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...

1,905 Members
8,121 Posts
0 Online
Relationships & Sexuality
/ Families & Friends Of Addicts Support Group

residential program for Christmas

missmaple
missmaple
My son will spend his first Christmas away from home and us at his residential treatment program. We will visit the Saturday before and then go to the annual big family tradition at Grandma's. Feeling guilty that he will be without us and guilty that I am relieved he will not be there. Sometimes I am crying for my little boy - thinking of him alone and bearing the consequences of his actions. Sometimes I feel OK - knowing it is a part of a long road. He is 18 so I figured we had a lot more Christmases together before he got married or traveled. Another thing I thought would happen to cross off my list.
The good news - he is doing well in his prgram and has gotten volunteer work at a music school. He sounds good and I am getting very skilled at saying no and getting off the phone before anything erupts. Maybe so is he...
jainlor
jainlor
it sounds like he is in a great place! what a wonderful gift to you for christmas! Even though he is getting help, I understand all the emotions that you are going through. my son has been at his program 5 months and it is still hard. But this is the best place for them - away from their drug friends and time to work on themselves. wishing him and you all the best :) and saying a prayer for all my ds friends.
blueviolet725
blueviolet725
Christmas in rehab is a gift in itself! Better than all the ones my son spent in jail. Yes, it is sad without them...I just did Christmas with my daughter down in Nashville this weekend. I won't see her again until February. This letting go stuff (even for the non addict children) is really tough!
I keep remembering: It is the only relationship if you do it right, they leave you.

Enjoy the holidays. Different, but not bad. And I am so happy that your child is doing so well. AND YOU and doing fantastically. We are all growing and learning as fast as we can!
dmatt124
dmatt124
My son spent Thanksgiving in Detox last year, and remember feeling so helpless but also so releived. My son is now living in another state about 500 miles from us in recovery. Although I wish he could be near and in our home, I also know that there is where he needs to be right now to work on him. I try to think of this as a new journey, and just like when he went away to college, it's a part of his journey and steps to them becoming well. I know there are good days and bad, but think of this as an investiment into his future Wishing you a very peaceful holiday.