Family members who are helping loved ones suffering substance use disorders face their own difficulties with stress and exhaustion. IBH Vice President Caroline DuPont, MD recently wrote about steps they can take to care for themselves while caring for others in a blog post featured on the Addiction Policy Forum website. The importance of self-care cannot be overstated, as it ultimately benefits both the family member and the loved one they are seeking to help. As Dr. DuPont notes in her post, you must “put on your own oxygen mask first before helping another”.
Read Dr. DuPont’s full tips for self-care on the APF website here.