This story is about how my family has dealt with our child’s problem. We were lucky in that she went to a residential treatment center and got clean and sober. She goes to meetings and works her program.
But what about the family, how does it recover? All too often family members, significant others and spouses don’t understand that addiction is a disease. I discovered a support organization called Families Anonymous. It is a 12 Step Program for parents, loved ones and family members of people with substance abuse and emotional issues. I learned, among other things, that I did not cause my child’s problem, that I can’t control it and I can’t cure it. The program gave me a framework to deal with this situation regardless of whether my qualifier stays clean or not. Besides helping me find my sanity and serenity, attending FA meetings gave me common ground with my qualifier. It helped me reconnect and rebuild a broken relationship. You will not learn how to “fix” your loved one but you will learn how to improve your life.
If you are struggling with feelings or with a person that is active, check out www.familiesanonymous.org for a meeting near you.
