Author: Joseph Devlin

5 Barriers to Critical Thinking in Families Impacted by Addiction

Posted on by Joseph Devlin

When someone you love is struggling with addiction your brain does not just hurt emotionally it begins to operate in survival mode. Many families tell me I feel like I cannot think straight anymore. That makes sense. Stress fear and repeated crises interfere with the part of the brain that normally helps us think clearly and make sound decisions. Naming the barriers is the first step toward taking your thinking back.

Here are five common barriers to critical thinking that show up in families facing addiction:

1. Black and White Thinking
When life is chaotic our brain craves certainty. Many families fall into either he is sober or he is hopeless or either I throw him out or I am enabling. Addiction rarely fits into simple categories. There are shades stages and slow progress. When you allow for complexity you make more thoughtful choices.

2. Ego Based Thinking
In the chaos of addiction control feels safer. That can lead to only seeing the situation through your lens what you need what you think is right what you would do if you were them however, recovery decisions are not one size fits all. Families who shift from my way to what is actually wise in this moment often experience less conflict and more traction.

3. Social Thinking
Well my sister says I should kick him out or everyone at church keeps telling me just pray harder. When you adopt popular opinion to reduce discomfort your brain stops evaluating the situation for what it actually is. Addiction is not a crowd sourced problem. Wise thinking requires filtering advice not absorbing it whole.

4. Authority Based Thinking
Just because a doctor pastor sponsor or neighbor says something confidently does not mean it fits your family. Deference to authority can silence your own discernment. You can respect expertise and still think critically for your specific circumstance.

5. Judgmental Thinking
Judgment feels like protection but it often blocks understanding. One father told me I spent years calling my son lazy and selfish. Only when I started listening instead of labeling did I finally see how scared he was. Judgment stops curiosity and curiosity is what opens doors.

When families begin to recognize these barriers their emotional power loosens. That is where better choices calmer reactions and wiser plans begin. If this is you, take heart. Clear thinking is not a personality trait it is a skill families can relearn even under pressure.

The Three Types of Listening: Building Connection in Families Affected by Addiction

Posted on by Joseph Devlin

In my experience working with families who have a loved one in addiction, communication often becomes one of the hardest things to manage. Emotions run high, trust gets strained, and sometimes conversations feel like walking through a minefield. You may find yourself repeating the same things, not knowing what to believe, or unsure how to respond. But learning how to listen — really listen — can change the entire tone of your home.

There are three main types of listening that can help rebuild understanding and connection: informational listening, active listening, and intuitive listening.

1. Informational Listening
This is the most basic type of listening,  it’s about gathering facts and understanding information. For example, you might ask your loved one, “What time will you be home tonight?” or “Did you make it to your meeting?” These are simple, factual questions, but even here, communication can break down. When addiction is part of the family story, answers might be unclear or avoided altogether.

The key is to listen carefully without judgment. If you sense confusion or defensiveness, pause before reacting. Instead of pushing for an answer, you could say, “I just want to make sure I understand — can you explain that again?” This small shift in tone can open space for honesty rather than argument.

2. Active Listening
Active listening takes things deeper. It means being fully present in the conversation — not just hearing words, but showing that you care. Families often tell me, “We talk all the time, but it feels like no one’s listening.” That’s because true listening involves body language, empathy, and reflection.

If your loved one says, “I’m tired of everyone being on my back,” instead of reacting defensively, you might respond, “It sounds like you’re feeling overwhelmed.” That small reflection tells them you’re not just hearing their words, you’re understanding their feelings. Even if you disagree, you’re building trust through empathy.

3. Intuitive Listening
This is the deepest form of listening. It means tuning in not only to words, but also to tone, body language, and emotion. A mother once shared with me how she could tell her son was using again before he ever said a word. “His voice sounded flat,” she said. “Something in my gut just knew.”

Intuitive listening allows you to sense what isn’t being said. It requires quieting your own fear long enough to really notice the person in front of you. It’s not about catching someone in a lie — it’s about seeing the whole person, their struggle, and their humanity.

When you begin to practice these three kinds of listening, your family dynamics start to shift. Conversations become less about control and more about connection. Healing often begins not with the perfect words, but with the courage to listen differently.

In families affected by addiction, listening is one of the greatest gifts you can give and one of the first steps toward peace.

Three Ways Families Can Feel More Satisfied in Life

Posted on by Joseph Devlin

Finding Peace and Purpose When a Loved One Struggles with Addiction

When someone you love is battling addiction, life can feel like an emotional rollercoaster with ups and downs, hope and heartache. It’s easy to lose your sense of peace and purpose when everything feels unpredictable. But satisfaction in life doesn’t mean your situation is perfect—it means learning how to nurture your spirit even in the middle of difficulty. Here are three powerful ways families can begin to feel more satisfied and grounded again.

1. Move Your Body, Clear Your Mind

Exercise isn’t just about fitness—it’s about emotional release. When stress builds up from worry or frustration, your body holds it. A simple walk, a bike ride, or even stretching for ten minutes can help release tension and boost your mood through endorphins.

One mom I worked with, Tina, started taking evening walks after her son entered treatment. She said, “At first, it was just to get away and cry in peace but after a week, I noticed I was sleeping better and thinking more clearly. My walks became my prayer time.” Movement gave her a space to process emotions safely and eventually, a sense of satisfaction returned.

Even if you start small, moving your body each day is one way to honor yourself and reclaim a little peace, no matter what’s happening around you.

2. Practice Daily Gratitude

Gratitude doesn’t erase pain, but it helps you find light in the middle of it. When your family is facing addiction, it’s easy to focus on the chaos, the broken trust, or what feels lost. Even in dark seasons, there are glimmers of grace, a supportive friend, a quiet morning, a small step your loved one takes toward change.

Try this: each night, write down three things you’re grateful for, no matter how small. Keep that list close, and on hard days, read it out loud. Gratitude trains your heart to notice goodness again and that’s where emotional healing begins.

3. Learn to Release Stress

Stress is one of the biggest barriers to satisfaction. It wears you down mentally, emotionally, and physically. Finding ways to release it regularly is essential, especially when your family is navigating addiction.

This could mean prayer, journaling, or even just taking five deep breaths before reacting to a stressful situation. Some families practice “quiet hour,” where everyone spends time in calm reflection—no phones, no TV, just stillness. These moments help reset the nervous system and bring peace back into the home.

Should You Suppress Your Feelings?

Posted on by Joseph Devlin

How Sharing Your Emotions Can Bring Healing to Your Family

When you’re living through a difficult season, especially when a loved one is struggling with addiction, it’s easy to feel like you have to stay strong all the time. You might tell yourself, “I can’t break down,” or “If I show how I really feel, everything will fall apart.” But the truth is, God designed you with emotions for a reason. You were never meant to carry everything inside.

Suppressing emotions can feel like the right thing to do in the moment. It might seem like you’re keeping peace in the home or protecting others from worry, but over time, those buried feelings build up like pressure behind a dam. Eventually, that pressure has to go somewhere and it often shows up as stress, resentment, health issues, or even emotional shutdown.

The Cost of Suppressing Emotions

When you suppress your emotions, your body keeps score. Physically, you might feel tension in your neck or shoulders, stomach issues, headaches, or fatigue. Emotionally, you might feel numb, anxious, or easily irritated. Families dealing with addiction often live in survival mode for so long that emotional exhaustion becomes “normal.”

Over time, this takes a toll. Studies show that suppressing emotions increases stress hormones and can even weaken your immune system. The longer you keep things bottled up, the more likely those emotions will find an unhealthy outlet, like emotional eating, overworking, or drinking. It’s not weakness that brings people to those coping mechanisms; it’s unspoken pain.

If you’ve ever found yourself snapping at your loved one without meaning to, crying unexpectedly, or feeling completely detached, it’s your body’s way of saying: “Please pay attention to what’s going on inside.”

Generational Patterns of Silence

Many of us were raised in families where emotions weren’t discussed openly. Maybe your parents or grandparents believed that showing emotion was a sign of weakness. They were taught to “be strong,” “keep it together,” and “move on.” They weren’t wrong to want to protect themselves- they simply didn’t have the tools or understanding that we do now.

Today, we know that emotional suppression doesn’t make us stronger; it makes us disconnected. Families dealing with addiction often pass down patterns of silence, where nobody talks about what’s really happening because it feels too painful. Breaking that silence doesn’t mean disrespecting your family’s past—it means choosing healing for your future.

When you start to share your emotions honestly and safely, you model something powerful: that vulnerability is not weakness, it’s courage. You’re showing the next generation that love and truth can coexist.

A Real-Life Example: Finding the Courage to Share

I once coached a mother named Linda who had a son struggling with opioid addiction. For years, she held everything inside- her fear, anger, guilt, and grief. She was the “rock” of the family. Everyone leaned on her, but no one saw how much she was crumbling inside.

One day, during a support session, she broke down in tears and said, “I feel like if I start crying, I’ll never stop.” But the opposite happened. As she allowed herself to express the deep sadness she had buried for years, she found release. Her chest felt lighter. Her breathing slowed. She said, “I didn’t realize how long I’ve been holding my breath.”

That honest moment didn’t fix everything in her family overnight but it changed the atmosphere. She began to talk openly with her husband and children. They started having real conversations instead of walking on eggshells and healing began the moment truth met grace.

Healthy Ways to Express Your Emotions

You don’t need to explode or fall apart to express what you’re feeling. You just need healthy outlets and safe spaces. Here are a few practical ways to start:

1. Talk to someone you trust.
Find one person—a friend, pastor, counselor, or family coach—who will listen without judgment. Set boundaries around what you share, especially at work or in unsafe relationships but don’t isolate yourself. Healing happens in connection.

2. Write it out.
Journaling is a safe way to release emotions that feel too heavy to speak. You can even write letters you don’t intend to send. Sometimes putting your feelings on paper helps you understand them better.

3. Move your body.
Physical movement—walking, stretching, or playing a sport—helps release stored tension. It’s not about fitness; it’s about freedom. When your body moves, your emotions start to move too.

4. Pray or meditate.
Bring your raw emotions to God. He’s not intimidated by your anger, grief, or fear. In fact, those moments of honesty often lead to peace. Prayer isn’t pretending everything’s fine, it’s saying, “God, I trust You even when it hurts.”

5. Create a “family share moment.”
Try setting aside 10 minutes once a week where family members can share one feeling word about their week. No fixing, no advice—just listening. Over time, this practice rebuilds trust and communication.

Hope for the Journey

If you’ve spent years holding everything inside, it’s never too late to start opening up. Healing begins with one honest conversation. You don’t have to unpack every emotion at once, just take one small step today.

When you express your feelings safely, you teach your loved ones that emotional honesty is possible, even in the middle of pain. As your family learns to share instead of suppress, peace begins to take root again.

Remember this truth: You were designed to feel, to connect, and to heal. Suppressing emotions doesn’t make you stronger—sharing them makes you whole.

Laughter Is the Best Medicine Even in the Storm

Posted on by Joseph Devlin

You have probably heard the phrase “laughter is the best medicine.” It may feel overused, even cliché. But for families navigating the chaos, fear, and heartbreak of loving someone in addiction, this old adage still carries truth and quiet power when approached with intention, compassion, and humility.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve been through nights of worry, moments of despair, and days when it feels like there is no light. You might feel hollow, overwhelmed, or guilty—or all three at once. Whatever your emotional state, this is not trivial. It is real, it is valid, and it is hard work simply to get through day to day. When you set aside everything else, appointments, therapy, and confronting the disease, you are also trying to hold onto your own self. It’s in that space of fragility and weariness that laughter sometimes feels impossible. Yet, it is precisely there that a small spark of humor or lightness can serve as a tiny, healing refuge for families in addiction recovery.

Laughter doesn’t erase pain or solve addiction. But it can release tension, create connection, interrupt negative thought loops, and preserve your humanity. Physiologically, laughter triggers endorphins and helps reduce stress, which is crucial for self-care for families who have a loved one in addiction. Shared laughter with someone you trust can remind you, briefly, that you’re not alone. In a moment of despair or obsessive worry, a small shift in focus, even a soft smile, can break a spiral. You are more than a caregiver, more than a worried parent, spouse, or sibling; you are a human being who deserves moments of joy, however small. When the weight is heavy, laughter becomes not a denial of reality but a strategic pause—a breath, a reset.

You don’t need grand expectations. You don’t need to force a sitcom binge or throw a comedy party. Here are some gentle, realistic ways to invite laughter (or at least a soft smile) back into your days while you cope with a loved one’s addiction. Notice small, absurd moments. Maybe you see a squirrel doing gymnastics in your yard or a pigeon strutting crazily in formation. Watch a silly meme or animal video that genuinely makes you smile. Text a friend who understands and share a lighthearted inside joke. Keep a “tiny laugh log.” At the end of the day, jot down one thing, even if it’s as small as, “the cat chased its tail in a circle for 10 seconds.” Over time, the collection becomes a portfolio of lightness you can revisit on hard days during the long road of family recovery.

Plan a “laughter date” without pressure. Once a week, do something low-stakes that might make you smile: watch a short stand-up clip, play a family board game, or call someone whose voice softens your edges. If it feels right, try a laughter yoga or meditation session. Some support groups even include short laughter breaks to help participants release tension. Give yourself permission to seek lightness; it’s not selfish, it’s a form of self-care and stress relief for families in addiction recovery. It’s okay if you don’t laugh every day. The goal is not performance but relief.

Let me share a fictional (or maybe not) but grounded scenario that reflects what many families experience in addiction recovery. This is not a sugarcoated “happy ending” story, just a small example of resilience and humanity.

Meet Sara. Sara’s son, Alex, is in active addiction. She battles fear, guilt, and uncertainty every day. One evening after a particularly distressing phone call, Sara sat in the kitchen at 9 p.m., exhausted and in tears. She felt raw and powerless. Then her cat, Luna, jumped onto the counter and knocked over a stack of empty coffee mugs. They crashed onto the floor with a rattle. Luna looked at Sara with wide eyes, then did a small, crooked head tilt—almost as if saying, “Oops… my bad?” Sara—on the verge of sobbing—chuckled. Not because everything was okay. Not because the addiction was gone. But because in that moment, Luna’s surprised face cracked through her despair. She laughed quietly. And for a few seconds, she felt a little lighter. She texted her sister: “You’ll love this—Luna just staged a mug demolition and looked very innocent.” Her sister replied with laughing emojis. Sara felt a little more connected, less alone. That laugh didn’t fix things, but it was a seed. The next day, she woke and remembered the mug incident. She wrote it in her tiny laugh log. Later that week, when anxiety surged, she pulled out her laugh log, reread the Luna story, and allowed herself the ghost of a smile. That small eruption of humor didn’t insult the gravity of her situation. It coexisted with it. It reminded her: she still has a heart. She still sees moments worth noticing.

Because your loved one’s addiction is ongoing, and because you may carry anger, grief, and betrayal, be patient with yourself. Don’t force laughter if it feels hollow. Honor your pain- laughing doesn’t mean ignoring it. Respect timing—if someone is in a fragile state, gauge whether a light moment would reassure or bruise. Be kind with comparisons—some days you will feel incapable of laughing at all. That’s a natural part of the journey of family healing and addiction recovery.

Laughter is one tool, not the only one. For families dealing with addiction, here’s how this practice can fit with your broader recovery and self-care strategies. In your support groups/community, mention that you’re trying to include small lightness breaks. Maybe the group can share one “funny moment” each week. Build in 5–10 minutes a day of something that brings softness, like a lighthearted podcast, short walk, or quick conversation with a trusted friend. Stay connected to people who understand both your pain and your attempts to find joy. Protect your boundaries and allow rest. You can’t pour from an empty cup.

Laughter is often framed as a frivolous escape, but in the midst of a loved one’s addiction, it can become an act of quiet defiance or simply a reminder that you are alive, still breathing, still wired for joy despite the pain. You are not failing because you don’t laugh every day. The goal isn’t constant levity; it’s small, intentional interruptions of darkness.

So tomorrow, maybe notice how the sunlight slants through a window. Maybe watch one silly animal video. Maybe remember the story of a cat knocking over mugs and making Sara smile. It doesn’t erase the hardship. But it whispers: you are still here. You are not alone and a faint spark of light is not betrayal—it’s hope in practice.