Can I get my hopes up about sister's rehab?

luvmylilsis · #1 08-09-2006, 03:49 PM

Hi, I was hoping to hear of some success stories or somthing positive about my sister going into rehab. In my opinion, she has hit rock bottom and she wants to get help and go to rehab. I want to believe her so bad, but so many people including her probation officer tell me not to get my hopes up. She is a crack addict and has been in county jail for 8 weeks now,she really sounds sincere both in person and in her letters, but I just get so many negative remarks about crack addicts. I want to believe that she really wants to do this for herself. We have tried in the past and she was in complete denial. I really need to hear something postive.

kingscowgirl · #2 08-09-2006, 06:14 PM

Hello,
The first thing that comes to mind for me in reading your post is "There is ALWAYS hope". I am a recovering crack addict and my husband is an addict as well. People ask me all of the time why I stay with him (he has been a chronic relapser). He is back in on a violation based on relapse.

As I read your post, you say your sis seems sincere...most likely she is-for now. Every addict has their own rock bottom, and for some of us, there is more than one. For me, I hit the first one much earlier in my life and stayed "sober" for 17 years until I relapsed 3 years ago. I then had another rock bottom, and it has been a daily struggle since them but I have remained sober. My husband has had many more "rock bottoms" and with each one, he has progressed in his recovery one step ata time. The thing is...only your sister can and will know, and sometimes, even she might not be certain.

The Big Book of AA calls it a "daily reprieve". I call it God's grace. Either way, it is passed out in daily increments...as the Isrealites in the bible were fed manna one day at a time, we are fed recovery the same way. It is up to us to choose each day if we will eat of the "bread of recovery".

This is where hope comes in and becomes our lifeline. Without hope, all is in vain. As your sister progresses in this journey, she will need strength, encouragement and hope from you and others who love her. There will be days she will think she just can't do it one more second. In these moments, she will need the strength of others, and their hope, to hold onto until that moment passes. Another thing to remember is that, even if relapse happens, it does not mean the addict does not want sobriety. Hope is eternal, and without it, all is lost. Support her without enabling her, and be there for her, regardless of her path on this journey...that is unconditional love. Anything less is not worth having.

You will both be in my prayers

**mamajmg** · #3 08-09-2006, 06:44 PM

When my son wanted to go to an inpatient rehab last year it was denied. I was ticked at the time but now understand why. WE PAY THEM. It's not the same as the safp program he is now in.

I can only tell you what he now tells me. He feels recovered. He wants to be recoverered. But the true test of his recovery is when he comes home. I continue to write him, support him and believe in him. BUT just as he is scared for when he comes out, so am I. He is very sincere in his conrolled enviroronment. As Kingscowgirl has said, it is a daily struggle or determination.

Please stand by your sister but understand the true struggle of an addict.
My son has relapsed many times but this is the first time he's had the in house treatment he's now getting. I pray, as so many others here that this will be THE time.

God Bless.

Janice

dridlen · #4 08-11-2006, 12:18 AM

My son has been in rehab a couple of times. He is about to go again, only this time it is in the prison he is at.

I hope and pray that this will be the time he can kick it. But I know the disease of addiction and it is a struggle every day. I hand him over to God and step back and see what happens.

D.