This morning I have spent two hours in a child protection conference. One of the parents is deeply addicted to alcohol. This was one of the most painful conferences I have ever attended. Both parents are deeply in denial about the risks posed to the children as a result of alcohol; one is permenantly drunk and the other so co-dependent they are not able to take any steps to do what need to be done to protect the children.
The alcoholic parent is an educated, attractive, articulate empathic person. Everything bad that is happening to them, involvement of social services, removal of their parental responsibility, separation form their children, admission under section to a psychiatric ward, arrest, police caution, frequent admissions to hospital with vomiting blood, liver failure, and shortly death, is entirely and completed attributable to drinking alcohol. And they will NOT seek help. Will NOT engage. Will not consider residential detox. Wail and rail and moan about what is happening to them, but will not, cannot, accept responsibility to change themselves. My comment at the end “I know you love your children, but sadly at the moment you love drinking more” was brutal, but accurate.
I’m a bit fragile myself at the moment, and this is horribly close to the bone.
I have been in my profession long enough to know that I can advise, support, offer guidance – but until people are willing to listen it’s all to no avail, but this is one of the hardest things I have ever had to watch.
Thank god, or thank a higher power, or thank luck that I am not in that persons position. That I retained insight sufficient to call a halt before any of these awful consequences came to me.
And what of the codependent one ? Actually I’ve been there too. My ex husband was / is a drug addict and alcoholic. I turned a blind eye to his drug taking for far too long – deflected from actually dealing with it by fear, denial, cowardice and optimism. Only when his aggression, paranoia and hostility spilled over into actual violence, physical and emotional did I act. And I always had the financial and practical wherewithal to deal with the fall out.
All the while I drank, to escape from the brutal reality that I couldn’t change him, couldn’t make him want to change, and that the responsibility for acting came down to me. The consequences, for myself and my children were my responsibility. As a drinker I was never an aggressive drunk; more a sloppy, sleepy, oversharing , over emotional, impetuous drunk. I don’t doubt that I have done harm,but it was easy to minimise when compared with the other adult who lived with us.
And now I live with a man who does not work, is super critical of my children to the point Β that last night we all sat in our separate spaces with no communication at all. Because the kids don’t want to be shouted at. He won’t change. I need to “grow a pair” and change what I’m not happy with.
The dangers of codependency have been displayed to me this morning. I know what is happening inside my own life – only I can change it. I’ve taken the first step by getting sober. Now I need to be strong for my kids.
Lilyπ·
Oh Lily that sounds awful. But you are right, all the help and advise in the world will not help if the person refuses help. Nobody can quit drinking for me, only I can do that. These parents are in for a rude awakening by the sound of it.
As for the relationship with your partner I have no words, just a cyber hug ππππ
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Thank you x π·
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Thanks. I really feel like I’m in emotional overload and I need a safe, quiet space to recover. And thanks for the hug xx
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Do you have your own therapist to support you?
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Not yet. I have an appointment tomorrow to see a therapist. Lily π·
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That’s good. Sometimes these realizations can be hard to process on our own. I love therapy.
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Hug. You sound like you know what’s needed.
It will all be simplest sober.
Stories like that parent make me realize just how fortunate I am to have found sobriety before losing anything.
Because the people you see drinking on the street didn’t choose that life. It slowly happened.
That’s a scary thought.
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I agree, watching this car crash, and the deep impenetrable denial is very hard. Such a waste
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Everything will be clearer with a clear head. Hoping for the best possible outcome for you, whatever you choose to do. xx
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Thank you x I keep telling myself no big decisions in the early period of sobriety, but this is just so wrong
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Lily you are so brave. I found I could not deal with any of my issues, although I thought I was, until I quit drinking. It is just so much easier to handle things as they come up. I am slowly working through it all just by fixing the daily challenges instead of trying to fix it all right away. Best wishes to you
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It’s hard to watch others tread where I might have been – and still could be if I don’t stay sober … I have great empathy and want to help – but the commitment has to come from them – and right now its just not there
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