Addiction: An enemy to be reckoned with

Addiction from a loved ones perspective……………….

Addiction has wreaked havoc on many people in this world.  Most importantly the family and friends of the addict.  The question that is often pondered is when is enough, enough.  When do you not give up per say, but stop enabling this behavior.  Stop feeling guilty because you alone can not impact whether a user is clean or not.

As a person without an addiction or ever having a drug or alcohol addiction, I am often told I just don’t know what it is like to overcome it.  What I can tell you is that from the very day I was born my little brown eyes have witnessed drug addiction and alcohol addiction, and I have made a conscious decision to not drown my sorrows in addiction.  Am I perfect, NO!  Am I affected by addiction, YES!  It has had a grasp on many of my personality traits, which I have to fight to overcome on a daily basis, and I did not and do not have an addiction.

As a 4-year-old, I watched my momma go into a bathroom, lay her arm on the porcelain white sink, wrap a plastic thing snuggly around her arm, take a needle, and shoot up.  Did I know what that plastic thing was? NO.  I did the very first time I gave blood and I had a flashback. So if I hear one more time I don’t know what its like, or I just can’t understand addiction, I’m here to tell you Im qualified to give my opinion, because a drug addict, many of them have given me the right to cast judgement.

Therefore the answer to my question is I am no longer enabling your behavior.  You ask me how could I possibly turn my back on you now when you need me most.

SIMPLE:

DUE TO YOUR ADDICTION YOU HAVE ALWAYS TURNED YOUR BACK ON ME. YOU WERE NEVER ACCOUNTABLE TO ANYONE BUT YOUR DRUGS.  Over a 10 year span,  I have given a gallant effort to support you, prayed for you, and believed in you to overcome your battle.  You have failed massive amount of attempts.  The only person left to support you is you.  This will be your two man battle, you and God.  Find him fast, and he will hold your hand, walk beside you, he is your only hope.  Maybe rock bottom, no one left to depend on is what you need.  Harsh as it may sound, maybe it will just send you to a place where you no longer exist.  What I will no longer do is be subjected to your lies and manipulation.

What I will do is when you have found yourself clean for a year, accept you whole heartedly back into my life, and not a day before. That my friend is tough love, maybe to tough but I have a family, children to protect and they are more important.