How To Stay Sane When Life Is A Mess 

I wrote a long post … I love my son in active addiction and I am not safe around him… yes, you are not safe. Choose safety and support this person if they are in recovery.

I am a mother of an adult child (son) that struggles with addiction. He has been using for 13 yrs. - he is 27. My experience in all of this, especially with the big ones like heroine… that man will not leave until he is kicked out or in jail or dead. Unless that man is getting treatment and has a sponsor as part of ANY kind of 12 step group … I know how this goes. Much that I know my son told me in periods of sobriety. Addiction to these kinds of drugs changes the brain chemistry, function and you can see with your own eyes via scan or post mortem the shape and resources a person has the ability to use. As much as I love my son, and am the last family member to help him in any way … I do NOT trust him, because he told me when he is in active addiction, he ONLY cares about getting his next score. He will do ANYTHING to get it. Lie, steal … sell his body. NOTHING is sacred… no heirloom… wedding ring/ piece of jewelry… anything that can be sold will be sold or traded for drugs. Even a pair of Nike shoes I bought off the sales rack for $40 … gone in less than a month… he probably sold them for $10 worth of drugs. My son is very intelligent, skipping grades in school when he was young. He has a very tender heart. And he is in active addiction. I love him!!! ❤️ if he got sober today - I still could not trust him for a very long time because that’s what he told me! My son is now on the street… I struggle with how to help, yet not enable. At times, I have been in situations that I was afraid for my life. When he was high/ or coming down he has become violent. There have been people that are very scary and dangerous that have been at my home and my safety was at risk. This is the level of seriousness I have to take now. I park my car at a gas station. Make sure my purse is hidden. I wear sneakers in case I have to run. I have my keys, phone, ID on my body in pockets that zip so they won’t fall out. I don’t wear jewelry or anything else that looks appealing to be stolen. I say hello at a distance at first and make sure a “friend” is not around. All this I do with someone I love dearly … I just can’t trust him right now. Even high once - I was afraid he’d kill me and then “wake-up” to why he had done and take his own life. All this to say … yes, do WHATEVER it takes to keep your family safe … which means you may have to move. Even IF you feel some safety with this man… you don’t know who he knows … dealers and unpaid angry dealers and others using WILL COME. And you could get caught in the cross fire. I no longer judge in a harsh uncaring manner those that use. I do though. now, have a lot of experience and a person in active addiction cannot be trusted - that’s the brain 🧠 changes talking. I think your grandparents don’t know what they signed up for … If this man was in recovery and had a sponsor and was in treatment, I’d be more on board to support him. He is now, just not safe for your family. Addiction is not a moral issue… it will though cause people to do immoral things.

Love your show, Dr. Delony. The "what is depression?" segment was very eye opening. Thank you for all you do.

I relate so much to the first caller. Great advice on how to get through this time

I love the repeat of ‘Armchair Diagnosticians drive me crazy.’ I think someone missed an edit 😂 Great show as always! Thanks John!

The awkward hemorrhoids transition 😅

I took the bar exam and let me say I have major respect for anyone who has kids (of any age) or a needy husband. Bar exam preparation requires ALL your time ALL the time. Edit: she should have planned better to not have a second kid right before bar exam. My friends sought out help from family in this situation.

First caller - she’s def not telling John the truth when she says she is going to pass. Even if she knows she is prepared, the fear of failure and having to continue on the same path if that happens is ALWAYS at the forefront of a person’s mind when it comes to exams like this.

First comment...hemorroids

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good morning

There is no way that two month old and two year old are getting the proper attention and dedication with a mom studying for the bar exam and a full time working father. My cousin is a lawyer and the bar literally took round the clock time - the time that TWO MONTH old infant needs! And this call is about more time for HERSELF. Just wow.