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...
we don't turn our backs on the addict. We love them enough to give them the dignity to define their own lives. We empower them to fail forward to success.
You must realize that sometimes as moms, we get as sick as our kids. My son's rehab had a family program that really straightened me out.
Be tough. everyone in the world is not going to make excuses for him...he has to take control of his situation. DO NOT ENABLE. and everyone else in your live deserves the freedom from him as well....he is not anyone's problem but his own.
That doesn't mean we don't love them. we can offer encouragement and you can love him up with lots of gifts and help in a couple of years when he is stronger....like you would with your other kid....but not now. it does not help. it sets them back.
sorry. the ones you love speak the truth. you need to set him free.
By allowing him to live at home without boundaries, it is enabling him.
YOU are NOT turning your back on him. YOU have done everything for him. HE has to realize only HE can do it for himself.
I've been in your shoes and walked the gazillion miles as well. 6+ years. Our son is now 4 months sober, after od'ing and dying and being brought back by narcan and paddles. He got HIMSELF to rehab (for the 8,9,10th time i think it was). And he has awful financials as well. But he is doing it all himself. And he's very proud of himself as he should be.
I pray for strength for you and your family and your son. Stay strong Susan55! And don't forget to be GOOD TO YOU. Do something nice DAILY for you.
*hugs*
You can't force anything except boundaries on yourself.
Whatever you are doing now....little by little step back. If you are making him food etc...stop...but warn...I can't keep up anymore son...your going to have to do xyz....
Baby steps...you can't take a huge leap out of this.
He is 27....close to my sons age...so your probably close to my age...and YES...your partner is suffering...not fair to you or him.
You can even start to hate your partner....to fight for the love of your son. I have found myself there...and it doesn't make sense to live THEIR lives for them anymore. I have tried backing off little by little.
I do know what you are going thru...I would also suggest...take YOUR counselor back and get him his own.
You can not fix him...you can find healthy ways to love him by excluding him little by little from your daily thoughts and life. :(
I wouldn't be shocked if he was using again...I'm sorry...but I'm an alcoholic...and if he is sleeping a lot...and not motivated....its a big red flag.
When I get sober...there is pep in my step and hope in my soul.
He sounds like he is still "sick" :(
NEVER sacrifice your marriage for your adult child. NEVER sacrifice yourself, either. Try to think of your son as a man, not as your child. After all, he is a man and he needs to act like a man. If any other 27-year-old were living in your home and behaving in this way, what would you do? Then do it! We had to kick our 29-year-old recovering addict out and it was the best thing that could possibly have happened...for ALL of us.
You said, "...because I am not strong enough to do what I know I should do." You answered your own question. Sometimes, you have to dive-in head-first without over-thinking it. As difficult as it is, you must remove the emotion from it...or accept the emotional fall-out as it comes, go through it, get through it, and you'll all be able to move forward. By enabling your son, you are paralyzing him...just as I/we did with our son.
I pray that you will be filled with Supernatural strength from the One Who is able to handle this and every situation!
"For I know the plans I have for you", says the Lord, "plans for prosperity and not for calamity, plans for a future and a hope."
~ Jeremiah 29:11
This verse is for you - and your son.