August 2, 2010
Picking Up the Pieces
Sometimes I wonder if the setbacks are there to test the resolve of all of those involved. With my daughters last relapse, it was an opportunity for me to go through my part in all of this. I have grown so much over the past couple of years that it is different now. I do not feel devastated like I did in the beginning of the journey. Part of this is sheer exhaustion from the situation, but another part if the personal growth that comes to the loved ones who travel along side on this journey. Many people think that it’s all about the person with the addiction. And many times entire families become obsessed and focused on the one struggling with the addiction. But there is so much more to look at when you go through a time like this. I had to consider my progress…was I still enabling? Was I letting go of trying to control my daughter and let her live her life on her terms? Was I living my life and moving forward or was I stuck? Was I paying attention to the other important people in my life…my son, my husband? How was I coping and taking care of myself so that I could take care of my family? These are the questions that I needed to ask myself and take a critical look at. I’ve found that it isn’t all about the loved one with addiction – it’s about the whole family and I needed to take stock of how we were doing and how I could best support everyone as we moved forward.
