[Veggiepatch]

Thank you for such a truthful article, it gives me hope that my son, a meth addict may also come to his senses.
About 5 years ago I made the decision to block him from my life.
It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I am 76 now, am carer for both.my.husband and my daughter and just couldn't cope with my son anymore.
He is 51 now and has been addicted for most of his adult life. Like most addicts, everything is everybody else's fault. He is a compulsive liar, I can't believe anything he tells me.
This week I received a phone call, telling me he was in hospital and wanted desperately to see me.
He has had a massive heart attack.
The.Drs have told him he will be dead in 12 months if he doesn't stay off the meth. His girlfriend, a very nice person, not an addict, told me he has been clean for a few years, but the damage has been done.
I hope he can be as strong as you and make the rest of his life, however long ot short that may be something he can be proud of.

I sincerely hope there is a positive outcome for your son. Even though my addiction was alcohol, the parallels between any substance abuse is glaringly obvious. Denial, blame gaming, lying and cheating - even to the stage of being criminally negligent.

Luckily for me, the tide has turned to the extent that I am currently studying a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs.

 

[Fudd]

Well done to you you've mad up your mind to abstain from alcohol,i have a similar story but cant write for shit .this is my eleventh year off the grog by myself,no AA going ok thanks.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I'm so glad that sdc is reposting these.

What Veg has written I'm sure will help and inspire others.

I'm going to try and get my brother to join sdc , maybe stories like this will help him.

@Veggiepatch you have come far and I know now that you have found your soul mate it will just get better. I wonder how many people that are from where we grew up in have had similar experiences. You know in the early 80s heroin was a huge problem in Riverwood and Peakhurst.

Maybe I will write part 2 of my story.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Well done to you you've mad up your mind to abstain from alcohol,i have a similar story but cant write for shit .this is my eleventh year off the grog by myself,no AA going ok thanks.

Your wording doesn't need to be perfect. Just write what comes into your mind.

We would all love to read your story.

There used to be Grammar police on here but we have knocked them of their so called pedestal

 

[Leodalion63]

The decision to change is solely in the hands of the individual. In my case, no amount of intervention, whether it be Alcoholics Anonymous, counseling (court ordered or not) or rehabilitation makes ANY difference.

Ultimately, the ball is in your court.

Thank you so much for sharing this. We all have a story to tell and I hope your story continues to shine in someone's life enough to show that you can only help yourself first to make the move towards change. Changing friends, changing location and changing one mindset in how you start your day differently. All you can do is take one day at a time and most importantly having positive people around you that actually care about your well-being is a blessing.

Well done Veggiepatch for getting this far in your life, it is easier said than done.
I too fall down on my face, get myself up, dust myself off then continue on my way.
I just start again until I fall down again. It is part of me to keep trying. No one understands that until you walk in somebody else's shoes.
I started with the easy addiction giving up the ciggies. This time going on 4 years. I always remember to give myself a pat on my back because I deserve it for me.
Now I am looking at my next one to tackle..

Thank you. I appreciate your honesty and give us hope to see that little light at the end of the tunnel getting bigger and brighter.

You can only help someone when that someone helps themselves first.

 

[Suzanne rose]

Thank you so much for sharing this. We all have a story to tell and I hope your story continues to shine in someone's life enough to show that you can only help yourself first to make the move towards change. Changing friends, changing location and changing one mindset in how you start your day differently. All you can do is take one day at a time and most importantly having positive people around you that actually care about your well-being is a blessing.

Well done Veggiepatch for getting this far in your life, it is easier said than done.
I too fall down on my face, get myself up, dust myself off then continue on my way.
I just start again until I fall down again. It is part of me to keep trying. No one understands that until you walk in somebody else's shoes.
I started with the easy addiction giving up the ciggies. This time going on 4 years. I always remember to give myself a pat on my back because I deserve it for me.
Now I am looking at my next one to tackle..

Thank you. I appreciate your honesty and give us hope to see that little light at the end of the tunnel getting bigger and brighter.

You can only help someone when that someone helps themselves first.

Yes we all have a story to tell. Many of us hide behind our demons and pretend everything is ok.
I truly believe by sharing it definitely will help others and let people know they are not alone.

I love the old saying, ' let he that is sin free cast the first stone' not many at all are without faults.

I feel you may have a story that may help or inspire someone else.

Suzanne

 

[Leodalion63]

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, strength and hope; becoming alcohol free after a life dedicated to drink is hard but so worth while. While our details differ, I too spent 40 years slowly winding up into the despair, self hatred and loneliness of the alcoholic. Thankfully I didn’t lose everything but what I did lose was precious. I have been free from booze now for 13 years, one day at a time and have been gifted back my kids love and respect and my health too. Many blessings to you!

Well done to you. You have found the right path to keep going. A lot of better things to see on your journey of life to appreciate.

 

[Leodalion63]

Well done to you you've mad up your mind to abstain from alcohol,i have a similar story but cant write for shit .this is my eleventh year off the grog by myself,no AA going ok thanks.

Can't write for shit is on me as well. I get muddled with putting words down, I can't do short messages, That's why mine is so long. You did good. Well done.

 

[Leodalion63]

I sincerely hope there is a positive outcome for your son. Even though my addiction was alcohol, the parallels between any substance abuse is glaringly obvious. Denial, blame gaming, lying and cheating - even to the stage of being criminally negligent.

Luckily for me, the tide has turned to the extent that I am currently studying a Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs.

I am sure many doors will open for you when you complete this at Tafe.
If you haven't started, start your research on where those doors are ajar or open for you to see what is out there. I did this course as well, it helped me tremendously personally but what was out there in employment for me wasn't viable for me.

 

[Marilynne]

Wow - this really did bring waterfalls to my eyes and the words of a song came to mind "one day at a time". As much of the success is your doing the support and love from a caring partner can make a big difference and the will to succeed. Hang in there mate you have many friends here and will be there if you need us.

 

[mOiOz]

Yes we all have a story to tell. Many of us hide behind our demons and pretend everything is ok.
I truly believe by sharing it definitely will help others and let people know they are not alone.

I love the old saying, ' let he that is sin free cast the first stone' not many at all are without faults.

I feel you may have a story that many help or inspire someone else.

Suzanne

"No learner or healer can beat the experienced!"

 

[7777]

Dear Veggiepatch, your experience was from within, your strength and survival came from above. As a survivor, the words of your experiences are deeply felt with sadness, for the degree of physical pain and psychological trauma that you have endured, and the harsh life style of others that you have witnessed. Wishing you every happiness in the world, and may everyday be a celebration of survival, peace and life itself. God bless,

 

[mylittletibbies]

Thank you for such a truthful article, it gives me hope that my son, a meth addict may also come to his senses.
About 5 years ago I made the decision to block him from my life.
It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I am 76 now, am carer for both.my.husband and my daughter and just couldn't cope with my son anymore.
He is 51 now and has been addicted for most of his adult life. Like most addicts, everything is everybody else's fault. He is a compulsive liar, I can't believe anything he tells me.
This week I received a phone call, telling me he was in hospital and wanted desperately to see me.
He has had a massive heart attack.
The.Drs have told him he will be dead in 12 months if he doesn't stay off the meth. His girlfriend, a very nice person, not an addict, told me he has been clean for a few years, but the damage has been done.
I hope he can be as strong as you and make the rest of his life, however long ot short that may be something he can be proud of.

Thank you for your response.
Unfortunately, here we are two years later and nothing has changed with my son. He was no sooner out of hospital and back on the meth.

He is currently in prison, again. He gets picked up on driving offences, driving unlicensed, unregistered car, off his face and drugs in the car. Nothing changes and I have given up hope that it ever will.

Vegie is so inspiring. Telling his story so truthfully, accepting responsibility for his mistakes. My son prefers to blame me or his brother (whom he calls "mummy's golden haired boy). He can't accept that although they both had the same opportunities in life, his brother chose a different road and has made a success of his life.

My husband, who had been an alcoholic prior to meeting me, also gave up drinking and had remained sober for 32 years until he passed away last year.
He tried very hard to influence my son to get off the drugs, but as Vegie said you can't help someone who isn't prepared to help themselves .

 

[mOiOz]

My struggle that became a blessing. Had my son in 1975, our second child. Mothers instinct, I knew something was not right. He was born woth osteogenesisimperfecta, O.I for short term. He was born with 7 fractures whilst in utero, after birth a massive skull fracture & a broken femur. He spent most of his first 2 years in hospital with many many broken bones. Cannot, count the many operations...could not use plaster on him as the weight would break more bones, could not use traction as that would also break his bones. He had an experimental operation at 5 weeks old which was successful, (and recorded in medical journals)... but he still broke bones. A cough, a sneeze, a simple movement. We stopped counting at 764 broken bones at age of 14years. Fast forward, he has surpassed all assumptions by Drs on life span and accomplishments. He has a successful career, several business accolades and is a kind, generous, thoughtful and intelligent human being. He has never asked "why me" nor complained. He is my hero and my biggest blessing in life.

Bless you both...

 

[Penny4]

Your story was admirably explained and written by the heart. Glad you gave up the alcohol for the sake of your liver. Plus, being open and honest with your past self, in order to move on healthily with your life.
It's also awesome that you're now living in WA with your sweetheart.

 

[mOiOz]

This is the first time I've read this Veggie, and as many others have said, 'Thanks for Sharing'. Don't think I was a member then.
I picked up that you're a pretty smart one... ooops (maybe I shouldn't say so), and always knew you were a tough bugger, but not many are as tough as that.
Would never change my positive views about you and wish you all you would wish yourself in life!
Keep up the good work, both you and Deb.

 

[Isis]

Oh veggie patch, my interesting frenemy , you made it through and now maybe you are giving others hope that they are on the bottom of the ladder and can only go up.
Blessings on your head

 

[Morgans Orchard]

Col@45 Very helpful reply. I can’t even begin to imagine what Veggiepatch life was like but I admire him for sharing it with us . we need people like this to go to the schools etc and tell the young ones what it is like in correction centres and jails . One day in there is the end of you ever getting a decent job even if you have had a good education. I know your own life is what you choose to make it but you can be pressured in to things if you get in with the wrong crowd . I look back on things now I did when I was 12 and 14 and used to go out with my cousins and their friends and think my father should have horsewhipped me , then I think back they never took me out anywhere , rather than do that they let me go out with older people . When I wish I had of done this and that i have only got myself to blame.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Veggiepatch….I commend you for being so forthright and sharing your life with us all!!

 

[maxesmum]

Congrats,veggie. So very,very proud of you! Well done!