Hi, hi, how are you? I am good, I am cold, that is for sure, and I am right now sitting in my closet, which is very professional of me, about to talk to you about loving someone struggling with addiction.

Your loved one might seem put together on the outside. Most men and women who drink too much or suffer from substance abuse disorder hold good jobs and they earn a good

living.

Most of the time, they can help take care of the kids and household duties.

And because they are so high functioning,

it can leave you feeling nervous about sharing with your friends and family just how bad things have

become. If we decide to use our voice and share with friends, family, and professionals about loving

someone, suffering from addiction. We might worry. Will they believe you? Will they blame you? What if they are in denial and

passively listen to you, but they don't really hear you.

What if they deny, or they enable, or they, like we said, blame you?

Telling my parents that the man that I loved had a problem was a huge deal for me.

For years I kept this an issue.

I kept his problem a secret.

Now sure, they could tell

he would have a few too many drinks

on Christmas or birthdays, but they really had no idea how much and how

often he was drinking or using.

And for me, there were three reasons I kept his disease close to the best.

And I'm wondering, can you relate to any of these? Number one is guilt. I think we feel guilty for betraying

them. We feel like this is their secret to tell.

But as you and I both know, secrets keep us alone and a shame

and feeling stuck, Keeping their disease a secret

...