Houghton Mifflin Discussion Forums

Replies: 6

lauren

Posts: 17
Registered: 5/4/10

the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 20, 2010 5:07 AM

Hi All,

I've been very stressed (more than usual!) since my 19-year-old daughter announced last week that she is
moving to L.A. ...Maybe 'moving' is the wrong word because that implies a plan and a job, etc.
To get you 'up to speed' on the drama:
My child ran away from home towards the end of her senior year in high school. The short version is that I found out her bizarre, and sometimes violent behavior was due to her substance abuse (like many parents- I was so in the dark until it became too obvious) Now she barely speaks to me- when once we were very close.
Sadly, she has stopped going to jr. college and she recently dropped out of trade school- after attending only 2 months. (None of this madness did I fund)
Evidently her problems are not caused by her drug & alcohol use but by the fact that Chicago sucks.
So, she and a friend are packing her dad's old clunker of a car (I took the car I bought her away when she ran) and
heading for Southern California.
Apparently, it is always sunny in L.A. and people don't have problems or addictions there...
I have to laugh here- only because I can't be sad or stressed all the time.

Thanks for 'listening'!

waterdance

Posts: 624
Registered: 6/10/09

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 20, 2010 11:51 AM

Good Morming lauren, Good Morning All,Lauren, Where does your daughter plan on working, what city is she moving to? Cost of living is still sky high there. Is she still using. Is it meth? In some areas hundreds of families are living in tents. Is she living home right now? The entire nation is having a money crisis. Of course drug dealers are still doing well.

My grandaughter M and no-good grand-son-law M moved all the time...everyplace "sucked"....Everyplace caused their excessive drug use they claimed. They lived all over: Phil. Trenten.,Las Vegas, Hawthorne, Nevada,Prescott, Az. Humboldt, Az. Now they are both in Phoenix, still using. Still living off of who they can: still stealing, still conning etc.. The main thing is to get the drug of choice and cigarettes for the day and avoiding the law. Oh, I forgot, they followed The Grateful Dead for 3 years. Just another long drug story.

Another point.....Most jobs in the west drug test, many use the hair test.

I'll be thinking of you lauren. It seems your daughter is hell-bent on screwing her life up no matter what help is offered. I think she will be back home sooner than you imagine. Hugs to you , Deb

Bethsmom

Posts: 21
Registered: 7/5/10

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 20, 2010 8:16 PM

Lauren, I live in small town America and it sucks according to my daughter. I am sorry your daughter is separating herself from you at a great distance. There is nothing you can do but take care of yourself. If you watch the movie The Soloist you can see what it is like in L.A. with the homeless and drug abuse. It opened my eyes. My daughter has mental problems also. I hope things work out for you and your daughter. Coming to this site helps.

lauren

Posts: 17
Registered: 5/4/10

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 22, 2010 6:15 AM

Hi Bethsmom,
It seems our addicts don't understand that wherever they go, they bring themselves- and their problems. Evidently it is so common for alcoholics/addicts to think that a change in scenery is the answer that the term 'geographic cure' came to be.
As far as our kids' mental issues, how much brain damage
& depression is caused by all the chemicals they've put into their beautiful young bodies? (Not to say that they may have started with some depression before the drug use). I guess we'll never know which came first, I just hope that, when (soon, please God) my daughter seeks sobriety, that her self-inflicted brain injuries are NOT permanent!
And you're right- coming to this site helps. So does Al-anon... And a couple of good friends who, on occasion, 'talk me down' off the ledge!!!!

lauren

Posts: 17
Registered: 5/4/10

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 21, 2010 12:23 AM

Dear Waterdance,

I can see that you posted on this topic but I cannot access it! I would love to read it because I really appreciate your input on this site. Apparently that happens a lot on this forum...
Is it possible for you to re-post it? Or is there a way we can let the administrator know about this glitch?

mixnroll

Posts: 59
Registered: 5/23/10

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 21, 2010 6:25 AM

I don't know why posts do that. In playing around with the site I have found if you press the rss button on the bottom left corner of the screen it takes you to the other posts and then you can see them. It is weird though.

lauren

Posts: 17
Registered: 5/4/10

Re: the geographic cure
Posted: Jul 22, 2010 6:18 AM

Thanks Mixnroll,
I'll try the RSS button if it happens again!