My bro is finally going to rehab. Long!

[textbookcase]

FINALLY.

You might remember past issues with him. He's had substance abuse problems since he was a teen. My parents have always kind of been at a loss and tend to enable him because they don't know how to set boundaries. They are (very high functioning) alcoholics themselves, so I guess that's why. Anyhow, he tried to commit suicide several months ago and placed on a 72-hour-hold that only lasted 5 or 6 hours or so. He has never been receptive to the idea of rehab.

I went to sleep around 10 last night and woke up to my phone ringing around 11. It was him and I didn't answer. He called two more times and I tried to ignore the call but accidentally answered it instead. He was at a gas station a few blocks from my house. He was WASTED drunk. He said he rode a bike into town and needed a ride home. I told him that he got himself into town, he could get himself back to his house (he lives about 2-3 miles from town). Apparently his bike had two flat tires. Whatever, walk your ass home. I told him that I wasn't going to get him. I give him rides (to work or the store or whatever - he wrecked his vehicle several months ago and hasn't repaired it) but I am not going to pick him up at all hours of the night whenever he decides to drunkenly ride a bike to town. So, I hung up and THOUGHT I put my phone on silent but I didn't. It kept ringing, he kept leaving VMs "You have to pick me up! You're my SISTER! If you cared about me you would come get me!" I finally figured out how to silence my phone (lol) and went to sleep. This was around 1am. 2 hours later...he could have walked home and back in the time that he spent sitting at the gas station leaving me voice mails.

So this morning I called to make sure he got home okay, he did. He eventually called my parents and they went to get him at 2am. He went to work this morning, but called my parents about an hour into it, begging them to take him to rehab. They went to get him and are HOPEFULLY getting him in somewhere now. There aren't a lot of facilities in our area but we think we've found a few good places. I don't even really know what to look for.

ARGH. FAMILY.

[berbles]

Oof. Good luck to him.

[speckledfrog]

That is great news. I wish him the best.

[margarita]

That is really good news. Good Luck to him.

[Booze Raccoon]

Ugh. Good for you for standing your ground with him. I hope he is successful.

[pixelpassion]

I hope this is your brother hitting his bottom so he's amenable to treatment. But seriously, good on you for not dropping everything to pick him up.

[luckyval]

I really hope he finds the help he needs there (((tbc)))

[gretchenindisguise]

oh man, I'm hoping good things for him.

[snipsnsnails]

I hope he goes and gets help. Stay strong, textbook. Thinking of you. <3

[pantsparty]

Thinking good thoughts for your family!

[WOT?*]

I hope this is his bottom. Good for you for sticking with your boundaries and letting him know it is not okay and you will not support his addictions. I hope he comes clean and stays dry. Good luck to Brother TBC.

[flex]

Addicts are infamous for their skills of manipulation. Good for you for not picking him up. I hope your parents have seen the light too.

[mrsukyankee]

I hope your boundaries helped him understand just how low he had gotten and I hope that it sticks.

[Deleted]

Good for you! I really hope that he has hit his bottom and rehab gives him the help he needs.

[aprilsails]

I hope that this helps him and that he is able to change his life for the better.

My brother took a long time to reach the bottom and he's been digging his way out of the hole he created for the past year. He's so much better than he was before but it still pains me when we have conversations and he discusses that it will take him 5 years of hard work to get back to having the normal life that he should be having. It's heartbreaking, but there are no shortcuts and he knows he needs to put in the effort for himself.

[snickers]

All the best to him.