She is a member in good standing of the Canadian Addiction Counselors Certification Federation and has obtained an International Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor Designation and a Canadian Addiction Counselors Certificate. She is also certified as an accredited Canadian Clinical Supervisor through the C.A.C.C.F.   Working in the field of addiction treatment for over 3 decades and needing professional development annually to hold certification has been a lifelong journey of learning.

Committed to fostering a community of compassion, understanding, and empowerment, we strive to break the stigma surrounding addiction, offering comprehensive and personalized recovery programs. Through evidence-based practices, holistic support, and a focus on individual strengths, our goal is to equip residents with the tools and resilience needed for sustained recovery. Lennon Recovery House stands as a beacon of hope, dedicated to guiding each person towards a brighter, healthier future, equipped with the wisdom to thrive as a recovering individual, adept at managing both addiction and mental health challenges.

At the forefront of this effort is Sandra, the manager of Lennon House, a key leader in providing safe transition and support for those leaving treatment — offering hope, stability, and community in a system where relapse and struggle are too often part of the journey.

To give us a deeper understanding of the challenges and support available for families facing addiction, I’ve invited Sandra MacNevin to share her insights.

Recovery is not a journey that someone walks alone.

While your loved one is doing the hard work of healing from addiction related issues, your role as a family member is just as important. You are a source of love, encouragement, and hope. At the same time, it is important to recognize that your journey matters, too.

Did you know…

“Then what the heck can I do?”

It turns out, a lot.

Almost every addiction counselor will advise parents, caregivers, partners and other concerned significant others that they are critical to the recovery process and that there are four primary things that they can and should do to help their loved one:

Get educated about the disease. This is a complicated and vexing disease, particularly in the way that the symptoms manifest themselves within relationships and within the family. Without a doubt, the more that you know the higher the likelihood that you will be helpful to the recovery process.

Get professional help for your loved one.

We know that addiction is a brain disease. And we know that active addiction is a life-altering and many times a life-threatening health issue. The science shows that professional treatment increases the chances for recovery. Given all that,
seeking professional help seems like a no-brainer, just like for any other health issue.

The recovery roadmap is also fraught with twists and turns, difficult messages to deliver, and complicated situations. Professionals are able to deliver much needed wisdom, judgement, and tactics.

Get support.

There are many types of groups; education groups, on-line support groups, in
person support groups … connecting with others helps because we feel alone, isolated Awkward! Attending the first meeting feeling completely skeptical about the value of the
meeting, feeling alone and isolated. The secret is that under the guidance from the group leader or clinical moderator, participants share stories, information and strategies that resonate.

A clinician might talk about a concept, but there is something exceptionally powerful that happens when a group member talks about their experiences with their addicted loved one. The impact is extraordinary.

Take care of yourself.

Dealing with a loved one’s addiction is a massive ask. It is a powerful
and complicated health issue. Prioritize YOUR Self-Care to avoid burnout.

Seek social support
Engage in rest, relaxation and recreation
Let go of responsibility, guilt and anxiety
Feel and accept emotions
Commit to taking care of yourself daily
Allow yourself to experience love, joy, pride, peace, beauty and wonder
Respond to your physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs
Enjoy life

Supporting a loved one through recovery can be both hopeful and challenging. Caregivers and family members often carry a heavy emotional load—balancing concern for their loved one with the demands of daily life. In this journey, it’s easy to overlook your own needs, but caring for yourself is essential for sustaining your strength and resilience.

Recognize Your Limits

Understanding your personal boundaries helps prevent burnout and ensures you can provide meaningful support without compromising your own well-being.

Some warning sign of burnout are:

❖ Chronic exhaustion
❖ Increased irritability
❖ Social isolation
❖ Neglecting your own health
❖ Feeling hopeless about recovery
❖ Developing anxiety or depression symptoms

When a loved one is struggling with Substance Use Disorder (SUD), families and caregivers often experience a whirlwind of emotions — hopelessness, fear, confusion, guilt, and even anger. These feelings are not only valid, but they are also incredibly common.

Addiction is a brain disease, not a personal failing.

Brain images from functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) clearly show that the brain with addiction has a very different response to drug and alcohol stimuli than one without addiction. Most addiction scientists believe that an addicted brain has actually been altered by the substance.

Not everyone who uses substances becomes addicted to the substance.

Scientists have not yet identified the exact reasons why some people become addicted.
They instead refer to the risk factors that increase the likelihood of substance use turning into an addiction. The factors include:

● Age of first use. The earlier a person begins drug or alcohol use the greater the risk of
addiction. For example, a person who starts drinking alcohol at 14 has a seven times
greater chance of developing an addiction versus a person who starts at 21.
● The presence of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma.
● An environment with permissive or heavy substance use.
● Up to 60% of the risk is believed to be genetic.

Does my family member have a problem?

The Transtheoretical Model for the change process for addiction recovery –
“The Stages of Change”

Pre-contemplation
The person with the addiction does not recognize that there is a problem and has no intention to change behaviors.

Contemplation
The person is becoming aware that there is a problem and begins to think about changing,
cutting down, moderating or quitting the addictive behavior.

Preparation
The advantages of change begin to outweigh the positives of continuing substance use. The person may already be attempting to reduce or stop on their own. They begin to set goals and share these with others.

Action
At this stage, people are actively modifying their habits and environment.

Maintenance
Maintenance, also called recovery, is characterized by making substance free behavior a way of life. The person is fully engaged and committed to their new behaviors and preventing relapse.

Relapse
Relapse is not a stage of change but often a part of the change process. Relapsing and
recycling through the stages can occur frequently.

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The easy-to-read “Stages of Change” framework will allow you to understand where your loved one is in the process and where he/she is headed. Importantly, it will give you insights about what your role can and should be at each stage.

It is a must read – at VeryWellMind

(https://www.verywellmind.com/the-stages-of-change-model-of-overcoming-addiction-21961)

Understanding Common Traps

🤍 Have you ever heard things like: “You are ruining my life. If it wasn’t for you, I would be fine. You are the worst parent in the world”

🤍 The addicted brain is smart, it is clever, and most of all, it is relentless. Reasoning and logic most often don’t work with an addicted brain. The disease will fight to survive. This isn’t polite stuff. Addiction plays (this disease) plays hardball. There are no rules.

🤍A core strategy for the addicted brain is to attack YOUR vulnerabilities, to push you away from the problem so that the disease can live and thrive.

🤍The addict exploit fear and guilt. The addict lashes out statements like: “You are the cause of my depression”, “You are ruining my life”, “If it wasn’t for you, I would be fine”, “You are the worst parent in the world’.

🤍Every one of those attacks feels like a body blow. You become so afraid, afraid to make a mistake and your adult child may respond by hurting themselves.

🤍The addict will divide relationships. Those suffering from substance use disorders often try to separate their parents and loved ones, play one off the other, if they are not exactly on the same page in terms of parenting decisions. Early on, most couples parenting a young adult or an adult child suffering from addiction issues, are not on the same page. This has the parents fighting with each other and/or other family members instead of focusing on their child. ➡️ Be aware that this dividing tactic can happen with any group of people trying to help an addicted loved one.

🤍The addict expertly uses dishonesty. Denial is real. Denial is an unconscious defence mechanism / behavior that supports a person who is refusing to acknowledge a painful truth or an obvious situation. Addicts in denial unconsciously are avoiding feeling and taking responsibility for needed change. And the behaviors can be so convincing….

To read more: https://www.verywellmind.com/denial-as-a-defense-mechanism-5114461

Lennon Recovery House 🕊
2211 Church Rd, Rustico, PE C0A 1N0.

Until next time, may we continue to meet life—and one another—with compassion and courage.

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