I made my son leave once; it lasted for 14 days. I love him and will not stand by and watch him die a slow death because of you. Because of you, I take one day at a time. When I have to, I take one minute at a time. When my son was in high school, I was dear addiction letter suspicious of you. I agonized about your control over him. I had him evaluated on different occasions, I had caught him drinking, found weed. He was able to keep you from me & the therapist. I worried on a daily basis that you had control over my son.

Even though I had no idea my husband was actively using drugs, I had become sick and insane without knowing it. I needed to take time and deal with myself, not him. And now, I make sure I make the time to take care of myself, which is the best thing I can do. Sarah Crow from MSN Bestlife Online discusses 9 common eating disorders beyond anorexia and bulimia. I see your struggles with being in recovery, with more pain than joy. It’s a time in your life where the scales are not balanced. You are working so hard to survive but everyone is saying no. In addition to working for Cumberland Heights, Dr. Sledge is an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. Since 2016 Jay has served on the board of directors of the National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers . As past chair of NAATP’s Ethics Committee, Jay was instrumental in important changes made to the organization’s code of ethics.

An Open Letter to…

After a while, you started to tell me that I didn’t need anyone else. I should abandon my friends, shut out my family. You advised me that I was too smart for school. You have become incredibly cruel and a tremendous liar.

• For a time, it felt like all I needed in the world was you.
• You used to be all I ever thought about.
• I missed out on important events and gave up things that once meant a lot to me.
• Writing your letter is already a major sign of progress.

I now know that none of these feelings were genuine and that I was being manipulated throughout our time together. Whenever I felt like you were the key to getting through life, it was nothing more than a lie. For this and many more reasons, it is now time to bid you “goodbye” forever. Recovering from substance use disorder can be challenging, but hearing how others made it through the process can be inspiring and motivating.

A Letter for Families to Use with An Addicted Family Member

I believed that the more I poured into you, the less I would have to worry about my other problems. For a while, everything seemed fine. We had a great relationship and you did exactly that. Thread of your life,” my therapist said. I learned to see the other threads that made my life good. I practiced setting strong boundaries with family members. I learned better coping skills, cried, learned more skills and created a new routine for myself. After time and work, I got stronger and learned how to talk about it in a way that didn’t scare me or make me sad or mad. I was afraid to tell my friends for fear of what they would say and so I stayed quiet. I talked with my parents about what was happening, but they were dealing with this just like I was.

You will be a past enemy, not a mistake but an enemy. I was meant to go through what I went through with you, but I will never have to do it again. I will stand tall and proud that I have made it out and I’ll do anything that I can to help others see the light. My weight is down to almost normal again and my healthy eating group is really supportive. So I have two groups helping me overcome the control you had over me.

An Open Letter to My Son With Addiction

There is one place where no one will say no. There is one life that will accept you. The life of substance use that you have known for the last several years. Butch Glover, a state licensed and nationally certified addiction counselor, accepted his role as Chief Operations Officer in 2015. The shackles you held me in and the steel Sober House rope you bound me with will not be missed. I will carry the scars left by your bondage. They may not be noticed, but never covered up. Heroesinrecovery.com needs to review the security of your connection before proceeding. My body and my brain both longed to return to your hold, but I had grown strong enough to pull away.

Going into a tough neighborhood filled with dangerous people was always an experience that made me feel invincible. Some days, I thought you were what I wanted. Sometimes the drug abuse made me feel great, eased my inhibitions, and made me forget about my own self-contempt. You used to be all I ever thought about. I don’t know why I didn’t do it before. Maybe I was embarrassed to admit how much control I’d given you… But I was so desperate, I called someone I knew who was sober. He told me I didn’t have to fight you alone.

Treatment Facilities

In addition, Jay serves as Treasurer/Secretary of the Foundation of Recovery Science and Education. He has also served on an advisory committee with LegitScript, certification that lets search engines know which treatment centers operate safely and legally. So long to your charms and momentary pleasures, for the bludgeoning you have delivered to me has revealed your exact nature. The impending calamity in your course will no longer be one I will tread. A new path awaits my journey as I let you lay in the dust of days gone by.

Time may heal all wounds, but the scars are there forever. As a person who has never struggled with drug or alcohol addiction, I can only speak from that perspective. My insight into your world is only through observation. I do not wish to walk in your shoes, but I can tell you what it is like to walk in mine – if you are serious about recovery. In 2010, Ron Grover wrote an open letter to his son — and anyone with addiction — that still moves us today. Writing a letter to your child who is struggling with dependence or addiction can be cathartic for both of you. It can also allow you to express the caring and emotion you feel that might be harder to communicate in person. You summed up addiction perfectly dearest Carl. We can see the devastating effects from the addiction, but the addicted person can’t see it.

If you are affected by the family disease of addiction, reach out and find help. There is no shame in reaching out, only hope. The Cayman Compass, a newspaper in the Cayman Islands, discusses the process of psychotherapy with Richard Singer. Great article about the benefits and process of therapy. This article discusses how to deal with emotional pain according to 24 experts in the field of psychological healing. Addiction is more prevalent in our society than ever before. It is important to understand addiction and know if you are at risk or have an addictive disorder. From watching TV, the news, and reading books, I know that we are not the only family who is going through this. I know that it is nothing that we have done wrong. We are willing to offer you one last chance at getting on your feet and becoming self supporting.