No Doubt - Addiction is a family disease. Daily life for the nuclear family unit becomes unmanageable. Next thought .... hereditary family... there's definitely something in the addicted family dna... which is hereditary or genetic due to factors at their conception.
A predisposition that can lie dormant or be triggered into action by some environmental cause, physical (injury, surgery) or emotional trama. something in the physical/emotional make up that allows them to be drawn in by the addiction - of whatever kind -- meds, alcohol, hoarding, gambling, ocd, etc. kind of a tear in the fabric - immune system, life force (spirit, soul), that is left open and not healed back to full strength.
of course it is beyond control and comprehension while engaged in addiction. even when we all can see the patterns and habits clearly. The "what to do and not do" lists for all involved. It is all in heignsight. when you can look back and say "this clicked"
** as PB has stated - a disease of the thought process. addict and family are stuck in the dysfunctional thought process.
although it is hard to stay on track, and I apologize for my mistakes, I keep coming back to the fact that sober living and abstinence, work what ever program works, must be the only 'cure' - because any variation from that, has not worked.
** thanks again to PB --- as he has stated -- we go kicking and screaming and not want to do it, (me and well as my son) --- yet that is the only long and steady road I see. keep getting back on the path....
thoughts?
Here is today's AA DAILY REFLECTION (Oct22)
It almost talks right at your post ....
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/daily-reflection
It almost talks right at your post ....
http://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/daily-reflection
I also agree that addiction is a family disease. It can make the most functional family dysfunctional. Not everyone reacts the same way. It's kind of like the stages of grief - denial, anger, bargaining, depression & acceptance. I really don't know what stage I'm at and I'm sure it fluctuates.
I can remember when I first realized how deeply involved my younger son was with drugs & alcohol - I was at work, my son had been suspended/expelled for marijuana and was at home. My husband had gone home for something and called to tell me that our son was drunk. I called and spoke to my son and he of course denied it. I went home as soon as I could and our older son was already home from school and saw how drunk my younger son was. I called 911 just as my son started to come to. The police came after my husband showed up and my son started to hit my husband. He just took it. The police showed up along with an ambulance and took my son to a hospital. As I was driving off I could see my older son looking out the window with the saddest look in his eyes. It brings me to tears just to remember it and how it affected us all, on that particular day.
I can remember when I first realized how deeply involved my younger son was with drugs & alcohol - I was at work, my son had been suspended/expelled for marijuana and was at home. My husband had gone home for something and called to tell me that our son was drunk. I called and spoke to my son and he of course denied it. I went home as soon as I could and our older son was already home from school and saw how drunk my younger son was. I called 911 just as my son started to come to. The police came after my husband showed up and my son started to hit my husband. He just took it. The police showed up along with an ambulance and took my son to a hospital. As I was driving off I could see my older son looking out the window with the saddest look in his eyes. It brings me to tears just to remember it and how it affected us all, on that particular day.