Lovers, Friends
and Families
Self
care
Taking
care of ourselves
Support
Telltale signs present
in early Tina use
Someone we care
about is a problem Tina user
Partners
Taking care of ourselves
Many of us have a strong impulse to help and support someone
we care about when we think they are having a problem with
their Tina use. The degree of intimacy and relative importance
of this person and our relationship to them will impact the
extent to which we will want to try and help. We likely have
more invested in a primary relationship than if our relationship
is defined by friendship. Regardless or wither we are a friend,
lover or family member of someone with problem Tina use, we
are affected.
The ways we are affected will vary as will our experience
to cope with the stresses associated with helping someone
with their Tina use. Problem use, especially if it develops
into dependence, has progressive impacts. Addiction is difficult
for the user to manage and it’s difficult for the ones
impacted by it to manage as well. How relationships feel and
function will change. They may get worse before they get better.
Our ability to cope and manage the stresses of being in relationship
with someone with problem Tina use determines how effective
we can be in helping the person we care about. Many people
in this situation report that one of the biggest lessons they
learned was the need to take better care of themselves in
the process. It’s easy to get drawn into the drama of
dependence and Tina is the reigning queen of drama! It’s
easy for the focus of the relationship to be about the one
with the problem use. It’s easy to abandon our needs
in this dynamic. It’s easy for us to succumb to stresses
when we do this. The truth is we cannot help the one we care
about or the relationship, if we are falling apart.
The articles in this section provide information to help
lovers, friends and families understand the person they love's
problem use as well as helpful tips and strategies. There
is a wealth of other information elsewhere on the site written
from the perspective of the user and exuser that may be helpful
as well.
 TIP: Use the search feature on this page to read more on
a subject you may be interested in.
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