To The Addicted Parent

Stop. Before you even start to exit out of this post, please, just stop. Hear me out. Read on. The fact that you clicked on this says a lot. Most likely you are either an addict yourself, or have a loved one that is.

It doesn't matter what you're addicted to. Drugs, gambling, alcohol; just to name a few common addictions. You may say "this is MY life, and I will do what I want with it.". Yeah, you can. But understand that what you do effects people that love you, whether you believe it or not.

Don't make your family bury you too soon.

Don't make your parent's mourn the loss of a child, and wonder what they did wrong.

Don't make your children pray that you survive another day.

Don't make your children constantly think of how they're going to pay for your funeral should you die. Or worse, don't make them think about what they will say to all of your family and friends as a eulogy. Don't make that eulogy be a lie.

Don't miss out on one chance to see your family.

Don't miss graduations, ball games, dance or band recitals, reunions, birthday parties, etc.

Don't miss once chance to see your grandkids beautiful faces, or hear their laughter.

Don't make promises that you know you cannot keep.

Just, don't. 

I know. I know that all of that is easier said than done for an addict. I get that. Get help. If you have one single person in your life that has asked you to get help, do it. Because you are loved. You owe it to yourself to feel that love.

No matter what it is that you're blaming your addiction on. Seek help. It's out there. If it's mental disorders, eating disorders, actual pain, depression, heartbroken, whatever it is. Somebody can help you. You have to seek it out.

Your kids may be mad at you, and not speaking to you. But if you have kids that have given an ultimatum: "Us or the drugs". Choose them. Always choose them. Choose your kids, their spouses, and especially your grandkids. You can not get out of addiction alive and whole. It's impossible. If you continue on, you will go to jail, or die. There's no debate on that. How many friends have you lost to overdoses? Don't put your family through that.

If you have family, especially children, that have stopped speaking to you because of your addiction; please know that it is because they can no longer watch you slowly kill yourself. Please know that they still love you, they still want you, and they desperately want you in their lives. That's why they offered an ultimatum. If your children have offered you an ultimatum, know that they would give whatever they could to have their parents back. Healthy and whole. Addiction free. How do I know this? Because I would.