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The Daily Reprieve The official newsletter of Bay Area Recovery Center May 2010
Hope:The story of a mother's love With mother's day fast approaching, it's time to reflect on the love and support of a mother and let her know you appreciate her, especially if she's been through what Hope has been through. Hope is a mother of three. Two of her children began using in seventh or eighth grade. She had been through this whole process once before with her husband. So the shock of her two children's decision was devastating. She couldn't believe they were using. Not her children. So, she and her husband sat down and explained what horrible a disease addiction is and how it has heredity tendencies. The children, of course, apologized, 'We're sorry, we were only trying it out,' and 'it's not that big of a deal.' As all parents do, Hope wanted to believe them. But Hope's children knew how to get what they wanted, when they wanted it -- and they knew what their parents needed to hear to get them to back off. They continued using--not just marijuana or alcohol, but drugs that Hope thought were only used by experienced drug addicts. Despite their protests, Hope continued to help her children fight addiction. All the while, she fought her own battle of emotions: the fear of being a bad parent, the anger at feeling powerless, the guilt of feeling like she'd somehow caused this destructive behavior.
Through it all, she stood strong for her children. She learned that behaviors continue as long as there is an enabling system to allow it. She realized that so long as one parent allows it, the problem will never go away--and you need to get help. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction or fighting for someone else, like Hope, Bay Area Recovery Center can help. Give us a call today at 713.705.4490.
A quote from the Big Book 'We were having trouble with personal relationships, we couldn't control our emotional natures, we were a prey to misery and depression, we couldn't make a living, we had a feeling of uselessness, we were full of fear, we were unhappy, we couldn't seem to be of real help to other people.... When we saw others solve their problems by a simple reliance upon the Spirit of the Universe, we had to stop doubting the power of God. Our ideas did not work. But the God idea did.'- page 52 Mark Your Calendar May 3-9 Public Service Recognition Week May 8 World Red Cross Day May 9 Mothers Day May 9-15 National Women's Health Week May 31 Memorial Day
Free to be me: Terry's Story Life before BARC was dark and hopeless. I had no real future and no real life. All I lived for was the next high. Without it, I was sick and lost. The day I walked through the doors of BARC, I knew I would be okay. There was a peace about this house. A presence of calm. I didn't know what to expect; this was the first time I had ever been in a treatment center. But somehow, I felt that I had found the right place. I worked the 12-step program of Alcoholics Anonymous. I didn't think this could work for an addict like me because all I ever did was obsess over drugs and alcohol. But it did work and I am now free to live and laugh and be happy again and be the person I never knew I was. My time at BARC was very precious and I keep returning to give back what was so freely given to me. It's good to be free and just be me! - Terry, BARC Alumnus
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