Any ex-addict parents out there?

Question

I have been clean off of heroin for 5 years now. I had a terrible addiction,  but no one who knows me now would ever guess,  and the friends and family I've had since before my addiction almost forget how bad I had gotten.  
Becoming a parent as an ex addict brings up unique fears. I'm terrified of my son ever going through anything even remotely like what I did. I also have no idea if I should ever tell him about my history.  But more than fears,  I have an overwhelming feeling of gratefulness.  I had no idea years ago when I  was covered in track marks in a motel 6, that I would be happily married with a beautiful baby and a healthy lifestyle.  I hope anyone reading this that knows anyone with addiction or struggling themselves knows that there is always hope.

Answer

I was addicted to meth for 3 years but I'm about to be 1 year clean. All of my aunts, my dad, and my brother are or have been addicts. I'm so worried for my son when he grows up because it seems like addiction runs in my family. I hope he never has to live the way I lived

Answer

September 14th, I will be clean from all drugs and alcohol for 5 years. My fiancé is also clean, just celebrated 6 years last Wednesday.

The way I look at it is, we got high to run away from ourselves because of an inability to cope with life, emotions, stress, basically everything. We have both taken responsibility for our addiction & met in an anonymous program; following the suggestions to change the people who thought getting high was a solution. The behaviors we used to act out on are things we are now aware of & have a choice to stay the people we were before - or change (which is a day by day process).

My hope is that by continuing to work on ourselves, some of those behaviors and the void we both felt inside is something we won't teach to our daughter.

Of course I'm aware she's got it in her, she is a mixture of two addicts, but teaching her the things we now know was missing from our upbringing is the best thing we can do for her. ❤️

Answer

Your post was encouraging. I'm trying so hard to kick a prescription pill habit. I've been put on Suboxone, but most of the time the urge is all-powering. I have a 1-year old I've successfully taken care of despite this horrible addiction. He's healthy, smiles nonstop, and the pediatrician says he's doing great. It's my greatest desire to conquer my habit before my son is old enough to realize mommy is sick. It's so very hard. I pray everyday just for the strength to survive withdrawal, but I fail most of the time. Thanks for your post. It is possible isn't it? And I know I have to do this to give my son the best. Thanks for the reminder...

Answer

Yes I was addicted to pain pills for seven years I have only been clean for just over a year now I was so bad I literally stood on my front porch and prayed God would send me a miracle to help me get clean I always said if I had a kid that was one thing that would help but doctors always told me I could not have kids well it was about two weeks after I stood on my porch and prayed for God to help me I found out I was pregnant and I can honestly say I quit cold turkey and have never looked back my little miracle is four months old now and Mr and my husband both are recovering addicts and both have been clean over a year and we always talk about how scared we are that our boy might get with the wrong crowed like we did and try something stupid so we decided we will share our story with him and just be as honest as we can and hope and pray that he will take our word for it and never do it bc It's so not worth it and yes that is one of my biggest fears that he will go down the same path we did but let's hope not amd atleast we finally realized and got clean bc we was also shooting so we would probably be dead if we was still doing it bc we was stupid and shot rubber pills that was killing everyone and I already lost my aunt to them I also still have people in my family that is having more trouble then we did to get clean so all I can do is pray everyday for them bc preaching to them does no good I know bc they use to preach to us and it would make us do it even more and my mom never did anything before and then finally we got clean and got our life together and now she is being stupid bc she got with this guy that was doing it so yes I am in same situation as you and I pray for my self and family everyday I'll also pray for you and yours that everything works out when your baby is old enough......good luck to all the recovering addicts out there stay strong sorry so long

Any ex-addict parents out there?

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey