Hear how children can be affected by their parents’ addiction.
My family has been very, very supportive, and my gratitude is in that they love me where I am, and they realize that I'm not going to do it according to the way they would like me to do it, and sometimes I think it's really hard for them because I look normal or healthy or well, and so--I mean--I can remember through the years going to my mother's house, and I would just go in and I would sit down. And she thought I was lazy and that I wouldn't do anything to be helpful, and so it was really challenging. Then after my second injury, when I got really sick and couldn't care for myself, they were very frightened because I would have episodes and seizures and things like that, and they were in Washington D.C., and I was here in Virginia. And I had a partner and caregiver, and that was really helpful, but my mom was often really quite frightened, and so they've been thrilled to watch me come back. And--you know--I had made some vow when I graduated that I wasn't moving back home, no matter what, and so my willfulness can sometimes be a challenge for them, but we are still very close and stay in touch with one another quite regularly.
Posted on BrainLine August 5, 2009.
About the author: Jan Brown
Jan M. Brown is an advocate and champion for wellness and choice around living in recovery. Jan has lived in recovery from addiction for the past twenty-two years.
