Friday Q&A: alcoholism in the family; marijuana use; food diaries; & supplements for stress

A potpourri of subscriber questions

ICYMI:

• Podcast 👉 Talking to Teens about Alcohol—with NYT best-selling author Jessica Lahey

• Recent Q&As:

  • Irritable Bowel; HRT & breast cancer; sudden cardiac arrest; & tinnitus

  • Dismissed by doctors; ADHD vs. inattention; vaccines before visiting baby; & osteoporosis meds

  • Statins & muscle aches; “normal” pain; opioids; & chronic pain

---

As always, question #1 is for all subscribers. Questions #2-4 are for paid subscribers. Click here to submit your questions (about anything) for future Q&A posts!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are entirely my own. They do not reflect those of my employer, nor are they a substitute for advice from your personal physician.

---

QUESTION #1

My husband recently got sober … so it was comforting to read your recent post about alcohol. My question is whether or not I should quit drinking myself to help my husband stay sober? Also… do we need to tell our friends they can’t drink around him? What do I tell my kids - ages 12 & 20? This is all new to me… I don’t want to seem like an alarmist but I also worry about my husband relapsing.

- Anon

Dear Anon,

I am glad my article about alcohol was helpful. Bravo to your husband for getting sober. My best advice is 1) to recognize that you are not responsible for your husband’s addiction or sobriety and 2) to open a line of communication with your husband about what he needs to maintain his sobriety—and what role he would like you to play. There is no playbook here. It’s really about meeting your spouse where he is, and meeting your own needs, too.

Another suggestion is to check out Al-Anon, a wonderful, free resource for loved ones of people struggling with—or in recovery from—addiction. It has helped so many people I see, know, and love. Here is a piece about navigating a spouse’s sobriety. Alateen is for teens living with alcoholism in their family. It’s important to acknowledge the emotional impact of their loved one’s substance use plus the genetic components of alcoholism. Here is my conversation with teen educator Jessica Lahey about how to talk to teens about their own alcohol use. I hope that is helpful.

I welcome suggestions from my subscribers here, too. It never ceases to amaze me how powerful a community can be for one’s recovery.

Photo by Harli Marten on Unsplash

If you like what you are reading, hit the ❤️ button on this post so more people can discover my writing on Substack! 🙏

---

QUESTION #2

With the legalization of marijuana sweeping the country, how much do we need to worry about long-term effects of marijuana use dependency in both youth and adults?

-Brendan

Dear Brendan,

Great question. I see many patients who regularly use marijuana to help with sleep, anxiety, chronic pain, and relaxation, among other things.