependency because the labels themselves prevent people from seeking the help they so desperately need. In addition, the family and friends desperately seeking an end to the madness also feel the weight of wagging fingers and tongues while trying to manage a heartbreaking situation.
Addiction is merely a symptom of underlying excruciating pain that a person cannot face. Underneath addiction, people are struggling with the weight of trauma and indescribable pain AND the fierce gaze from a society that holds a harsh opinion of them. There is no excuse for abusive behavior; however, abuse and addiction alike will continue until the cycle is broken.
Safe From the Storm is a book that helps ease the pressure of codependent behaviors while also offering a fresh perspective on addiction. By the end of the book, readers will have new tools to make positive changes in their lives and move forward with hope.
