Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day is a day we celebrate our mothers. I have no mother to celebrate. She committed suicide many years ago. Since then, I’ve been especially aware of her action every Mother’s Day. The survivors of the suicide of a loved one can have strong emotions resurface with a strong trigger. For me, the strongest is Mother’s Day. Another is the anniversary of her death.
Recovering alcoholics and addicts are also highly suceptible to triggers. The relapse rate for recovering addicts is about 90 percent. Most relapses occur within the first one or two years of sobriety. Counselors warn addicts to avoid triggers and advise recovering adicts to change old habits and old friends. Change takes courage. Living with the suicide of a loved one also takes courage. Sometimes I believe that it requires more of me that I can give. Those times pass, but each one seems to weaken me a little more.
Perhaps someday I will have the good fortune to at last recover.
