Hi Everyone, There is some grieving going on for me this week, a little reminder of the world I left behind. On Wednesday my niece's 1/2 brother hung himself. 17 years old and couldn't see but one way out, another one of us that didn't find recovery. It brings back some memories for me, because I have been there. There were times when I contemplated the same before I found recovery, just to stop the suffering and the insanity. I remember the isolation/desolation/desperation of addiction, the endless promises to myself of never doing this again. It might sound coldhearted, but I need to be reminded from time to time about where I came from. Pray for the still suffering addicts.
Lon
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Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.----Alice Mackenzie Swaim
Lon- I am sorry for your loss. It saddens me to see all these other addicts never get a chance at recovery and there's soo many. Many more than are even in the rooms, I presume. Yes this disease is a matter of life or death. It always "helps" to be reminded of that so I understand what you are saying. Someone who does not might see that as cold. I just wanted to Thank you for being here. You reply to every post and you always have something encouraging to say. Its awesome to "watch" the miracle alive in your life.
Danielle
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Danielle 10-14-04
"Lost dreams awaken and new possibilities arise"
I enjoyed your prayer/poem. Right now I am so new and still so raw and so much I don't know that it is hard for me to pray for my recently left addict. Any suggestions?
I would like some information but am living with dasughter and son-in-law and unemplyment and food stamps running out si I am hard pressed to buy and books.
I enjoy reading what people have said but I quess I just don't understand the disease. etc.
Confused, I don't quite understand where you are classifying yourself, that is, if you or a loved one was/is an addict. Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held almost everywhere, and many are "open" meetings, meaning they are open t anyone who wishes to attend them. Closed meetings are for addicts only. If you have4 a loved one who is an addict a NarAnon or AlAnon meeting would be appropriate for you to attend, but you would also be welcome at an"open" NA meeting. Most meetings stock pamphlets and booklets that are free for anyone attending to take. My home group only charges for the full-size books. The pamphlets are paid for through donations of the addicts attending the meeting. You can also find NA literature online at ( http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm).
I hope this will help, feel free to post more questions if you wish, we will try to answer.
Lon
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Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.----Alice Mackenzie Swaim
Thanks for reply Lon Lived with someone 4 years broke up Jan 10, 06 discovered in Sept. 05 was gettinginto crack big time and admitted he was addicted ad needed help
Confused, Look at http://www.naranon.com/ and/or http://www.al-anon.alateen.org/. They are organizations for family and friends of addicts, (yes I consider alcohol a drug, and excess alcohol an addiction). If you grew up in a family where a parent or parents were addicts/alcoholics perhaps a peek at http://www.adultchildren.org/ would help too. Often the relationship choices we make are similar to those we learned to be "normal" (at least to us) while we were growing up.
Lon
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Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.----Alice Mackenzie Swaim
i'm glad i looked in this site today lon. i'm sorry for your loss. i was also grieving a loss. a fellow member. it's hard. it does make me grateful for my own recovery and feeling these unfun emotions is still better than the emotional numbness i came in with. thanks for sharing lon.
galeon, Glad you are here, losing parts of yur life sucks, but being able to feel it is a gift, it hurts because it is supposed to hurt. There is no need to run and hide, we just need to feel and heal. Amen sister, on the unfun being better than nothing!
Lon
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Courage is not the towering oak that sees storms come and go; it is the fragile blossom that opens in the snow.----Alice Mackenzie Swaim