Hurt feelings can arise when your family isn’t sensitive to your sobriety. If they are heavy drinkers, or alcoholics themselves, they most likely don’t want to hear anything about your recovery. They could be in denial and have no qualms about how much they drink. In particular they don’t want anyone interfering with their drinking. They like their drinks just fine.

Take the hurt feelings with you when you walk out the door. Hurt feelings equal information you can use to your benefit in recovery. They provide you with a chance to reflect on your upbringing and the attitudes that could have influenced your decline into alcoholism. Having hurt feelings is also way better than having no feeling. Remember your drinking days when the drinks made you feel numb? Well, then, if you remember that, then you’ll probably remember what you felt like the day after. Were you so hungover even a bloody Mary didn’t touch the headache and nausea.

Breaking away from your insensitive and or alcoholic family for awhile is a good way to take care of yourself in recovery. Who needs all that grief and the smell of the booze that permeates the room. You may get a lot of flack when you tell a family member you can’t come to someone’s birthday party, hangout during a ball game on television or make it to any other family activity. This doesn’t mean you don’t care about your family.

You could feel guilty and make up excuses for why you can’t attend a get together. Try instead to say you have another obligation. It’s the truth—you have an obligation to yourself. What if the party is for your dear little niece or nephew. You certain don’t want to hurt their feelings by not showing up.

Though you need to stay clear of your family, in some situations you can choose to bring a friend along with you. If you’re married, make an agreement with your spouse to go to the party, but plan to leave early. Make sure to bring your own beverage, and be prepared for someone to pass you a beer or ask what you want to drink.

You might be surprised to find your favorite aunt at the party. She was always a teetotaler. Perhaps she’ll comment on how clear and good you look, and you’ll find the courage to tell her you finally got sober.

Evidence-based and built with passion. Our primary purpose at The Kimberly Center is to assist those who are suffering in finding recovery. Restoring a healthier, happier, more productive life, graduates of our program find themselves free from substance dependence and destructive behavior. Call us today for information: 855-4-KCENTER (855-452-3683)