How does a family member feel when they are struggling to help a loved one who is an addict, describe please.?

i am a drug counselor and all the people i work with i grow a deep care and concern for them. plenty of the addicts i work with i do it for free too. i feel a tremendous amount of hurt when i see these people who suffer and what thier family goes through. i hurt right now for a free inner city client who just slipped on crack cocaine last night and noone can find her. she has a 3 year old child that could wind up in foster care. Question. HOW DOES A FAMILY MEMBER FEEL WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO HELP A LOVED ONE WHO IS AN ADDICT, AND THEY ARE NOT HAVING GOOD SUCCESSESS. DO YOU CRY ALOT

My mother was addicted to (or should I say she is a recovering addict of?)Meth for... 3 years. And she will always be an alcoholic. The pain you feel is not something you can describe. As an adolescent I wanted her to get better, and it just wouldnt happen... so I deadend the pain and began to hate her... I actually wished she would die. I didnt feel so much sadness that would cause me to cry, but anger... I was angry that she was doing this to herself and her family. It took 2 and a half years to figure it out but I realized that the person I was looking at was not my mom, but a monster driven by the drug. I forgave her and all I felt was sorrow from then on, not enough to cry but enough to pity. The only way there will be sucess in someone who has this problem is to hit rock bottom and lose everyhting including her child. My (then) 2 year old sister and I did end up in foster care... I was too old to adopt out to a family member of ours but she was not... I finished my adolescent years with a lovely family (we were lucky enough to be with a GOOD family), but my sister was adopted out to a family member in AZ. Mom is better, she regrets what happened but she leads a normal life. It is very very likely that if mom doesnt figure it out the same will happen to her... Mom cant comprehend whats going on, priority is the drug, thats all that matters.. thats all there is to it. sad truth, good luck.

It is a powerless situation where one feels angry, hopeless, frustrated and scared.

my dad has an alcohol addiction and it sucks, theres violence at times, directed at me or other family members, it makes me weak and at times i cry or feel as of crying, it sucks and theres nothing you can do to change that person..that person has to change on their own.. you just have to go on the ride with them and either stick it out or do what some people do is quit on them, but that will never help anyone ever overcome an addiciton

i'm not totally sure but i guess they do cry alot. My step mom helped me get over a bad addiction & i know that she stayed up all nite evrynite 4 the 1st week after i got busted bcuz she was afraid i would kill myself. It's been over 4 months & she still checks on me @ nite. I'm only 14 & my room is rite next 2 her's.

my uncle was an addict, we always called him up everyday to talk to him, always making sure we knew where he was. and stuff. we visited him almost every month and we had a counselor follow him. yeah we cried alot. it was alot to take in. we never thought he would become and addict. He was addicted to alcohol and he was also going into a divorce thing. so it made him want to drink more. he would drink about 9 beers a day. he is a pure cowboy but we never saw him as that. finally in order for him to keep his kids my mom stayed with him for 3 weeks and took him to classes. he hasn't drunk for a long time. he tells me he never wants to go back. just hearing him say that makes you cry, he was so upset with his life. now he has money and can provide for his 3 kids. it takes alot but having family just makes it alot better.

It all depends on the family. My friend was an addict and we went from help, to tough love, to just trying to figure anything out that we can do. He is now in Florida going to school for what he loves. From what I know he is happy. He is getting good grades. This is his last chance though it took 4 years to get him to where he is and we are about to give up on him. It doesn't only take the family it takes the friends too.

My husband is an alcoholic. He went to a therapy three years ago. sadly he is back to the booze. Not as much as he drank before, but I'm afraid the amount of drink will increase in time.

You are helpless, frustrated - hopeful when your loved one is in therapy and seems to be alright. When they start again you start on the helpless and frustrated part...

Immense pain and guilt.

I applaud that you comfort and advise as a volunteer counselor.

Trust that, in the scheme of things, we can touch those in need with words of love and encouragement, because love which is ultimately unselfish, triumphs!

Be well in your quest to improve lives :)