http://www.ibabuzz.com/aparentlyspeaking/2010/04/26/parent-talks-3/ From diapers to diplomas, an irreverent, practical guide to all things parenting Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:18:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 http://www.ibabuzz.com/aparentlyspeaking/2010/04/26/parent-talks-3/comment-page-1/#comment-3775 Jonnie Gault Tue, 27 Apr 2010 15:51:35 +0000 http://www.ibabuzz.com/aparentlyspeaking/?p=4665#comment-3775 I am a member of Nar-anon Family Groups-a 12 step program for family and friends of addicts. I have written an article I hope you will consider running to make help available to people looking for support.
Jonnie G
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I am the mother of an addict, who began her addiction with her first hit off a meth pipe at age 13 on a schoolday afternoon. The next 8 years were filled with heartache, anger, fear and total frustration as I used desperate measures to keep my daughter alive. Nothing I did to help her worked including 4 hospitalizations in various treatment facilities, therapy, medication and many insane attempts to control and fix her.
I had grown up around recovery, beginning attendance of Al-Anon meetings at age 21 because my father was in recovery after 30 years of active alcoholism, therefore I had been practicing the principles of recovery, although not perfectly, for many years. When I found Nar-Anon, for family of addicts, the message was clearer as I heard my story in the rooms, and was able to distinguish the differences between boundaries as a parent and those of dealing with an addict. As my boundaries took hold, I detached with love and let go of my daughter, finally refusing to let her live under my roof until she was in recovery. The point was that all my attempts to help were hurting us both, and I was caught up in the insanity untill I admitted I was totally powerless and was able to let go.
Months later, she asked to return to treatment, and she chose to stay clean and sober from that point on, one day at a time. I attended some family meetings and visited, but held my ground to stay sane.
Today my daughter has celebrated over 6 years on recovery. She is on her own path, grateful to her program and doing service to help others.
I have become very active in service in Nar-Anon. Just as NA helps those addicted to drugs, Nar-Anon helps those living in the insanity of being addicted to helping the addict.
http://www.nar-anon.org

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