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A Path to Freedom for Families Impacted by Addiction

Letting Go of the Illusion of Control

Timothy Harrington
3 min readSep 26, 2023

Finding Peace in Letting Go

As a family coach with over 20 years of experience supporting families impacted by addiction, I’ve learned that one of the most powerful things we can do is let go of the illusion of control.

I know how hard this is. As parents, we feel responsible. We believe we should be able to control or at least influence our loved one’s behavior. So when attempts to help fail, we blame ourselves and try harder to “fix” things.

The problem is, with addiction, the control is an illusion. Your loved one’s substance use is driven by complex psychological and neurological processes. You did not cause it, nor can you cure it.

Letting go of this illusion of control is incredibly difficult. It means accepting powerlessness in the face of great suffering. But once you take this leap of faith, you’ll find freedom. Freedom from shame, anger, and the fruitless pursuit of control. You’ll gain energy to focus on your own health and self-care. And you’ll be able to build a healthier relationship with your loved one.

The Painful Pursuit of Control

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Timothy Harrington
Timothy Harrington

Written by Timothy Harrington

Champion of Family and Community Powered Change Related to Addiction, Mental and Emotional Health Challenges

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