Addiction Support Group

My 52 yr old daughter started using drugs three years ago, had no prior use history. She went for treatment inpatient twice and now has a Bi polar dx. I am disabled so going to self groups to assist me with the fears and hell we went thru are causing me anxiety and difficulty find life good because I am concerned that she may relapse because she doesn't feel the need for 12 Step assistance. What action can I take to help both of us?

I have a brother who is 48, who lost his a high paying position 4 years ago. Thus, he lost his wife and children. His ex wife will not allow him to see his children. Last year, he lost his 22 years old son killed in an auto accident. He has been an alchoholic for 4 years. He will not admit to himself he is one. Four times in rehab, nothing helps. I slowly see him deteriating to death. What can I do to help him? I am at my last straw.

Ed

Last week, I came to know the harsh reality that my son, aged 23, is a marijuana addict. Right now he is undergoing treatment for psychosis. We as a family are totally shattered and do not know how to cope up with it. We really wish to see him back to normal. Please help!!

I have no one..I take care of my 85 year old mom.I get no help from my sister or 2 brothers. My sister kicked my mom out 4 years ago and she has been with me ever since. God Bless her-she is still relatively healthy but her health is starting to decline...she fell the other day. I feel overwhelmed and afraid..I have had 4 spinal sugeries and have my own health issues. I need to talk to someone....PLEASE. I feel like I am losing my mind. Thank you to all who take the time to read this. Jo

Am I helping or hurting my husband? My husband is addicted to pain medications that he has been taking for several years.. he has legitamite pain he is dealing with from different medical issues. Now he has started on chemo treatment for cancer and I need some advice. I am his caregiver and he allows me to have control of his pain medication and only administer it as presribed. The meds don't seem to be as effective anymore and he demands more to the point that he runs out before he can see the DR and be prescribed more. Need some advice...

I want to talk please

Hi Everybody. I recently started a blog to encourage caregivers and wrote a post today that I wished I could share with more people, about my eating disorder/addiction story and how it related to my caregiving. I hope it can encourage & help somebody today. At the end of it I posted my personal recovery story (audio of me sharing), so if you want to hear my story, you can get to that on my blog (www.hugsforcaregivers.com). Here is the post: My Eating Disorder as a Caregiver As a caregiver, I don't think there was a single care-giving experience where things always went my way. Working with other fallible humans, perfect interactions just aren't going to happen.

What was my response? For many years, it was to find comfort in food. During the care-giving situation itself, I would, most of the time, succeed in keeping my mouth shut to avoid saying something I might regret (though I am certain my frustration came out "sideways" with my non-verbals or comments mumbled under my breath). Then I would storm into the kitchen or my secret food supply and stuff my face until the sugar or fat numbed my explosive emotions. Sometimes the person for whom I was caring would interrupt my binge with a further request for help, and I would either pretend I didn't hear, or angrily storm back into their room, making sure they knew they were interrupting my "ME time". It was ugly.

I am happy to say, the last five years of my life, I have been a much better caregiver because I have been able to deal with my unhealthy coping mechanisms, and work through the issues I had surrounding care-giving. I have made amends to the people I have hurt, and our relationships are healed. Of course, as is the nature of care-giving, there will always be new issues to deal with, but today I have a very healthy coping and "working-through-things" mechanism.

For those who have not yet heard my recovery story, I am posting it here. I pray that you may find some helpful nuggets, and if you are struggling with an eating disorder yourself and need help, please feel free to contact me--I would be so happy to help in any way I can.

All my love, Tash

My husband has been doing this new drug called spice. He stoped after i took the girls and went away but hes been having a hard time. There are times he get hot and cold chills, to seeing things that are not theres. He also at times says thigs backwords. I even found him talking to himsel we have a 2year old and a 1month old. I feel lost and alone i want the old him back . I pray alot but i feel i need to try more. Please i need all suport i can get. And advice..

My stepmom has stage IV Lung and Brain cancer and needless to say it has been very rough. She was diagnosed in February and it is now July and she is struggling with walking and eating and just about everything. She is in as good of spirits as anyone could be and trying to stay positive. My concern is my dad. He is her primary caregiver and I am now living with them in Michigan to help things run smoothly. He has started drinking a lot and I have even started to find it hidden in the car and places where he is trying to keep it away from us. I understand he is full of worry and grief but I am highly annoyed that he is now causing me (on top of everything with my stepmom) so much stress over his drinking. He finally went to his doctor (I had to call for him) and was prescribed Cymbalta and Ambien. That is okay...until he starts drinking with these drugs. It could be VERY dangerous and I don't think he takes the warnings seriously or he might continue to drink if he feels he "needs it". I have also noticed he has crazy bad hand tremors and I wam wondering if that is related to the alcohol consumption. Any ideas or comments would be much appreciated. Thanks:)

My Husband is an addict and has been going to NA meetings voluntarily as soon as I discovered he had relapsed. My issue is that he refuses to speak about his addiction with me. Basically the sole reason I know what he has been addicted to is because I found his "stash". I have tried giving him his space to get his head straight but I feel 3 is long enough for him to be able to finally discuss his addiction and our path in front of us. Does anyone have an explanation why he feels he cant discuss although I have been supportive.