NO VOLUNTEERS IN HEARTBREAK

TM.3 (1)Dr MacAfee told me: Parents need to know that their suffering is legitimate and the result of loving their child. I have heard dismissive and searingly hateful comments thrown at parents that they are victims of their own suffering. The stories of addiction are heart wrenching: murders, fatal overdoses and debilitating consequences. There are no volunteers to these heartbreaks. No one would sign up for these experiences.

My reflection: Nobody welcomes addiction into her home, but it happens. I didn’t volunteer for a 14-year journey of addiction, but the heartbreak deepened as I loved my son while he descended into the world of drugs.

Today’s Promise to consider: There are no volunteers in addiction. There are no volunteers to the heartbreak and suffering that addiction heaps on us. We simply love our addicted child or spouse or parent. When we love another person, we open ourselves to pain, as well as to joy.

2653
0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

8 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Laura
9 years ago

Many times throughout my son’s addiction I have thought to myself that I would volunteer for any other disease before I would volunteer for this heartbreak. It is a lifelong disease, and as I hear from my son that he has relapsed in prison, and the serious consequences he is now suffering as a result, I feel the heartbreak once again. He asked me in his letter not to be mad at him. I am not mad, I am just sad that he has been given this weight to bear in his life and that he can’t seem to get out from under it. In his letter he also asks me for money to pay his prison fines. He claims that it is a “matter of life and death’. I feel like I finally have to say no, I can’t help you anymore. I love you, but I can’t help.

Margie
Margie
9 years ago
Reply to  Laura

Laura,
I am so sorry for the pain and suffering that addiction has caused you. I too, have a son that is addicted to heroin and it has sucked the life right out of me.
One day at a time, we can find peace amongst the storm.

Pat Nichols
9 years ago

Thanks again Libby for a wonderful post and a priceless response to Laura. So true – all of your words.

It took me 12 yrs. of total chaos before I “began” my own road to recovery from codependency. It was three additional years before I felt my own peace and serenity return. When my son would call from jail describing a “life or death” scenario I knew I was conversing with the enemy and not my son. I knew what the enemy wanted and I knew how to respond in an appropreiate manner that served my recovery and also in a way that moved my son’s recovery date in closer.

I focused on three main areas in my life and that was, (1) drawing closer to God and learning to trust Him, (2) grieving the loss of the child of my dreams and (3) educating myself fully on the disease of addiction. Of course, I don’t believe I would have ever made it without working the 12 steps with a sponsor and consultation with a alcohol/drug counselor.

Everyone is on their own path and will find recovery in their own way. No blame or shame.

Continued prayers for all of us.

Laura
9 years ago

Thank you Libby and Pat for your kind and helpful responses. They remind me that I need to keep working on my own recovery, which I have neglected lately.

Dina
Dina
9 years ago

I cannot believe I just came across this blog where you actually interact with your readers. I want and need you to know, your book, saved my life during my struggle with my boys’ addiction. THANK YOU! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!