Hey everyone ! I can't say I'm excited because I've been through this to many times already. He got himself into a detox and program. The kid had enough of being on the street the past two or three days whatever it was. So I can say I'll probably sleep tonight knowing he's not on the street. It got real bad real quick. He's got to be at his bottom or close to it. He's emotionally and physically wiped out. It killed me to see that happen and to be "powerless" three thousand miles away. There's always a trap door at the bottom of your bottom. I just hope that he remembers how bad it got. But a friend says the disease has a built in forgettor. Once you start feeling better again you forget how bad it really was ! In catching up today I realized what a good group of people we have on this thread. Like family ! Always concerned for and looking out for each other. I know a lot of times I'm stressed or in a rush and I don't get to reply to many individual posts. I do read them lol and sometimes some of the things on this thread bring a smile and a few laughs. Thanks guys for that. Wishing Jimi the best ! With all that's going on with him he always manages to reply to many of our posts ! OK said enough. Have a good night everyone !
So, growing up I had a friend who was bi-polar, when he was off his meds he was an absolute horror show. Aggressive, violent, irrational, scary.
When he was properly medicated, he was a joy to be around, funny, intelligent, entertaining, charming...
After a few months of taking his meds, he would develop this sense of normality, everything was ok now, he was normal now, he was just like everyone else now....so he didn't need his meds. He would slowly slide back into his old bi-polar behaviors, his hygeine suffered and eventually, the scary, angry, irrational ,aggressive violent person would re-emerge.
He didn't see it, he didn't see the return to the bi-polar behaviors, he still felt normal.
That's what your son goes through, he's clean and sober and feels normal, he slides back into familiar comfortable patterns and doesn't see just how unmanageable his life becomes and when he finally does, it's always someone else's fault. Eventually, he will clean up, he will take responsibility for his actions and he will stop using excuses for his actions.
(Do try to remember that there's a horrible emptiness or pain at the heart of his addiction, when he's rational enough he'll be able to address that and stop this vicious cycle)
Two other things you should know.
1. People think they've reached rock bottom until they find the entrance to the basement.
2. It's not your job to fix him, his addiction is effecting you negatively and you need to get your own help. Find a program, seek help and take care of yourself. I know there are groups associated with addiction for families, start with Al-Anon and see if they can point you in the right direction.
Do something nice for yourself today, you've probably been neglecting your own well being and that's a priority in you being better so he can see what healthy looks like.