Hello all! I havent posted In a few years now but Im on here daily reading. There are many newbies so Im not sure who will remember my story. My son was a heroin addict. Stealing... lying.. etc... the norm for an addict. He got into some trouble 2 1/2 years ago and was sent to prison. Big boy prison! 23 hour lock down daily. No rehabilitation for him. No GED classes etc...I went to visit him after he was there for 2 months and it was behind a glass and talking over a phone. It reminded me of movies Ive watched. I never went again! anyway... he was released December 26th. I had 2 1/2 years of sleep. Though I worried about him it was a different kind of worry. I started with the anxiety about a week before his release. Not knowing what to expect but I was expecting the worst. He was 21 going in and now is 24.
Its been just about 3 weeks now and the difference in him is just unexplainable. He for sure is not perfect. But his whole outlook on certain issues he had before going in ( he has a child with a not so sane girl) is so different. His attitude is so different. How he reacts to things is so different. Not at all what I was expecting. I just remember the 21 yo immature heroin addict who was making my life miserable. And I thought he would come out of prison worse or the same but Its been a pleasant few weeks.
Long story short.. maybe that is what he needed to grow up. And look at things differently. He seems to have no interest in the drugs. He said he thinks it was a phase. He also had quite a few friends die while he was away. Maybe that hit him hard. Im not sure. But for now Im enjoying the son he is. He wants to work and make money. His addiction right now is buying clothes and shoes! Ill take that over heroin any day!! I still dont fully trust him but hes earning my trust little by little by his actions.
Im not sure what the future holds but I just wanted to share my experience. We often share the negative and not much positive so I just wanted to share. Its still too soon too tell but he seems to be on the right track with a different mindset.
It killed me to have my son in prison for 2 1/2 years but I think it may have saved his life.
Im keeping my fingers crossed and praying for the best outcome.
Sweet story! Thank you for sharing.
Lisamarie thank you for sharing about your son. I'm very happy he is so much better and he should be really proud of himself. Being off heroin that long his brain was able to readjust itself and he probably learned more constructive ways to spend his time. So happy for you both!!
Sally Anna , I agree with that. I once read about what heroin does to the receptors in the brain. And the outcome was that it takes about 2-3 years for the brain to resume some normality. Im realky hoping hes back to normal. I still worry and I dont think hes totally rehabilitated. But I think maybe a few years and and some maturity are helping for now. I just hope it sticks!
Lisamarie Your exactly right there, there is not enough positives and success stories we hear, so it's always uplifting when we do hear people that are getting there lives on the right track, your son is still young so maybe a bright future for him good luck
Ps I have also read it takes about about 2- 3 years for your brain to recover, or for as lo long as you'd been doing drugs, it takes that long to recover, my addict 25 although seems he's doing well I know he is struggling, holds a job down never misses, it's the mental Heath I worry about now, he has no social life hardly at all, to see someone he he was to what he has become is very sad
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Thanks for Sharing!!! Good luck for a great future with your beautiful son
Thank you, I needed to hear a story like this today. My son is in prison, big boy prison also... It is a different kind of worry, but still a worry. I haven't heard from him since he moved from intake to the actual prison. I hope he gets something positive out of it. He will be there at least 2 years.
Sombra.. I know exactly how your feeling. When my son first went to prison I was sick with worry. He will call. It takes some time for them to get used to their environment. And its a lot of paperwork.. physicals with the doctors... getting them settled ... etc. so just give it time. I know its hard but I really think it was the best thing for him. And maybe this is just what your
son needs also. And hopefully you have the same outcome ive had so far. I wanted him to hate it and never want to go back. For 2 1/2 years I dreaded him getting out because I had the mindset he would get out and want to celebrate and be right back to where he was when he went in. So far ... so good but Its still so soon after his release and anything can happen. Its all up to him what he chooses to do. But he does know that this time if he screws up there are no more chances with me and helping him.
Take this time to relax and take care of you!! Hes fine. Hes eating... hes clean... and hes able to handle it and take care of himself more than you may think.
Keep Us updated. Good luck and you will see you will relax more and more as the time goes by.
Lisa
son needs also. And hopefully you have the same outcome ive had so far. I wanted him to hate it and never want to go back. For 2 1/2 years I dreaded him getting out because I had the mindset he would get out and want to celebrate and be right back to where he was when he went in. So far ... so good but Its still so soon after his release and anything can happen. Its all up to him what he chooses to do. But he does know that this time if he screws up there are no more chances with me and helping him.
Take this time to relax and take care of you!! Hes fine. Hes eating... hes clean... and hes able to handle it and take care of himself more than you may think.
Keep Us updated. Good luck and you will see you will relax more and more as the time goes by.
Lisa
