The internet is full of memes that illustrate the widely accepted need for some kind of alcoholic beverage to calm nerves, to celebrate, to finish the day, to relax, to reward, to surprise etc. They are trying to convince us that we are deserving and ought not to feel bad about our Sun-downers, quick drinks after work with the guys, G&T’s or Bubbly or Mommy juice.
Unfortunately at The Family Counselling Centre we see a more sinister side to those memes. Mothers and fathers, filled with guilt and shame, come and sit with us in our counselling rooms. They woefully disclose how their drinking habit has changed the way they interact with their kids and their spouses. Couple after couple explain to us how “Girls Night Out” or “Thursday Drinks with the Guys” is becoming more than just innocent fun. The conversations during our sessions vary only slightly depending what “habit” they might secretly have been engaging in. Some are tormented because according to some well meaning on-line survey they did, they are actually an “addict”. Are the really?
This is where “Use, Abuse & Misuse” comes in. It originated from our passion for the family and our empathy for the individual who is struggling with endless agonizing thoughts. These thoughts can lead to repetitive, habit-forming actions and create a never ending cycle of guilt, remorse and shame. No matter what the actual secret “habit” is (alcohol, internet, drugs, gaming, medicine, gambling, pornography, sex or food) it’s what started the thoughts in the first place that we would like to bring to the fore. The torment of the individual seems to be at the heart of family dysfunction. We hope that through this page we can assist the adults in families struggling with such torment.
If any of this speaks to you please like, follow, and join our Facebook page and let us join you on this journey of self-discovery. Feel free to like and share our posts publicly or to ask personal private question via messenger/private message.
We are aiming to be interactive and responsive to your secret torment and to your family’s needs.
We are looking froward to hearing from you soon.
Kindly
Andrea Nettel and TFCC team
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