Anchorage Daily News

The challenges and temptations that family events present to a recovering addict are depicted in a recently-released film, "Rachel Getting Married." The movie tells the story of a recovering addict who, after going through the revolving door of rehab for years, brings a history of personal trauma and family conflict with her when she returns home to attend her sister's wedding.

It's an all too real problem for millions of Americans dealing with recovery from drug and alcohol addiction, says Morteza Khaleghi in his new book, "Free From Addiction: Facing Yourself and Embracing Recovery" (Palgrave Macmillan Publishing), especially when the holidays bring scattered family members back under one roof.

Khaleghi, a clinical psychologist, advocate of Alcoholics Anonymous programs and advisor for the "Dr. Phil Show," maintains that one of the toughest challenges for an addict is simply going home and being able to live a clean life.

In his book, he lists several warning signs that he says family members need to be aware of, signs that may indicate a recovering person is on the road to addiction or relapse.

Warning signs that your loved one might relapse include:

• Avoidance of normal activities

• Pulling back from 12-step meetings

• Cessation of meetings with sponsors

• Mood swings and irritability

• Suspicious behavior, secrecy and white lies

• Disappearing for a period of time

• Missing finances

• Emotional distancing from loved ones

Things family members need to know when a loved one is coming home from treatment:

• They are not fixed or cured.

• They should not be automatically trusted.

• They should completely support their loved one's involvement in a 12-step group.

• They should pursue family therapy.

• They should consider third-party monitoring so as not to become the "sober police."

• They should encourage and monitor continued outpatient care.

• They should remove all alcohol and drugs from the house.

• They need to realize that the person coming home is not the only one who has to make lifestyle changes.

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