Aftermath of detox

I've been meaning to write for days, but somehow I just did not get around to it. This week has been a bit crazy--another post on that later, and my emotions are beginning to wear on me.

But first I want to write this post. I had this knock on the door on Thursday night at 11pm. I'm thinking who could be knocking at my door this late? In walks my neighbor, the one who went through detox. She came in and gave me a big hug and said she felt great! I was thrilled for her, though a part of me was slightly stunned at how "high" she seemed, sober but high. Even she admitted, she was on a pink cloud.

Truly, this seemed to be really good for her. She said she felt like she is in a better place. I think she really enjoyed rehab as it felt like a bit of a vacation for her. She had a few ups and downs, like breaking her glasses and not being able to see well, but overall, she loved the people there, said they fed her well, and got her head back, etc.

There were two things B. said that stuck out to me. One was about her experience with the people at rehab. There were a variety of ages--some with alcohol issues, others with drug dependency issues. She explained that she and several other older persons were trying to get through to some young people who were heroin addicts. She said, it was like they just didn't get it--that they could not see how much they were wrecking their lives. They tried to tell them that they did not want to have these addictions years on end. She said she and several of the other older women felt like they got through to them, and that felt good to her.

The other thing B. said was how reading the Big Book (this is the AA book) this time around was different. She had read it a number of times before, but it just didn't make sense to her or was meaningful. But now, being sober, she felt like she finally understood it. It made sense, and she could put value in it. This reminded me of the weight restoration stage for many with eating disorders. Prior to that, therapy or anything else won't be as effective if at all. It's a testament to how we have to be a bit clear-headed both physically and emotionally in order to fully grasp real treatment.

B. still has a lot of work ahead of her, but I think she will get there step by step. She will have IOP 3x/week plus her AA meetings. She's beginning to learn what her triggers are and is trying to find other means to cope. She says her family is backing her and willing to help, so I hope that happens.

As for me, I'm the neighbor and friend to be there, supporting her along the way.