Drug Addiction and the Pain Inflicted on My Family?

Question by Brittney: Drug addiction and the pain inflicted on my family?
i come from a very well rounded “normal” loving family that has given me everything i could ever ask for.
i love them. i would never want to do a thing to hurt them.
in fact all my life i let my sisters and brothers get what they want, i never complained, i truly don’t care about myself i just want everyone else to be happy.
so this is why my 9 month addiction to meth has left my family and myself so hurt by each other
im 21 but i still live at home with my little brother and parents.
they can’t fathom how i could possibly ever do meth again, want to do it again, or even look at it again after the way i’ve seen it hurt them.
and in turn i feel like they’re KILLING me by saying that.
i don’t know why, i have no idea why, but seeing them cry.. yeah i feel horrible, yeah it’s EXTREMELY hard to watch… and yes i will go out that very day and do more meth.
to me the best comparison i can come up with is telling someone to stop eating anything that tastes good… only lettuce..
if they don’t eat just lettuce then they must not love you…
i bet you that person would crack and eat something tastier within days.. regardless of how much they love you.
but still that comparison doesn’t feel quite right and i do feel like i should stop what i’m doing FOR my family. i should want them to be happy more than myself just like i do with everything else so i should be able to stop.. so why can’t i?? 🙁
and how can i make them see that i DO love them.. more than anything in this world..???

Best answer:

Answer by N
Tell them that addiction takes over your brain. With addicts, the only thing they think about is getting their next high. Some steal, lie, and cheat their family. Having an addiction is like being ill. You cannot think clearly, and you have no control over your mind and body. Go to a residential rehabilitation center and maybe visit your loved ones when you are ready. Your main priority right now should be to get clean. Don’t worry about your family. Your addiction is totally separate from them. After you have gone 30 days in rehab, attend Narcotics Anonymous for at least 5 years after treatment. Go to group therapy sessions.
Your family has a right to feel hurt, but they should be more supportive of you sobering up. They are acting selfish, which is not a good influence on you. Remember, go to a residential treatment center for AT LEAST 30 DAYS. Don’t talk or speak to your family because they will only talk about how you make them feel terrible, but really, they should be helping you out and giving you support.

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