Recovered alcoholic and heroin addict. Any question?

[Mrsfloss]

As title says. I have recovered from 20 year history of chaotic drug and alcohol misuse. I have now been sober and clean for 12 years. Anything anyone would like to ask?

What would you do to help if you found out your child was addicted to heroin and or alcohol?

If you work for the police, does your criminal record prove awkward? Do you ever come across old drug associates?

Oh crepe let them have their own journey. Obviously educate them and hope against hope that it doesn’t happen

Lois - I have a civilian role very removed from front line policing. So would never come across anyone.

It came up and I discussed it with the whole sorry take and I was given a chance and have been in same role for years now

Thanks for answering. I have a relative hoping to work with young offenders but concerned about this aspect as they have a troubled past themselves. Well done on all you've acheived

Well done OP. Glad you managed to turn your life around :) does your work involve helping others directly?
Also how do you manage working for the police, with a criminal record? I thought they checked everything?

To a PP, 'middle class upbringing' does not equal 'good upbringing' . Ideal conditions on the surface don't mean there isn't emotional abuse, neglect or violence. Sometimes kids in 'naive' families can't form as solid relationships as those in families less so, people move around more with careers, move schools to 'better' ones, go to university, parents more likely to work etc. I remember my childhood as mostly boring (often alone) and at times lonely and frustrating. I used to trip off to the next town to hang out with my more interesting, perhaps not quite as well to do friends and get drunk in the park.

'Naive'= 'Naice'!

To a PP, 'middle class upbringing' does not equal 'good upbringing' . Ideal conditions on the surface don't mean there isn't emotional abuse, neglect or violence.

I am well aware of this, but every time I've pointed this out in the past I've been told to check my privilege

Green day. They do check everything. Mt convictions were spent and came up they done a risk assessment which continues to be reviewed annually

My job is corporate so no contact with others at all

Brilliant, thank you for answering. I have a very good friend who really wants to work for the police but has criminal convictions and thought she wouldn't have a chance. I've been trying to find out the reality of this (I've even rang the police to ask!) And never got anywhere.
Massive well done to you again. I know beggar all about drugs but I work in a sphere where so many do them. I also have an 18 year old very close to me who does things and I never Know if I say the correct things to them. Their attitude is just I've never done it so I don't understand.

I too am in recovery and almost lost everything. The 12 steps saved my life.

Well done @Mrsfloss !!!
31 years clean here - I avoid situations where I might lapse. I cannot afford to become vulnerable (have a drink etc).
50 years old and as boring as fuck. A 'pillar of the community '.... if only they knew!!!

At the time, when the things you did were hurting your family, did you realise or feel the emotional weight of it?

Was there anyone from your pre-addiction life that couldn't forgive you? If so, how have you approached that?

Well done for getting clean OP.

Watching my grandfather go through the DT's withdrawing from alcohol was the most destressing, soul destroying, horrible thing I have ever witnessed. Was horrendous. I will never forget his screams of pain.

So I think for battling the booze alone you need to be commended but heroin also. You should be so proud of your self can't of been easy.

I am very aware I have a highly addictive personality. As do most of my family. So have always been really concious of it.

Did you notice addictive tendencies as a child?

And do you think addiction is genetic and a personality trait?

Watching my grandfather go through the DT's withdrawing from alcohol was the most destressing, soul destroying, horrible thing I have ever witnessed. Was horrendous. I will never forget his screams of pain.

So I think for battling the booze alone you need to be commended but heroin also. You should be so proud of your self can't of been easy.

I am very aware I have a highly addictive personality. As do most of my family. So have always been really concious of it.

Did you notice addictive tendencies as a child?

And do you think addiction is genetic and a personality trait?

Flappy well done!

Cisters well done.

That is amazing! Well done!

Cisters well done.

That is amazing! Well done!

Mrsfloss, you say you didn’t want for anything materially. How was your family emotionally towards you growing up? You got involved in an abusive relationship, so do you think there was something missing in your upbringing, even on a subconcious level, that you weren’t aware of, that lead you down a destructive past?

Mouse. I was so intoxicayed by drugs I couldn’t feel anything and definetky not the pain I caused.

Everyone has forgiven me, my siblings and children were the last and that was over years, no quick fix. Years of working on self and proving that I would stay abstinent,

Love my hubby - nothing missing from childhood. Very loved, parents were there for me emotionally.

I just fell for the wrong man, I defo had addictive tendencies and I knew this from the wayI carried on drinking cannabis and alcohol, when everyone else went home and to bed!

Thanks for sharing that and helping educate people such as myself who have limited understanding of drug addiction. I think you have made an amazing turn around. :)

Do you think a person needs to hit rock bottom?

Well done btw!