Addictions run in the family

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About four years ago my mom began to suffer from Alcoholism. Alcoholism and other addictions are extremely common among those in our family. My mom's mother, father, sister, aunts and uncles suffer from these. My brother and cousin also suffer from addictions as well. It's been very devasting to me because I am her favorite punching bag, literally and figuratively. From what I have read about addicts they tend to hurt those closest to them the most. My mom's "favorite" thing to do while drinking is to lash out at me and say all kinds of damaging things. After my boyfriend/fiance of nine years left me she looked at me and said "Well can you blame him? Look at yourself. You're worthless, a mooch. You're never going to amount to anything". Only a few short weeks ago she actually told me I was a burden and have been since I was born because I have gotten in the way of her relationship with men. The exact words were "Well when you have kids, they just come along, then they are just there, then they leave. But your spouse is always there and if you put your kids first your spouse won't be there when your kids leave". During one of her drunken fits she told me to get out of her house and to never come back but blocked my way to get my personal belongings. When I pushed my shoulder into hers to move her she slapped me so hard I feel into a cabinet. Which then proceeded with my physical reaction. After about an hour of back and forth between physical and verbal warfare the cops were called and I was arrested. Within the last four years I have come to realize a lot about the person my mom really is. She's no longer able to keep up the lies and tales she has spun about her life. I know a lot of what she has said about her life is true but there are other things that have been proven untrue. Mainly her relationship with my grandmother. Part of what is so hard to deal with is that she was put through all this from her parents and vowed never to put hers through it, yet her she is living up to her parent's legacies. I realize addictions and abuse are like cycles, it's all they have ever known so they do it as well. I don't know what to do for her. In the beginning, her thoughts on this were "I have a problem but it doesn't cause any problems so I do not need to stop. These gradually changed, and today she says "I do not have the insurance or money to go to rehab". What can be done, besides isolating myself from her?

 
By CK on Fri, 11-25-11, 11:40

Hun-as hard as it is, she is toxic and the best thing to do is to put distance between the two of you. She is an addict and you cannot continue to be her punching bag, she cares more about alcohol than anyone and while she may be repeating a pattern, it isn't an excuse, because there are lots of people who's parent's are addicts and they are not. Addiction is a choice, it isn't forced on anyone. Have you thought about attending an Al-Anon metting, perhaps meeting other family members of alcoholics whould be helpful for you to see that you aren't alone.

Hugs-
CK

Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast-Alice in Wonderland

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By SDiotte on Fri, 11-25-11, 20:33

I tried the distance thing several times. I have gone months without talking to her or seeing her but when things get rough I still want that support I used to find from her. It's hard to let go, I guess. I have been really wanting to go to an Al-Anon meeting for a couple years now. However, I would not go to one within an hour of the town we live in. Not because of privacy or anything but because from what I know about the AA meetings around here. The AA meetings here are nothing but social get togethers for addicts. A place where they go to sell and buy drugs. They all also wind up at the bar together after the meeting is over, even the leader! What kind of Al-Anon meeting would I be walking into around here? Also, I don't know if I could go alone to the first couple of meetings. Thank you for your input. I know you're right but it's a matter of finding the strength and courage to go through with this.

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