After I found out my sister was addicted to dieting and saw anorexia take its toll on her over the years; I abandoned her. I couldn't stand to see the sight of a ghost where my sister once stood. So after seeing my sister fail trying to recover over and over, I gave up hope that she would ever get better and I thought pushing her away would make the pain I felt go away.
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| My younger sister, Abbey, on the left with my older sister Elizabeth. |
At her worst, my older sister, Liz was 75 pounds. I saw my beautiful sister turn into someone I didn't recognize and I couldn't handle the pain I felt so I cut her off from my life completely. Every time I did see her at family events I would avoid making eye contact because I was scared she would see everything I was hiding behind my cold demeanor.
It took me three years to get over my pride. I finally came to the end of myself and talked to her about how I really felt about her addiction. I hope no one takes the path I took because no matter how far someone goes, the addiction they suffer from is not that person. They can recover and they can come back stronger than before. Having loved ones there to help when suffering from addiction can be just what an addict needs to recover. I'm not saying you should condone their actions, on the contrary to show them that no matter what they have done wrong there is still someone there who loves them. Someone who will be there for them even when they are wrong and when they hit rock bottom.
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| My sister and I at a wedding. |
This blog is so meaningful and it was nice to read something that is made to help people. My grandpa was a drug addict and he died when I was only 6 years old. The most detailed thing I remembered about him was his anger. My dad didn't know how to cope with him and neither did my mom. and I was too young to do anything about it. You're right though, we need to be there for the ones we love even when their wrong because an addiction takes over the mind and body and their going to need us as much as we need them. You're a strong guy and I admire that and so will your readers.
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