Thank you :-( It's really hard to watch a person you have known their whole life a gentle, happy, fun loving person change into someone you hardly recognize anymore. Even harder when you watch them struggle to do the right thing, then totally give up. I don't know the answers to this epidemic but I do know we have tried all there is out there and for some it isn't working.
Do NOT ever give up! When something doesn't work you try something else. My ex is a recovering addict and alcoholic who self medicated for his severe bipolar illness. It took me divorcing him after 15 years of marriage to finally get him to take rehab seriously. He has been in and out of rehab at least 20 times. It's hard on everyone, the addict, the family, the siblings, the parents and the kids. However, although I could no longer maintain a healthy environment for our son who was 7 at the time, I still didn't give up. He has since remarried but when he goes on a bender with drugs and alcohol and is off his meds, who gets him back in?! I do, because he is the father of my child and drug addiction, alcohol addiction and mental illness is a horrible disease and if I don't help, no one will. We will find Joey, he will turn up and when he does, be his advocate. Practice tough love. It is HARD to help with out being an enabler but it is possible. I will keep praying and keep web sleuthing in the mean time, don't give up momma! There is always hope!
