Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group
Addiction affects more than just the individual. This community is dedicated to the families and friends of individuals suffering from any form of addiction. Mental health professionals are increasingly considering alcoholism and addiction as diseases that flourish in and are enabled by family systems. Family members react to the addicted person with particular behavioral...
Last night I shared my story at a special event. I was absolutely petrified. There was a senator in the room and many professional business people. I was scared because addiction has such a stigma to it. I thought I'm going to be judged and eyes would roll.
I said my stuff anyway. Pushed through it with the help of a dear friend. Guess what? So many were crying. I could see the pain they felt for me. Not sure if it was because I cried as I was talking. Or if some are touched by this disease as well.
I know no one was prepared for my talk. This wasn't that type of event. But I was asked to and we need to spread the word.
I'm getting involved with trying to make a difference. I'm so tired of holding it all in. I came out so to speak. I'm an addicts mother. I'm also a sister, aunt, daughter and friend. Addiction and this disease isn't going to define me anymore. It's a part of my life. It now will forever be and I will not be ashamed for people to know. Why? Because somehow someone is living silently with this and has no idea where to turn.
Freeing!
I said my stuff anyway. Pushed through it with the help of a dear friend. Guess what? So many were crying. I could see the pain they felt for me. Not sure if it was because I cried as I was talking. Or if some are touched by this disease as well.
I know no one was prepared for my talk. This wasn't that type of event. But I was asked to and we need to spread the word.
I'm getting involved with trying to make a difference. I'm so tired of holding it all in. I came out so to speak. I'm an addicts mother. I'm also a sister, aunt, daughter and friend. Addiction and this disease isn't going to define me anymore. It's a part of my life. It now will forever be and I will not be ashamed for people to know. Why? Because somehow someone is living silently with this and has no idea where to turn.
Freeing!
Making people cry can be a really really good thing. And maybe those people never knew that they were not alone.
You did such a service for this community as well as all those who need to be educated....overcoming that useless shame/blame game and showing that good families can have addicts in any situation.
SOOOO proud of you! So happy for you. Really AWESOME!
Keep talking. Keep sharing your story.
Part of being a great social worker is continuing to be in therapy too. None of us in life is without something to work on. Addiction or not. I see a therapist that specializes in addictions. I need somewhere to vent.
I've decided that instead of crawling under a rock and hiding my pain to share it. Takes so much burden off me when someone can say I get it!
Last week I made the newspaper. I wish it were for other things. But as they say if you can save one life... Who knows when we open up how many we can touch. We will never know. But I'm tired of suffering quietly.
It is so hard, so humiliating, so painful to say "my _____ is an addict." I've just now started sharing my own hardships with my mom and a few close friends, who can give unbiased wisdom, rather than look down or pity me. Just talking about it makes me feel so lighter, makes me feel like I will be ok.
Good for you. For being so strong and brave. God bless you.
Thank you
can you share more about this event?
was the focus of the event addiction?
I think it is GREAT to talk about it like that. I believe just about every family has at least 1 addict (you may or may not be living with the addict but they are still effecting the family)--even those still functioning addict and the addicts in the workplace effecting others there too. Their more subtle harm is very painful also. Have you ever heard of community informational public meetings where addictions specialists can speak and answer questions?