Addictionland - Addiction Recovery Blog

I've always heard that putting your feelings down is suppose to help so here I go. I've never blogged before. I have no idea what I'm doing here. I guess that I am to the end of my rope and I'm hoping that someone may give me some feedback or advice. I am a recovering addict. I've been clean for over 7 years by the grace of God, but I'm not actively in a 12 step program. My husband is also an addict. Actively using as we speak.
He does good for a few weeks and then falls off the wagon and uses for several days. I'm tired of living this life. We have 3 boys who are 15, 13, and 10. The 13 year old is my step-son and doesn't live with us.
I try to keep my husbands using a secret. I don't want my boys to know what their dad is doing because I don't know what kind of effect it will have on them. I also keep it a secret because I am ashamed. I don't want people to know that my husband is using again. I guess I don't want to hear all of the I told you so's.
I am depressed. I don't know what to do. I want him to stop using. I know enough about recovery to know that he isn't doing this because he doesn't love us. I know this but it is so hard to keep this fact in mind. I'm a recovering addict, I know this but it just doesn't seem to help. I know that he love's us as much as he is capable of loving us. But, if he is using then he doesn't love himself. If he doesn't love himself then he can't love anyone else. My husband is such a smart, funny, loving person. I don't want to loose him but I can't keep living this way. I'm tired of the lies. I'm tired of emotions constantly going up and down. I'm tired of waiting for the next slip up. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of feeling like my heart is being ripped out of my chest. I'm tired of worrying if he has taken too much and won't wake up. I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I just want a normal life, a normal family.

Ever find yourself thinking obsessively about your addicted loved one, wondering where they are, what they are doing, what they are thinking, if they are okay? Ever think that if you stop checking on them something terrible will happen and that if it weren't for them, your life would be so much better?

If so, you are not alone. One of the signs of codependency is being unable to stop thinking, talking, and building your life around your loved one. Notice, I said 'loved one' and not 'addicted loved one'.

In Alanon, there's a saying that you belong here if you are troubled by someone's drinking. In other words, it's not their problem, it is yours. You are troubled.

So the next time you find yourself obsessing about your loved one's drinking, drugging, smoking or other difficult behavior, remember that it truly is NOT about them. It's about YOU. It's about how you are spending the precious seconds, moments, hours and days of YOUR life.

Loving someone who uses is difficult.True. But, how and whether we respond or react to their behavior says more about us and our recovery than it does about theirs.

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