A mother wrote to me: My youngest daughter is 19. She started with alcohol at age 12 and ended up a heroin addict. After many false starts and years of fearing that ‘phone call’ when I would hear that she is dead, she finally is in an inpatient center. After completion, she wants to come home. I want her home, but I am also realistic that we are NOT out of the woods by a long shot. She is going to need help from someone who truly ‘gets it’ and is not family. Our family is still healing – we have a very long way to go.
My reaction: This mother writes with the wisdom of experience. It took me many years to understand the power of addiction and my own limits.
Today’s Promise to consider: We need to stay humble in the face of addiction because it lurks in the shadows, always taunting and bidding its time, gauging just the right moment when vulnerability is high and relapse is possible. Recovery happens, but there is no magic bullet. It takes determination, faith, and constant care. Our loved ones must work their own program, and we must stay grateful, and continue to hope.
What if there was a place for recovering addicts to go to get their equilibrium back. It takes five years for the body to heal and stabalize itself back into normal endocrine function from addiction. It takes two years for the brain to heal and for it’s natural hormones to start flowing regularly again. During this recovery time is when the addict is most vulnerable. So what if there was a place for addicts to go that allowed them to stay in a safe place where the first two years they were getting there memory and focus back and learning a new trade, or going back to school to get their degree and learn organization and responsibility again. The next three years is spent finishing their degree and re-entering the workforce giving half of what they earn to the program and save the other half to purchase a car and apartment when they finish the program. By the end of this five year program they are fully recovered (still an addict) but in full recovery. They have a job, a car, and a place to live. They are now productive citizens of society again.
What if?
Dear Kelly, This is brilliant! I agree – what if? It’s a GREAT idea. What if a person in need could check himself or herself into a place like this – a kind of kickstart, again, or reminder, or retreat of sorts. Wow. I’d like to use this as a Thursday Meditation if it’s OK with you? I LOVE the idea. xoxo