in the dumps :(

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I just want you to be aware this will be a bit long and bit of a "debbie downer ". I'm Jenny and my son is a drug addict. He started using at about age 15. We had our typical teenage attitude and behaviour. But as the drug use became more evident the behaviour became worse. Skipping school, failing grades, and breaking cerfew. As a parent I believe in tough love. I called the police numerous times for various things. When I had an officer come to take him to school I thought he would shape up knowing I was very serious. He was taken to school in cuffs and escorted into the office. Didn't seem to phase him. 1 week after his 18th birthday I forced him to leave my home. At that point he jumped from couch to couch staying where ever he could. He went from smoking marajuana to stealing and using prescription pain meds and ecstacy. At this point he was selling as well. He got busted and was put on probation. I thought our lives would change. I was very wrong. He finally had his own place, I thought we had some peace. However I was wrong. During all of this my daughter, who was 13 when this all started, was crying out for help. I was so involved in my son that I didn't see her pain until he was out of the house. She was cutting, suffering from anxiety attacks, and her school and social life was suffering as well. So I did what needed to be done and got her help that I alone couldn't do. My son continued even on probation. He went from 5'10" 165 pounds to 105 pounds. He looked skelatal. After several failed attempts at sobriety his probation officer put him in jail. He was given the choice of rehab or prison. He chose rehab. Over the past year he has relapsed 3 times. Each time worse than the one before. This past relapse was in May and he never got back on the wagon. I booted him out the door in July an he had not spoken to me for months. He has recently turned himself in due to a warrant for his arrest. He called several times a day (I answered but didn't accept the charges) leaving short messages to tell his friends when they could visit. I was outraged, the boy hasn't spoken to me in months but now I should relay messages, grrrr. No one showed up for visitation and he tried calling again. I'm sure he thought I didn't relay the message. Then his probation officer finally went to see him and he hasn't tried calling in 5 days. He has not written and will not put me on his visitation list. He will now be in jail until january 14th. My amazing daughter got her life on track. She went to counseling and no longer cuts. She graduated high school and started college. And she just moved in to her own apartment. I am very proud of her. Before this part of my life started I had lost 70 pounds. I was 50 pounds from my goal weight. I have since put on 105 pounds. I joined my fitness pal again and ive lost 15 pounds to date. This past weekend was a horrible one. When life gets stressful like this, I like to get wrapped up in a project. This weekend I painted and redecorated the kitchen. The good part is emotionally I feel better. The bad part I paid 0 attention to what I ate. Back on the wagon for me today. I can do this but its going to be a roller coaster ride. Thanks for letting me rant.

Replies

  • sandytoshiko
    sandytoshiko Posts: 67 Member
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    I'm so sorry you are dealing with all this. Big hugs to you!
  • askeates
    askeates Posts: 1,490 Member
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    You have done all that you can for your son, now it is up to him.

    Thankfully your daughter is on track and it sounds like she is doing very well.

    NOW it's time to think of you.... Lots of prayers for you and the children!
  • newdoda
    newdoda Posts: 30 Member
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    I just want to hug you so hard! You are a courageous, beautiful woman! Take care of yourself, good care:)
  • Cowgal23
    Cowgal23 Posts: 106 Member
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    I'm sorry you've had to go through all this pain with your children. Hopefully your son being in jail for awhile will motivate him to change his life. Luckily your daughter has changed her life and is on the right path now. Take the time and focus on yourself now you can lose all that weight you've put on again. It may be a roller coaster ride to get to the finish line but remember there are lots of people on here cheering you on to make it to the finish line.

    Feel free to add me if you like :)
  • mizkej
    mizkej Posts: 7
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    WOW..KIDS!!!! You have done all that you can for him at this point, it is up to him. I know how hard it is to see this and feel powerless.

    Try to put the focus on yourself and your daughter for now.

    I am doing a lousy job of caring for myself right , eating up everything in sight! But like you, I am back on the wagon today.

    WE CAN DO THIS

    Big hugs to you :drinker:
  • kowajenn
    kowajenn Posts: 274 Member
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    I'm sorry your son is putting you through the ringer. If you haven't, check out soberrecovery.com. There's a message board for parents and friends of addicts and everyone knows exactly how you feel. I hang out on the family and friends of alcoholics board there. It's helpful to talk to people who get it.

    Your daughter is on track, your son is where he should be right now, so now it is time for YOU. You are worth the energy and effort, I promise. Hang in there.
  • jfauci
    jfauci Posts: 531 Member
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    WOW, you have certainly dealt with more stuff than many parents. But, now is the time for you to focus on YOU!! You've spent years talking care of everyone else and that has taken a toll on you. I'm glad you are back and looking to get yourself healthy. Good luck.
  • anlu37
    anlu37 Posts: 100 Member
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    My dad is an alcoholic/drug addict. My brothers are both addicts as well. I know what it's like to love someone who consistently hurts themselves and the people they love for a high.

    My husband and I are foster parents to teenagers mostly. (we live in a small, very conservative area and we are one of the only foster families willing to take older children or large sibling groups). I am 28 with an adopted daughter who is 17. We are currently facing many issues with her: depression, anxiety, PTSD, drinking, sneaking out, running away and promiscuity. Today we attended family therapy and when asked to tell us "who she is", her response was, "I like to live in the moment and I don't like to think about consequences or the future. It bugs me when people want me to think about stuff before I do it." She is so far from reality it is literally painful to me. We have also called the police several times, one of which resulted in a 14 day stay at a adolescent psychiatric facility.

    It's hard. It's painful. Parenting and loving addicts is wanting hug your kid/loved one so hard you squeeze all your love into them and all the life out of them in the same motion. And it's hard to not self-medicate yourself with food. Today I had a spoonful of nutella after therapy. I wanted to cry and I ate instead. Not the best choice, but it is better than a binge and previous choices I have made. I have weak moments, but I don't wait until tomorrow to start fresh. Every bite is a new opportunity to make a better choice. I will still eat within my calories today. It will be hard, but I am strong.

    Doing projects is my thing too. I am a chronic list-maker. I have four or five big projects just waiting for me right now. But I have shifted my focus a little to make weight loss my 'project'. It is my priority second only to my family.

    Have you ever attended an Al-Anon meeting? I attended as a teenager and young adult to deal with my dad and brothers' addictions. It was amazing. I only have control over me. I cannot change my dad, brothers or daughter.

    Friend me if you want to. We may have a lot to talk about.

    http://www.smartrecovery.org/resources/family.htm?gclid=CPm_59fMhboCFeI1Qgod1moA-Q

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  • AmandaAnne307
    AmandaAnne307 Posts: 113 Member
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    This situation is so hard, I watched my parents deal with this same issue with three of their seven kids. I can't imagine how awful this is for you. Have you considered AlAnon? It's for families of addicts - I know it helped my family a lot.

    Either way, good luck to you. You are strong and amazing!!
  • jennyruellebricker
    jennyruellebricker Posts: 24 Member
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    thank you for all the support. Yes I do go to regular Alanon meetings and they help a great deal. I appreciate all the kind words,