Accidental support

[RiseAbove]

Shortly after learning that I was abusing pills, my father stopped taking his oxycodone for his back.  And his back causes him a lot of pain.  A LOT.  It has been almost a week since he stopped.  Before this he had no idea what withdrawals were about, or that you even got them from stopping the pills.  He has been on them for about three months and suddenly he found out what they were about.  Yesterday I saw him for the first time in several months (we live on separate coasts) and he opened up to this horrible world that he never knew existed.  He asked a lot of questions and of course I know all the answers about w/d.  It was so strange to be able to be honest and really TALK to him.  I had never done that before.  Besides learning more information about w/d, I think he found some compassion.  He knew I was tapering to get clean, but now he knew what I was facing.  The emotional and mental parts are a whole nother story, but having my dad feel it made him look at things a different way.  I would never ever wish it on him (or anyone for that matter), but he talked to me with such love.  

When it first came out that I was using I turned away from my family.  Harsh things were said, feelings were hurt and I felt like I would never be able to face them again.  But over the days we learned to come together, and now I have two very wonderful people in my corner - my parents.

I know it is such an overused saying, but nothing could be truer - EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.  What I thought was going to break me actually gave me more support and love than I've ever had dealing with this addiction.  And those may just be the tools I need to beat it.

[invincible]

Jen, great to see you back posting...miss a bunch of people on this site but you are number one..
Good luck, steve

[Mangee]

I can readily sympathize with your fathe,r having been in the same boat. I was on Oxycontin for a month and got so sick of it that I quit cold turkey. I had no idea what I was in for. I became paranoid, anxious, depressed and stressed out. I would reach out to touch my wife while in bed because I had this fear that she wasn't there. My mood swings were scaring the hell out of her but she stayed with it and kept me as level as she could. I lost weight, couldn't eat, couldn't sleep and was afraid to be alone. After the first two weeks things began to settle a little but I was nowhere close to being in the clear yet. After a month I became to feel a little more human and was sleeping a little eating and more aware of who I was. It took me two months to fiinally break the chain and get back to normal which is where I am now. All in all it was well worth the effort. I might mention that I am an octogenerian and if an old man like myself can beat,so can anyone else who wants it bad enough.  Give my best wishes to your dad for a complete recovery and include yourself as well.

[PromisedLand]

That is a wonderful story...and the best to both of you....I've found some great support from my 25 year old son who lives in GA.  He did some time for drug use (to this day I don't know what..he won't say) and he detoxed in jail.  He's out now and has been clean for nearly 90 days.  Last week I shared with him what's going on with me...he figured it because he knew I was depressed and was asking a lot
of info about NA (he attends)...it's great to talk to him about this stuff and our love
for each other has grown


Jim

[wait2long]

Thats a wonderful story...i am so glad you have your parents in your corner with them having full understanding of what you have been or are going through...thats just awesome!!!