Hello Everyone, I haven’t signed into this forum for a while and just wanted to say welcome to the newcomers and for sharing their stories and pain. So much of the contents of your stories are familiar to me. I am estranged from my addict son after years of enabling and being scared to let go in fear of the consequences. My experiences include prison/child protection proceeings/restraining orders due to behaviours associated with addiction so I am in tune with your shared experiences. The pain remains with me and is a permanent source of heartache. I sometimes wonder if I hadn’t enabled for so long (paying baliffs/rent arrears/doing laundry/buying food as I didn’t want him to be hungry) that there may have been an earlier opportunity for him to change. As the situation stands now, he is living away from his children and that really hurts as I am sure you will understand. Anyway, please, please take care of yourselves and set boundaries as so many others have advised. I fully appreciate how difficult it is to do this when there is associated behaviours.
I continue to have hope but I am looking after myself now . Please take care and seek strength from this forum where you can (as I have and continue to do).