My dad was an untreated alcoholic and my mom was apathetic about dad’s dependency on alcohol and I am their only child. Most of my childhood days were uneventful because my father was always drunk and mom and I drove off to escape my father’s rages.

Dad’s doctors advised himto take Antibuse but unfortunately, he just shrugged it off. Mom tried to force Dad to take the pills every single day but she got fed up with the kind of life we had. Then she met another man when I was a teenager and we left my dad.

It was too late for me, though. I was already getting drunk by the time I was 15.

Even if I was a good daughter and an above-average student, I was all messed up. I needed attention from my parents. Home life was a wreck and dad’s drinking was taking a toll on our family.

Being a good kid was not getting me the attention that I desired. In afterthought, I know where I slipped. I decided that any attention – even negative attention – was better than nothing. So I started behaving in such a way that would certainly annoy my parents. I skipped school, ignored my homework, and lied to my mom and my teachers. On weekends, I was busy shoplifting and getting drunk with kids whom I thought were my friends.

After several months, my mom’s attitude toward me changed. Suddenly, it was as though she was on a mission to rescue me from all my problems. It was good as it last. I was able to get through high school and became a successful travel agent. The work was fascinating, I was making good money, and I enjoyed being around my clients, many of whom were executives. It was the life I wanted. I wanted to savor the good things life can offer because my own life was nothing but problems after the other.

Things began to lose control in about five years into my career. I was engaged to be married, but I did not see the warning signs. He was a lot like my father. My mom tried to talk me out of it but I didn’t listen to her. The next thing I knew, I was sipping champagne at the company Christmas party, and then my life started to fall apart once again. I had so much to lose this time.

My mom and my stepdad took the initiative to bring me to Pur Detox in Laguna Beach. At first, I didn’t want to go to a rehab. Thoughts of being with people from the streets haunted me and I didn’t want to be put in isolation in a cramped up space. My fears were just a figment of imagination.

Pur Detox was like staying at a luxury resort, with the added benefit of being able to focus on myself and my recovery. Loving oneself is the first step. To love myself meant committing to the medically supervised program at Pur Detox and that decision was the greatest gift I gave myself. As an added benefit, I have learned to love and accept others unconditionally, as well. Heroin Addiction

I am the only child of an untreated alcoholic father and enabler mother. Most of my childhood days were uneventful because my father was always drunk and mom and I drove off to escape my father’s rages.

Dad’s doctors suggested he take Antibuse but he didn’t do it. Mom tried to force Dad to take the pills every single day but she got fed up with the kind of life we had. She met another man when I was in my teens and we eventually left my dad.

It was a bit late for me as well. I was already getting drunk by the time I was 15.

Although I had been a good daughter and an above average student, my heart ached. I crave for attention from my parents. Home life was a wreck and dad’s drinking was taking a toll on our family.

Being a good kid didn’t merit any attention from my parents. Looking back, I realized what went wrong. I thought I might as well get a negative attention than no attention at all. So I began doing things which would definitely catch my parents attention. I skipped classes, lied to my mom and my teachers and didn’t do my homework. I was hooked into shoplifting and I constantly drank with kids whom I believed were my friends.

After several months, I noticed that mom was acting a bit different towards me. Suddenly she seemed to be on a mission to save me. It worked for a while. I was able to get through high school and became a successful travel agent. My work fueled me – the challenges, the clients I get to be with, most of whom are executives It was the kind of life I dreamed of. I wanted to experience the finer things in life because my own life has been nothing but struggles.

I was close to reaching the fifth year in my career when things began to fall out of control. I was engaged but did not heed the red flags. He was so much like my father. My mom tried to talk me out of it but I didn’t listen to her. The next thing I knew, I was sipping champagne at the company Christmas party, and then my life started to fall apart once again. But this time I had so much more to lose.

It was my mom and stepdad who took me to Pur Detox in Laguna Beach. At first, I didn’t want to go to a rehab. I thought of musty, dingy and prison-like confinement together with people from the streets. My fears were so far from the truth.

All I want in my life was to be loved and be accepted for what I am. Love must begin within myself. To love myself meant committing to the medically supervised program at Pur Detox and that decision was the greatest gift I gave myself. As an added benefit, I have learned to love and accept others unconditionally, as well. Opiate Addiction