Loving an Addict
By Sherry
@norcal (4890)
Franklinton, North Carolina
November 18, 2015 5:20pm CST
When somebody that you love has a substance abuse problem, you have a big choice to make. You can keep that person in your life, or you can shut them out.
When you keep an addict in your life, you have to deal with the problems that come along with it. Maybe they steal from you, or constantly beg for money, and lie about what they want with it. Maybe they call you from jail and need you to come down and bail them out.
When you have decided to keep an addict in your life, I think it takes time to finally get to that place where you can be OK, no matter what's happening to them.
I know what it's like to have that knot in your stomach, and feel like you'll jump out of your skin every time the phone rings. It is said that they have to hit bottom before they can get help, but you also have to hit your own personal bottom, and sometimes it's lower than you could ever imagine.
4 people like this
1 response
@vandana7 (98787)
• India
20 Dec 15
You are an extremely caring person. You really love this person and are bracing yourself for the worst. But will sacrificing yourself really help him or her? If it is a child parent can do nothing but stand by the child. But if it is any other relationship, you have a choice to walk out. My advise is walk out. Over a period, the pain will decrease and so will attachment. But as long as you are with the person, you are killing yourself, you are telling yourself you need to be sacrificing, understanding, whatever. That is hardly true. I'd say yes, stand by the person if he or she is trying to get treatment and needs family support. But under all other circumstances no.
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