I haven't posted in this forum for quite a while because I moved over to Teens and Substance Abuse when it was apparent that difficult child was an alcoholic. But I'm back here and wanted to give all my old friends an update.
difficult child entered a substance abuse treatment program Aug 2 after we told her that unless she get treatment she had to leave our home that day. This came after months of out of control drinking and coming home at 4 a.m. to sleep the entire day and do it again that night. In fact the night before she entered rehab she did the same thing, which we learned was very common. We had no idea whether difficult child would accept the program or whether it would help put our family back together again. It was a roller coaster ride for 60 days and family program Sundays were very emotional but probably the glue that held us all together. We had one scare on about the 30th day when former patients of the center came to visit and tried to take difficult child out of the program with them. I credit a very alert staff and two particular caring staff members in particular for kicking the visitors out, chasing her down the road, and convincing her to come back.
But in the end difficult child embraced the program, accepted her addiction, and we watched her become a stronger person who wanted sobriety. She was released to outpatient care and came home Oct 3. She attends outpatient group Mon-Thurs 10-1, goes to AA meetings almost every night, has met with her new, very interactive therapist twice already, and is making tremendous progress.
In the meantime I am going to al-anon meetings and we are all learning how to live one day at a time. I use to want her to promise me she would never drink again. I am now OK with her promising me she won't drink today and working her program to make sure every day is like that. The staff at the treatment center all had wonderful things to say about her as did many of the residents who say she has helped them in their recovery. She has found meetings that she enjoys every day of the week, some with young people and some with the general population and some all women. She says she feels accepted at every one of them and knows they all want the same thing out of life and that's what keeps her going.
She has cut ties with all the old drinking/drug friends and is making some very good choices. We are gradually letting her drive our car to meetings and work and today I let her drive to IOP for the first time. She calls us every time she gets somewhere and when she leaves. She has her paper signed at every AA meeting she attends, both for the IOP and for us so we know she is going. The outpatient program has been a wonderful transition back into normal home life and she is making friends with the other members, young and old. There is a special bond between them all.
While the past six months have been the most difficult for our family, they have also been filled with the most hope and joy. We are finally able to enjoy life and difficult child looks healthy and happy. We know this will be a long and difficult road for difficult child but she now has the skills and tools to make better choices and have a different relationship with us.
I have missed you all and happy to be back in this forum.
Nancy
difficult child entered a substance abuse treatment program Aug 2 after we told her that unless she get treatment she had to leave our home that day. This came after months of out of control drinking and coming home at 4 a.m. to sleep the entire day and do it again that night. In fact the night before she entered rehab she did the same thing, which we learned was very common. We had no idea whether difficult child would accept the program or whether it would help put our family back together again. It was a roller coaster ride for 60 days and family program Sundays were very emotional but probably the glue that held us all together. We had one scare on about the 30th day when former patients of the center came to visit and tried to take difficult child out of the program with them. I credit a very alert staff and two particular caring staff members in particular for kicking the visitors out, chasing her down the road, and convincing her to come back.
But in the end difficult child embraced the program, accepted her addiction, and we watched her become a stronger person who wanted sobriety. She was released to outpatient care and came home Oct 3. She attends outpatient group Mon-Thurs 10-1, goes to AA meetings almost every night, has met with her new, very interactive therapist twice already, and is making tremendous progress.
In the meantime I am going to al-anon meetings and we are all learning how to live one day at a time. I use to want her to promise me she would never drink again. I am now OK with her promising me she won't drink today and working her program to make sure every day is like that. The staff at the treatment center all had wonderful things to say about her as did many of the residents who say she has helped them in their recovery. She has found meetings that she enjoys every day of the week, some with young people and some with the general population and some all women. She says she feels accepted at every one of them and knows they all want the same thing out of life and that's what keeps her going.
She has cut ties with all the old drinking/drug friends and is making some very good choices. We are gradually letting her drive our car to meetings and work and today I let her drive to IOP for the first time. She calls us every time she gets somewhere and when she leaves. She has her paper signed at every AA meeting she attends, both for the IOP and for us so we know she is going. The outpatient program has been a wonderful transition back into normal home life and she is making friends with the other members, young and old. There is a special bond between them all.
While the past six months have been the most difficult for our family, they have also been filled with the most hope and joy. We are finally able to enjoy life and difficult child looks healthy and happy. We know this will be a long and difficult road for difficult child but she now has the skills and tools to make better choices and have a different relationship with us.
I have missed you all and happy to be back in this forum.
Nancy
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