Piecing

[FindingMyVoice]

Hugs to you SG, and no need to apologize. I so appreciate you sharing your story. I'm surprised to hear you say that do don't feel you 'do' DB well... reading your story I'd think you do it very well. I can't imagine the courage it took to put your daughter in the hospital, plus get the police to intervene when you did - you must have been so afraid.

There are many people (and I'm speaking from personal experience) who should have reached out for such help and support for their children in crisis, who never did. Your daughter, despite her struggles will benefit for years as she becomes an adult, from the unconditional love and leadership you showed.

I really am in awe of the fact that despite all the setbacks: your daughter's frightening stay at the 2nd hospital, your own personal health crisis, you kept trying. When something didn't work you didn't lay down and give up; you kept reaching out, trying different options, asking for help and finding the people to talk to that worked for you, even if it wasn't traditional family and personal counseling. And talking, even though as you say, your communication wasn't optimal, you kept talking. You didn't shut down and go to separate corners. Wow. That's love. And really, isn't that what DB is all about?

Thank you, thank you for sharing your story SG. It gives me much hope.

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OOh!! PS
Also wanted to share that I used your 'the medium is the message' idea; you'd mentioned it briefly before, and the idea really caught at me -

Despite the emotional abuse my mother tends to subject me to, I've still felt compelled to keep in touch with her and my father (in large part because my dad is very ill with Parkinson's). But the phone conversations... ohhh...they were horrible. I just couldn't do them anymore because they'd upset me to the point I'd end up with racing heart, days of self-blame, guilt and heartache, and the worst -numbing out with alcohol.

So now I've begun writing a regular email to update them both on our lives. Don't know if it's what they'd ideally want but it's all I can or will offer them, given my past experiences. Hopefully they'll reply back; if not, at least I know I've done my part to connect without subjecting myself to the abuse. So thank you for the suggestion. It's eased my mind a lot.

Thank you again for your story; I didn't find it 'all over the place' at all. It is very inspiring and again, gives me much hope. Warmest hugs to you for all you've endured and over overcome, and for sharing. FMV.