The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
I woke up very early this morning and I am deeply troubled .In the state that I live in,The beautiful state of West Virginia,we are now number one for heroin overdoses.My people are dropping like flies.At the funeral I was talking to a friend who works at a treatment center and she was numb,completely void of any feelings and she looked at me with a blank stare and said "I have become immune to it."Young people are being found dead several times a week now!Our community is overwhelmed with grieving friends and family members.I see posts on facebook all the time ,another child is lost to heroin.A young girl was found alone and dead in a house not far from me.We don't have enough treatment centers and we don't have enough people to handle the demand.Unfortunately in our area drug and alcohol use is no big deal.My granddaughter posts daily on facebook about smoking weed and getting high.Parents are getting high with the kids.Alcohol use is nothing,it is encouraged.We are called "pillbillies" it is joked about.I am proud to live here,it is a beautiful state,the mountain state,we do have a lot of problems,lack of jobs,etc.At my college I heard a man say,"I am from another state and I have never seen so many ankle bracelets on girls,women on house arrest,pregnant women talking about getting high,I could go on and on.That is why I am afraid.I want to do something,I am going to do something.I am going to take it easy first and get better myself,but is there anyone here who can help us.I am not kidding when I say we are dying here,google it.
We have it here too....I believe it's a national epidemic and it is frightening for sure. I have no answers other than to share my own ESH when others ask for help and/or are nudged by the judge for help. Those who are active in addiction have to be start the change, and then those who understand it can assist without enabling.
I do believe in the power of prayer and I do believe in communication & education. What you did yesterday is a gr8 way to spread the message about addiction.
Hang in there and focus on you, your HP and your program - the answers will come!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
(((Mary)) Awareness is the first step. This is an epidemic in many states. Understanding our powerlessness enables us to then ask what is the right coarse of action for me?. Where can I concentrate my energies and determination so as to affect a positive outcome?. You are on the right path, Continue to pray about it attend your alanon meeting , grieve your loss and a new door will open.
Positive thoughts on the way.
Thank You,I have a fall break coming up and I am going to rest and pamper myself,hopefully enjoy nature,the fall leaves here are magnificent against the blue sky and our mountains are absolutely breathtaking.I think a road trip is in order.First things first to take care of myself.
This is so heartbreaking - and it is so easy for people to just turn a blind eye! Sometimes I wonder if I am normal or if everyone else is because they just seem to laugh off alcoholism, drug use...I know you are having a particularly difficult time right now as well - keeping you in my thoughts. Hugs!!
It is definitely heartbreaking - and we are powerless. "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change..."
But life is also a matter of focus, isn't it? I know that I developed so that I focused on all the bad stuff, and indeed thought it was wrong to savor any of the good stuff as long as bad stuff was going on. Which means we'll never savor any of the good stuff, will we? Life is heartbreaking but also gorgeous, sad but also joyful, extreme but also ordinary and everyday. It's not immoral to redirect our attention to the goodness as well. Indeed, for some of us who've come from difficult situations, we've maybe focused on the badness already enough to last us for the rest of our lives.
Maybe a stint away from news and social media would also help to refocus on the joyful and the immediate?
One thing that's important to remember is that the studies find that people who are happy are more generous and charity-minded and outward-looking. Being sad and depressed shuts us down and makes us distrustful, inward-looking (in a bad way), and withdrawn. So cultivating happiness is also helping others.
Mattie - what a super great post! Loved it all and it's so spot on....thank you for a lovely share!
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Practice the PAUSE...Pause before judging. Pause before assuming. Pause before accusing. Pause whenever you are about to react harshly and you will avoid doing and saying things you will later regret. ~~~~ Lori Deschene
As I have been able to process some more feelings today I believe this post was related to the anger I was feeling this morning and my need to control,I have been able to identify it and let it go.I am feeling much better this evening
