Son doing well in recovery!
Hi all, I am the Mother of a 25 year old son. A wonderful young man who had everything going for him. He started slow- alcohol & marijuana socially. Over the course of apprx. 5 years he was using E, meth, Oxycotin, whatever he could get his hands on. We knew he was using something but he told us he had it under control. We relentlessly offered help every chance we could. But you cant force your adult child to do something they dont want to do.
We've been through the late night calls, screaming, threats, hallucinations, severe mood swings, tears, begging etc. We've heard it all and I cant begin to explain how that pulls at your heart strings.
October 2011 he really hit rock bottom. He had overdosed a couple weeks before and had run out of money and finally made the one call we had been waiting for! We took him to a county run 7 day detox unit. From there he got into a 90 day live in rehab place in a not so great city in our area. We were so relieved! Except that 4 days in he called us collect from a payphone and told us he'd been kicked out! Back to square one. After several collect calls that day we gave him the address of a program we knew about and told him if he really wanted help he would find a way there. It was 10+miles through the worst neighborhoods you can imagine. The director at the center said he's never had anyone just walk up, but they saw the blisters on his feet and the helplessness in his eyes and let him in! The program is called Teen Challenge and we can say that this program saved our sons life.
I wish I had found this site 5 years ago because its been a very long journey and it really helps me to talk and write about all that we've been through.
We've been through the late night calls, screaming, threats, hallucinations, severe mood swings, tears, begging etc. We've heard it all and I cant begin to explain how that pulls at your heart strings.
October 2011 he really hit rock bottom. He had overdosed a couple weeks before and had run out of money and finally made the one call we had been waiting for! We took him to a county run 7 day detox unit. From there he got into a 90 day live in rehab place in a not so great city in our area. We were so relieved! Except that 4 days in he called us collect from a payphone and told us he'd been kicked out! Back to square one. After several collect calls that day we gave him the address of a program we knew about and told him if he really wanted help he would find a way there. It was 10+miles through the worst neighborhoods you can imagine. The director at the center said he's never had anyone just walk up, but they saw the blisters on his feet and the helplessness in his eyes and let him in! The program is called Teen Challenge and we can say that this program saved our sons life.
I wish I had found this site 5 years ago because its been a very long journey and it really helps me to talk and write about all that we've been through.
Replies
my son is also in a teeen challenge. he has been there for a month and we are seeing changes. also started slow ...marijuana, alcohol and over the last 4 years has tried everything most recently becoming addicted to oxycontin and almost overdosing. very happy for you that your son is doing so well.
i really like this site cause i don\'t feel so alone in my misery and anxiety
Hi, Yes this site has been great for me too. Knowing there are others in the same position makes it just a little more tolerable. I am not a religious person, spiritual yes, but I thank God everyday for the incredible program at Teen Challenge. We have had two 24 hour visits with our son and we have seen the kid we always knew was still there. I know you\'ll continue to see positive changes in your son.
how is your son doing now? is he almost finished the program and does he ever talk about leaving?
I can say he has never talked about leaving the program. Thank goodness! Although we were prepared if he ever did mention it. He knew coming home was never an option.
Funny how life can take you on a path you never imagined was possible.
we akso plan to let him know that it is best for him to finish program and if he ever talks of leaving, home will not be an option