Worried Sick….?

Question by Lovin’ Life: Worried sick….?
My mother has had a precription drug dependency for many years now, since I was a young girl I believe. It has only come out since I have been an adult. We all just kind of knew but it was never spoken of. Last year she admitted herself into a rehab clinic where she stayed for over a month. She came out a different person and her doctors helped her get off of her morphine tablets and got her taking only what was absolutely needed. Don’t get me wrong, my mother is a very clean woman…not your typical “drug user” She is well known in our community and very loved by everyone. It is just something she hid for a long time. Now that things have been better, I have noticed her starting to back slide. Her personality is changing, as she did when she was using. I am worried to death about her and her safety. My sister and I have been there for her and her grandbabies love her to death. My dad is getting tired of her behavior and is contemplating walking out. They have been married over 25ys.
It is upsetting to see what my dad has to go through, but my family is being torn apart in many ways. I can’t take much more. I want to help her, but she is so stubborn and set in her ways. We don’t talk openly about many things, so when we notice her looking a little strange, we automatically go into the mode thinking she is high. She doesn’t take anything that we are not aware of, but she will buy over the counter meds and take more than she is supposed to. How can I help my mother?? I know this is way to big for me to handle on my own…and I do not want to report her and have her commited. That would kill me. My sister has tried telling me to just back off and let her make these decsions. That she sees the repricutions of what she does but continues anyways. What can I do to help her?? Is it hopeless?
We also feel alot of guilt and shame because when we think she may be doing something wrong, one of us will go into her purse and check her meds. Just for peace of mind. It has gotten that far.

Best answer:

Answer by ceegt
Your family should do an intervention meeting. Ask all of your closest family members, and her most beloved friends to participate in it. You gather everyone (the more people the better) together in the privacy of your home and you all agree to tell her that you think she is misusing over the counter drugs and that she is not healed from her dependency. Everyone must be in agreement that they will not back down nor feel sorry for her, or retract the truth. Everyone must stand firm and gently, but firmly tell her that she needs to recommit herself into the drug rehab and that if she doesn’t get the help she needs and stay drugh free that it is tearing her family apart. Your father needs to be firm and tell her that he will leave her if she isn’t willing to stay clean. The family has to be firm and loving, but no one can back down. Let her know that it is because you all love her that you are doing this. She may be inititially hurt and upset, but when she is drug free she will understand that you love her and only wanted her to be well and healthy and to keep your family together!

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