I'm so sorry to hear your obvious pain. I guess you can never know someone's intentions, or what really drives them. I love nursing, and I truly can explain why. It was Mom and Dad. I knew even as a child that they would need someone to take care of them. Oh, they'll never admit it, but they know they're the main focus for my nursing passion. As you stated in your post,  a person with an addiction may realize they have a problem but may deny or just put their heads in the sand.

I have a 1st cousin who was attending school in Ft. Lauderdale for an entertainment degree, but he got hooked on drugs. He has been arrested time after time, and nothing seems to work. He has 2 sons, you would think he would want to role model for them, but NO. He has been married twice, still with wife # 2, but she's in and out of trouble just like him. Both have charges pending for theft, I personally can't understand why someone with so much going for themselves with jeopardize it for drugs. It hurts me to think of where he's life could be,and why he continues to make such foolish choices. I can only pray that he will learn these hard lessons he now deals with before he and his wife both wind up in prison.

As you can see, family can break your heart. But we can only offer support and advice if they ask. They don't have to take it, but we can offer. Addiction is a no-win situation! You make think you have a handle on it, but it has the handle on you! I will leave my cousin to God!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shonna L. Potter, LPN