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...
I have 3 addicts in my family, this post is about my mother. She has depression and also lots of issues that causes pain so she is on many medications. I am not sure if she is doing this on purpose but she ends up high off of the pills.
She makes up excuses like "I took to many by a mistake" or "I have not taken them in a while so my body is not use to it" this happens a few times a month, but just because it is not all the time does not mean she is not abusing .
Some times we may skip a month with out this happening but I just wanted to know has anyone ever dealt with someone abusing medications they needed? And what is the solution?
My mother has had other addictions in the past and this one has been going on for a few years now but being that today is a bad day I thought I would just ask for some advice or thoughts on this. I'm not sure which medication could be the cause but most of them could be used to get high so I am confused. Last night I swapped a pain pill and gave her an allergy pill instead but it still didnt work, she still ended up high of off something. I had a talk with her this morning because last night she was high and she said she didn't want to talk about it because she couldn't find her depression pills. Now a few hours later she is high again.
My sister is also staying with us I'm not sure if anyone read my last post but she has an addiction well and I am here trying to keep my niece from all of this.
She makes up excuses like "I took to many by a mistake" or "I have not taken them in a while so my body is not use to it" this happens a few times a month, but just because it is not all the time does not mean she is not abusing .
Some times we may skip a month with out this happening but I just wanted to know has anyone ever dealt with someone abusing medications they needed? And what is the solution?
My mother has had other addictions in the past and this one has been going on for a few years now but being that today is a bad day I thought I would just ask for some advice or thoughts on this. I'm not sure which medication could be the cause but most of them could be used to get high so I am confused. Last night I swapped a pain pill and gave her an allergy pill instead but it still didnt work, she still ended up high of off something. I had a talk with her this morning because last night she was high and she said she didn't want to talk about it because she couldn't find her depression pills. Now a few hours later she is high again.
My sister is also staying with us I'm not sure if anyone read my last post but she has an addiction well and I am here trying to keep my niece from all of this.
During most of this time I was the one who supported her, I wanted to believe she was in pain and really needed all this medicine why else would a doctor give it to her? Boy was I wrong!! She moved in with me when she had no where else to go so I began to see first hand how sick she was. I heard all the stories, like the one's your mother is telling you. When she would nod off it was because she was tired and didn't sleep well because she was in so much pain or she made a mistake and took her medicine twice "by accident". It took me a long time and with a lot of help I finally realized how bad things were. I tried everyting to "fix" her and couldn't, I would call her doctor's and tell them what was happening, they would stop seeing her and then she'd find another one this went on for so long. Finally I had enough and made her leave my home, it was the hardest thing I have ever done but it was the best decision I have ever made .
She has been living in a sober house that is run by a Christian Ministery and has been sober since April, she thinks she is ready to come home but I don't. I am scared to death for her to come back here. She recently started to spend a night once a week when I have her son with me. Things seem to be working out fine but I am taking this very very slowly. I have told her that I will never go through the hell she put me through again, ever!!
I know my story is different from yours because it is your mother. The reason I told you all his is because your mom needs help, don't believe her stories about taking her medicine by mistake because she will tell you anything to try and make you believe her. I agree with jersey you can call her doctor and voice your concerns, but you have to let them know that you are not looking for information you just want to give them some. The reason I say this is because the first thing they will tell you is "we can't give you any of your mom's information without her consent". The sad thing is if they do stop seeing her she will only find a new doctor.
I'm sorry I don't have a solution for you, I know how hard this is. The first thing I would do is confront her and very calmly let her know that you feel she has a problem and you want to help, let her know how concerned you are and you will help in any way you can but you will not enable her in any way. You also need to find some help for yourself, look for naranon meetings, they will give you so much support. Continue to come here too, we have all been through what you are feeling. Each of our stories are different but in some way they are the same. This is a wonderful group of people who will not judge and will try and help, no question is a wrong one.
I am sorry this turned out to be so long and I may have rambled on, but I hope I have helped in some small way. Good luck and don't give up, hopefully your Mon will understand how much you love her and that she needs help.
Hugs,
Pat