When You’re Carrying This Alone
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There’s a quiet loneliness that comes with loving someone in addiction.
You don’t always talk about it.
You don’t always show it.
Most days, you carry it silently — through errands, conversations, sleepless nights, and long stretches of worry.
You’re surrounded by people, yet feel deeply alone in what you’re holding.
You’re the one thinking ahead.
The one watching for signs.
The one preparing for phone calls that may or may not come.
And even when others try to understand, they don’t always see the full weight of it.
If this feels familiar, I want you to know something important:
You are not alone in this.
There are parents and loved ones everywhere walking this same uncertain road — loving fiercely, hoping quietly, and doing their best inside something they cannot control.
Some days you feel strong.
Some days you feel worn down.
Both are normal.
Both belong here.
And neither says anything about the depth of your love.
If today feels heavy, please remember:
You don’t have to have everything figured out.
You don’t have to carry this perfectly.
You just have to keep showing up in the ways you can.
-SLR
If you’d like more support on this journey, I’ve written several books for parents and loved ones loving someone through addictive addiction. If it feels helpful, you can explore them here.