- Alcohol
- Drugs
My daughter had the courage I didn’t have to stand up to this deadly disease. She remembered a mother from before the addiction took hold and wanted her back. She was sick and tired of watching me slowly kill myself right before her eyes. I wasn’t strong enough to stop on my own, even though I had every reason to, including a daughter that needed me.
I must have done something right in raising her, because there came a time when she had enough. She knew the difference between right and wrong, and what I was doing to her and myself was very wrong. She warned me, if she found me using one more time, she would tell someone. That sobered me up for a few days, but eventually I left her no other option, and she called the police. They threatened to take her from me, so I decided I needed help and went into treatment.
I spent 21 days in a treatment facility, and at first my daughter refused to see me. It broke my heart, but I’d been breaking hers for some time. The last weekend I was there, she came to see me, and I was elated. She was guarded and unsure as to whether she wanted to be with me going forward. I knew then the only way I would get her back would be if I could stay sober. I prayed a lot, and, when I got out, I went to meetings every day and got a sponsor. We started working the steps, and I started feeling better and more hopeful. I’ve worked all the steps now and have a sponsee of my own, whom I am working the steps with. It is a blessing. I take care of myself mentally, spiritually and physically to combat this disease. I go to church regularly, pray and meditate. Most recently I’m addressing my physical health by taking nutrition courses and yoga. I truly believe in a whole-body approach. My daughter and I went to counseling, and eventually I started regaining her trust. Children are resilient when given love. She decided to stay with me. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.