Courage, Dear Heart

This February 14 will forever be changed for the communities of Parkland and Coral Springs. Counseling is effective for coping with loss, but it does not lessen the permanent pain of losing loved ones. While the Douglas shooting was very prominent in the media, there are several people that will also be dealing with loss for the first time this Valentine’s Day. During this holiday of love, I can’t help but think about losses that I have experienced, and how the loved ones in my family have been adversely impacted.

Life is precious and unpredictable. We make decisions to take care of our mental and physical health; however, somethings cannot be anticipated. It takes a tremendous amount of courage to continue living life without your loved ones. Courage to continue being around family, friends and celebrating events while you know that part of you is still grieving.

For me, courage gives the ability to have faith that it will hurt less over time.  It is also equally as important to be able to talk about the pain of loss and allow yourself to grieve. There is no time limit to grief, and we shouldn’t enforce one, but we should allow the process to unfold as it should. This Valentine’s Day let’s cherish our loved ones that are still present and honor the memory of those whom we have lost.

Rachel Rowitt, Ed.D., LMHC, CAP | Grace Counseling, Inc. | Mental Health Blog in Coral Springs

When Do You Stop Helping an Addict?

It is so difficult to know when enough is enough. How do you reduce the guilt of ending assistance to someone who is in need? Many family members of loved ones who are addicts struggle regularly with this very idea.

If the addict has not asked for help, weigh out how you want to support them. The truth is that if you keep helping someone who hasn’t asked for help, then they have no reason to change. Discomfort seems to be a good catalyst for change, and family members of the addict need to be willing to dish out a little discomfort. But then, the following question arises, what if he or she dies?

Sure, death may be one of the results, but recovery can be as well. As the person on the other side of addiction, you may have to take a page out of the addict’s book of risk-taking behavior. While it seems like you are potentially gambling with the death of your loved one, your loved one gambles daily with their own death in active drug addiction.


First, I would suggest finding a professional to learn what boundaries you can put in place to help you loved one become willing to seek help.  Secondly, help when they ask for it, but not before. Lastly, use the Serenity Prayer to help you figure out how to effectively help your loved one.

Rachel Rowitt | Grace Counseling, Inc.