Relief in Diagnosis

I remember distinctly the moment that I heard my brother, Brandon, say to a clergyman, "I think my sister is an addict."

I was not angry.

I was not hurt.

I was not sad.

I was so relieved.

Like, "YESSS!!!!! That's it. I'm an addict!!!!!!!"

I remember that same clergyman saying, "Heidi, it's time to get help. That may mean in-patient help."

I was SO ready.

Sometimes, there is such relief in having a diagnosis.

A reason.

Learning more about my addiction has been equally relief-giving.

Really studying it, discovering what it's about and from where it comes...

Then, doing the work every single day.

There is power in that.

Do you see?

There is power in putting in the work every single day to live within recovery from addiction.

There is real light in the darkness of addiction that comes out when the work is put in and progress is made.

The light that shines through recovery is a light that I wish everyone could witness for themselves.

There is also relief in diagnosis for family members, or at least I believe there can be.

There is a family member of ours who has an addiction.

It is obvious and damaging, yet undiagnosed because this family member sees no problem.

However, as family members who can now see it and embrace it - healing can take place for them after years (decades) of damage that has been done.

There is an opportunity to put a name to the madness, to the neglect, to the pain.

And that provides some comfort to those family members who always thought it was them, that they were just unlovable or unworthy of care.

Addiction is not an excuse.

It is a diagnosis.

It is a real thing.

But, with diagnosis and then hardcore, day in and day out treatment and effort, lives will be changed.