[tracy6fan]

Tazzi, try Al-Anon. I started going 3 years ago to "help" my alcoholic and I keep going now to help myself. As health care professionals, we're so good at taking care of everyone else except ourselves. You may not share the same circumstances as other group members, but we've all been similarly affected by the disease of addiction. I've learned alot about myself that's helped me in both my personal and professional life. I can't recommend it enough!!

[islandnurse007]

Tazzi, remember when we're using drugs/ETOH or wanting to get loaded we'll "use" any excuse-doesn't matter who or how low it is! The drugs or ETOH are our most important goal, not feelings of others! Can't imagine what it's like when it's your daughter but I have to distance myself from all my family because they are all active in the disease process-it's hard but I "use" my AA family as my own! That's our choice and I never want to go back there so in the interim I stay away and pray for them everyday! Hang in there and know that there are others that are praying for you and your daughter!

[blueheaven]

Tazzi, you have my prayers and thoughts. You are NOT a bad mom. You are practicing tough love. You have to put your own sobriety first! Plus, you are being a good example to her (even though she doesn't admit it yet) Please try Al-anon or Nar anon for some help, understanding, and support. It is so difficult to separate the disease from the person! I have found both groups helpful over the years (I'm ACOA) and have been married to an active addict. Currently married to an addict with 9 years clean. This does not mean that I don't need the support that these groups offer. Sometimes when I'm stressed I revert back to old "stinkin' thinkin" as I'm sure all of you in recovery can relate.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((Tazzi and Tweety)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[psalm]

Parenting is a tough road. Don't enable her...(you are doing well there in having a "sober" home).

Hugs & prayers.

[*tattooed~princess*]

Originally Posted by TazziRN

I asked her why she feels I'm a trigger. She said "Everytime I have a conversation with you I feel like using."

I haven't talked to her since. Hubs tried to get her to apologize but she said that I seem angry all the time and she's afraid she'll get her head bitten off. I'm not angry. I'm incredibly hurt. It's been a long time since we've had a disagreement, yet she says she wants to use whenever she talks to me.

I don't really know if this will help at all but I am compelled to share my experience here...
I am an addict in recovery. I have a sponsor, work steps, go to meetings, I do service work, the whole 9 yards. I said that, so I could say something else. Almost every time I talk to my mom for any length of time, I think about using or acting out on character defects. My mom is not an angry person, she isn't crazy, and she doesn't use. So what gives? The reason I think I have this problem is because I still don't know how to deal with life and the people in my life. I carry guilt for the things I put my mother through, and have a hard time expressing to her all the feelings I have (good and bad). This usually frustrates me and sends me to a boiling point. While I have seldom had a real desire to use since I got clean, whenever I have these talks with my mom I do think about drugs and acting out. Like I said, I don't know if this helps you or not? I guess I just wanted to say that it isn't you (in case you didn't know that). I guess I'm telling you this because I can't say it to my mom and maybe your daughter can't say it to you- You are not a bad mom, and just because we don't know how to cope all the time, doesn't mean that you are doing anything wrong. Though I still struggle with this area of my life- it has improved drastically- I'm even planning a trip to go visit her and my dad and brothers for Mother's Day weekend- it's been rough at times, but it's falling into place in God's time.... Thanks for sharing a bit of your story- it opened my eyes a bit... I hope this helped at least a little....

[jackstem]

Tazzi,

I'm a retired CRNA and recovering addict. As the chairman of the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists Peer Assistance and Practitioner Wellness Committee, I receive phone calls and emails similar to yours quite frequently.

Someone suggested Al-Anon, and I whole-heartedly agree! As health care professionals, we receive very little in the way of education about the disease of addiction and it's effects on the family/colleagues in the addicts life. Al-Anon will teach you how to develop techniques of "loving detachment". You will also find a community of people who have been where you are, so they will have much experience, strength and hope to share with you. This is not something you have to do alone.

I also recommend that you get some books that discuss the disease of addiction. The research community has discovered a great deal about the physiological changes in the brain that accompany the misuse of mood altering chemicals. These changes have profound effects on a person's behaviors, thought processes, and their overall affect. These changes will reverse to some extent with prolonged abstinence, but they will most likely never return to normal. This is why relapse is possible even with decades of receovery. Addiction is a chronic, progressive, potentially fatal disease. Like other chronic diseases, there will be periods where the symptoms can resurface. This is precisely why recovery is considered a "one day at a time" approach.

A couple of books I highly recommend are:

"Healing the Healer: The Addicted Physician" (It discusses nurses as well).

"Addictive Thinking, Second Edition: Understanding Self-Deception", by Abraham Twerski

If I can be of any assistance, don't hesitate to contact me (see my profile for contact information).

Jack

[TazziRN]

Thank you, everyone. Things are improving with my daughter, although we're not where we used to be. She refuses to work a program and does not go to meetings, and last week she moved out to an environment where there is drinking and using, but there's nothing I can do except sit back and watch. She is making some very poor decisions but she will have to learn on her own.