The ParentHood Tribe - Support for families with dysfunctional members.

05/02/2026

Survival In Families With Addiction.

After working in and recovering from the enormous impact substance use disorder has had on my life, I am blessed to work with others. I'm doubly blessed to work with the family of the person struggling with addiction.

The family gets up each day with one thing in mind: to hear from or save the life of their sick loved one.

Like war-weary soldiers, families become defeated by the brutality of this illness. You learn to hold your breath when you love someone struggling with addiction. As if one wrong word could set off a ticking time bomb. You become keenly attuned to the addicts' moods and actions. You take precautions to avoid an explosion by walking on eggshells and hoping you’re not doing or saying anything wrong. You live in a constant state of fear and alarm.

And you keep waiting... FOR THE CALL.

You pray to God that if and when it does come, you’re being asked for money because it’s better to be asked that, than nothing at all.

The birds stop singing.
Music brings tears.
Children’s chatter is annoying.
Faith brings no comfort.

A fleeting moment of laughter brings guilt.
Conversations stretch into long periods of silence.
Family members draw inwards, living in a world of confusion, isolation, and hurt.

A vicious cycle of no,
well, okay, yes,
But just this one time.

Once in, it’s hard to get out.

And it’s always about the addict.

Until it isn’t.

The family tries their best, but the burden is heavy, and eventually it all comes spilling out. Emotional distress can cause bitterness and resentment. It can turn happy-natured individuals into controlling, miserable shrews.

For many years, my family and I danced our enabling/codependent jig. We engaged in finger-pointing and behaved poorly with one another. Then I went to treatment and attended an AA meeting. That's when I first heard about acceptance.

Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today—page 417 of the Big Book.

Acceptance is the key to freedom. Acceptance is one of the most challenging stumbling blocks. For once you've truly accepted your loved one is acutely sick, you move away from fixing. Just like cancer, none of us has the power to cure this disease.

But we can put it in remission.

And we start with the family first.

If addiction is in your family, I’ll tell you what your sick loved one cannot.

It's not your fault.

You didn't cause it.

You can’t cure it.

You can’t control it.

But you can change your response to it.

You are worthy of love and have the right to live with peace and respect.

The best thing you can do for your addicted loved one is to look after yourself. Start by taking a vow to break your silence. If you haven’t read the Jagged series, check them out. They're chock-full of valuable information. Most importantly, find a group of safe people and share your story.

Don't let fear make your choices.
Don't let shame write your story.
Don't be another casualty of addiction.

Instead, do the one thing addiction hates... Reach out for help. Statistics show that addicted persons are most successful when their families are educated and in recovery.

Lorelie Rozzano
www.jaggedlittleedges.com

05/02/2026

Tips for saying no if you're offered drugs/alcohol/substances.
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03/01/2026

The Screen Dopamine Cycle (Why School Can Feel Harder Right Now)

If screens have played a bigger role lately — whether through holidays, gifts, or long stretches at home — you might notice your child feeling more reluctant about returning to school.

This isn’t laziness or defiance.
It’s chemistry.

Fast-paced, high-reward screen content floods the brain with dopamine. When that stimulation suddenly drops, everyday demands like getting dressed, focusing, or going to school can feel flat, effortful, and overwhelming.

The problem isn’t screens themselves.
It’s the cycle.

Understanding how dopamine works helps us support children back into balance — without shame, panic, or sudden bans.

👉 You’ll find Healthy Screen Habits as a free handout, with step-by-step guidance. Instructions are included in the visual.

A Child's Voice version with free download will be published later today.

27/12/2025

Your adult kids' struggles don't make you a failure.

23/12/2025

The festive season is always difficult for family members of addicts. Try and join. Support group that can guide you through this emotional rollercoaster of addiction. The ParentHood Tribe is there for you.

01/12/2025

Parents, Stop Handing Smartphones to Your Children — You’re Not Raising a Genius, You’re Training an Addict.

It’s time you stop giving your young children smartphones.

And stop proudly creating social media profiles for them.

You’re not helping them.
You’re harming them.

I know it feels “modern.”
I know you want your child to “fit in.”

But what you’re really doing is giving their young, developing brain an addiction that will take years to undo.

Let me explain.
A child’s brain is wired for curiosity, play, and learning through experience — not endless stimulation.

When you hand them a smartphone, every notification, every animation, every sound triggers a dopamine hit — the same chemical that fuels addiction.

So now your child’s brain begins craving constant stimulation.

They lose focus.
They can’t read a book without getting bored.

They can’t sit still without wanting a screen.
And worst of all — they start confusing attention with affection.

That’s not “smart.” That’s damage.

There’s a reason countries like China and France have introduced strict bans on social media for minors — because research shows how these platforms increase anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and low self-esteem among children.

Yet here we are — proudly subscribing to “Kids YouTube,” thinking it’s harmless.

Listen, even if the app says “for kids,” remember:
It’s adults creating that content, chasing your child’s attention for profit.

So instead of a smartphone — give your child skills.
Let them learn skating, chess, painting, or coding.

Take them to the market and let them calculate change.
Buy them a drum, not a device.
Teach them conversation, not content consumption.

Because the world doesn’t need more kids who can scroll.

It needs kids who can think, create, and focus.

Parents, please — stop outsourcing parenting to screens.
A child doesn’t need WiFi.
They need you.

01/12/2025

18/11/2025

Online gambling or gaming as it’s know is creating a huge amoun of young addicts. Contact a support group for parents for more info
The Guardian Project Ministry - Ezekiel House
The ParentHood Tribe - Support for families with dysfunctional members.

The foundation is among many roleplayers attending the Gaming Regulators Africa Forum's conference.

13/11/2025

In South Africa sponsorship of rugby teams by alcohol or to***co companies is prohibited. Sponsorship is now down by online gambling companies. Online gaming is already a huge problem in SA.

Compulsive Gambling.
Gambling Addiction.
Americans love to gamble. Whether it’s betting on the Super Bowl, playing slot machines in Vegas, or buying lottery tickets. They get a thrill out of it. Brits and Irish tend to love horseracing, football or rugby.

Nowadays we can gamble on almost anything from election results to the weather forecast. ©

For most it’s an occasional recreational activity that doesn’t affect everyday life.

For some, excessive gambling becomes a serious problem that ruins financial well-being, devastates relationships at home and at work, and impacts mental health.

Statistics show that about 1% of any given population develops a gambling disorder, which is considered a behavioural addiction.

How can some people have fun gambling occasionally while others develop a compulsive gambling addiction? It all depends on the brain. We will be posting more on this over the next week with in depth articles in our subscriber hub.

First of all a look at the signs of gambling disorders.

SIGNS OF GAMBLING DISORDERS
What are the signs that you might have a gambling problem?

In general, if gambling interferes with your life in any way, then it’s a problem.

Signs that you may have a problem include:

Keeping your gambling habit a secret from loved ones

Experiencing a high from placing large bets

Using gambling to escape from everyday problems.

Feeling compelled to gamble to relieve feelings of discomfort.

Gambling even though you’re in debt.

Having trouble in your relationships due to gambling.

Getting in trouble with the law or failing to pay bills.

Acting in ways that are out of character, such as lying or stealing.

Continuing to gamble despite the consequences.

If you or a loved one has any of these warning signs, it may be time to seek professional help and to explore the factors that may be contributing to the problem.

13/11/2025

This is such an important piece of info. Halfway houses all expect their residents participate in planning and preparing nutritious meals. The reason being, not eating properly and at the right times may trigger relapse.

The Academy for Addiction & Mental Health Nutrition.

The importance of food and nutrition in recovery & for relapse prevention.

09/11/2025

30/09/2025

As a new week begins, remember that it’s okay if you’re not okay right now. Healing and growth take time, and you don’t have to have it all figured out today. 🌱 Take things one step, focus on what you can do, not on what you can’t, and give yourself permission to rest when you need it. 💚 Your Mental Health matters, and slowing down to recharge is part of the journey.